Medicare Supplement Plan C
Medigap Plan C ranks high for coverage among the 10 standardized Medigap plans available throughout most of the United States — only Medigap Plan F provides more. Plan C covers most out-of-pocket expenses, including:
- Medicare Part A hospital coinsurance and hospital costs up to 365 days after Original Medicare benefits are used up
- Medicare Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayments
- Medicare Part B copayments and coinsurance
- Initial 3 pints of blood used for a medical procedure
- Skilled nursing facility coinsurance
- Medicare Part A deductible
- Medicare Part B deductible
- Emergency medical care outside the U.S. (80% of costs covered up to limits of plan)
What’s not covered by Medigap Plan C?
Part B extra charges are the only cost that Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan C does not cover. These are charges added to the basic Medicare costs for a procedure, limited to 15% of the original Medicare fee. Doctors rarely charge extra, but if it happens Medicare Plan C will not cover these surcharges.
Please note that Medigap Plan C is not the same as Medicare Part C, also known as Medicare Advantage.
What will Plan C cost me?
Since Medicare Supplement plans are standardized, every Plan C policy includes the same benefits. But their premiums may vary widely as Medicare Supplement plans are sold by private insurance companies.
What about my eligibility for Plan C?
First, you have to be enrolled in Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) to buy Plan C. You must be a U.S. citizen and meet one of these criteria or more:
- You’re 65 or older
- You have a disability
- You’ve been diagnosed with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).
What disqualifies you is being enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, which you can’t have at the same time you have a Medigap policy. If you have one, be sure to cancel your Medicare Advantage plan before your new coverage starts.
Be aware that you’re entitled to switch Medigap plans every year, any time you want. In certain states you may be required to answer medical questions, and depending on your health evaluation, you could be denied coverage. This is when it could really pay to have a Blueprint Medicare™ specialist at your back.
When do I enroll in Plan C?
When you sign up for a Plan C policy within your 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period (OEP), the insurance company can’t deny you coverage, overcharge you or make you wait for coverage, even if you have a pre-existing condition.
Your Open Enrollment Period begins the first day of the month you turn 65 (or older) and are enrolled in Medicare Part B. If you miss your Medigap OEP, the carrier has the right to make you undergo medical underwriting and can turn you down. It’s important to know that you might have a guaranteed issue right to sign up for Medigap. Call us with any questions at 1-844-215-5325, or go to our web site (URL) to use our Live Chat feature or review our FAQ section.
Still confused? Call us!
We’re here at 833-245-0614 to answer any questions, and ready to help with any issues you might have with an insurer through the enrollment process.
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FAQs
I have a Medicare Advantage plan, which is called Medicare Part C. How does Medigap Plan C differ?
It’s apples and oranges. Part C is a policy that’s part of federally-managed Medicare. Plan C is health care coverage offered by private insurance companies. They have a different set of benefits and costs. It’s important to be aware that if you have a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan, you can’t be sold a Medigap Plan C policy.
I want to switch to a Medicare Supplement plan with more benefits since I need regular treatment for a new health condition. Can I do that anytime?
Once your Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment Period has passed, you potentially face medical underwriting when you apply for a new plan. This could result in higher premiums, or in some cases, denial of coverage. You could buy a new plan with better benefits, but the carrier could withhold coverage for your new condition for at least 6 months.
I heard that Medigap Plan C may be eliminated. Is this true?
Yes, the federal government is putting an end to all policies, which cover the Medicare Part B deductible to discourage people from overusing the health care system. Medigap Plan C is one of these policies.
What are the best Medicare supplement plans?
- Best overall Medicare supplement for new enrollees: Plan G.
- Best overall Medicare supplement before 2020: Plan F.
- Best low cost Medicare supplement: Plan K.
- Best alternative to Plan G Medicare supplement: Plan N.
What is a Medicare supplement plan?
Medicare Supplement policies are private health insurance designed to cover gaps in Original Medicare. They are also known as Medigap plans. These take care of costs such as copays, coinsurance, and deductibles which can become expensive if you need regular care from a doctor or hospital. If you need medical care while traveling outside the U.S., you can buy Medigap policies to help cover those costs. As a supplement to Original Medicare, you’re required to have Part A and Part B before you canget a Medigap policy. This way, Medicare is responsible for the Medicare-approved costs of the covered care, and the remainder is covered by your Medigap plan.
What is the most expensive Medicare supplement plan?
Optimal coverage comes with higher costs, making Plan F the most expensive Medigap plan. Plan F is known as “first-dollar coverage” and it takes care of everything provided during a doctor or hospital visit. Your only responsibility is for dental, vision, medications, and equipment, such as hearing aids.
Why is Plan F being discontinued?
The Federal government ended the Plan F option for new enrollees last year to keep the healthcare system from being overused by patients who had their deductibles covered. The next best coverage after Plan F is Plan G.
Is Plan G better than Plan F?
Medigap Plan G offers every advantage of Plan F except for the deductible, which you have to cover. Because it isn’t as comprehensive as Plan F, Plan G is more affordable.
What is the best and cheapest Medicare supplement insurance?
For people who don’t go to the doctor often, Plan K is worth considering. It is the most affordable because it provides just 50% of Medicare Part B coinsurance, the Part A deductible, blood, skilled nursing, and Part A hospice costs. For comparison, Plan G and others offer full coverage of these expenses, and more.
Is Medicare supplemental insurance worth it?
It’s hard to argue against plans which cut your traditional Medicare costs. For most people, having the extra coverage these supplemental plans provide is common sense, unless they want the specific features of a Medicare Advantage plan.
Do I really need supplemental insurance with Medicare?
Most people would benefit from not having to pay out-of-pocket to stay healthy. Medicare supplement insurance or a Medicare Advantage plan offer vital savings now, but are indispensable should a catastrophic health issue occur.
What is the most popular UnitedHealthcare Medicare Supplement plan?
Of the 10 Medicare-approved Medigap plans, Plan G and Plan N are the most popular. Plan F is no longer available to new Medicare enrollees as of 2020, but it is still popular among people who bought this plan prior to 2020.
How much does Medigap insurance cost?
- Plan F$128–$342
- Plan F (high deductible)$22–$88
- Plan G$106–$325
- Plan G (high deductible)$29–$58
Who qualifies for Medigap?
Before getting a Medicare supplement plan, you need to be enrolled in Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance). People with Medicare Advantage Plans who want to go back to Original Medicare can buy a Medigap policy prior to switching.
Is Medigap insurance worth the cost?
The security of having lower or no out-of-pocket healthcare costs can offset the premiums you’ll have to pay for whichever Medigap plan you choose, which vary depending on the benefits offered.
How Much Is Medigap per month?
The national average cost for Medicare Supplement Plan F is $1,824 annually, which is $152/month; Medigap Plan G will cost you around $143 per month.
Is Plan G the best Medigap plan?
Since Plan F was discontinued for new enrollees as of 2020, Plan G offers the most coverage for people 65 and older. It has a lower premium than Plan F and duplicates its benefits, except for the Part B deductible.
Is it better to have Medicare Advantage or Medigap?
It depends on your specific needs, but for most people a Medigap plan is very useful in supplementing the coverage of Medicare Part A and Part B. A Medicare Advantage plan is an affordable way to get healthcare coverage not offered by Original Medicare.
What is the most popular Medicare supplement plan?
Historically, Plan F has been the most popular because it covers all the out-of-pocket costs Medicare does’t pay for. This includes the 15% extra charge billed by providers who do not take Medicare as full payment.
Does Medigap cover prescription drugs?
Since January 1, 2006, no Medigap policy came with prescription drug coverage. You have two options to get covered, enrolling in either a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (Part D) or a Medicare Advantage plan.