The Best Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Plans in Kentucky

Medicare Supplement insurance, which is often referred to as Medigap, are plans purchased through private insurance companies to help pay your out-of-pocket medical costs such as copays, coinsurance and deductibles.

Medigap plans designed to work alongside your Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Part B) benefits to defray the costs that may remain after Medicare pays its share of your covered costs.

Nearly half (43%) of Kentucky Original Medicare beneficiaries are enrolled in a Medicare Supplement plan.¹ If you’re thinking about joining their ranks, you may use the information and reviews presented in this guide to help you select a plan that’s right for you.

What Are the Best Kentucky Medicare Supplement Plans?

There are 10 types of Medigap plans available in most states which are identified by letters between A and N. These plans are standardized by type, so each issuer must offer the same coverage for plans of the same letter. So, for example, if two beneficiaries purchase Plan A from different insurance companies, they’ll receive the same benefits listed below.

All 10 plans provide the same basic coverage, including reimbursement for some or all of Part A and B coinsurance, hospice care copays and 365 additional days of hospital care after Part A benefits have been exhausted. Beyond these universal benefits, different plan types offer purchasers a choice of coverage options.

Available coverage options may include reimbursement for up to 100% of the following expenses:

• Part B deductible
• Foreign travel exchange
• Skilled nursing facility coinsurance
• Part B charges that exceed Medicare-approved amounts

The amount of coverage, out-of-pocket limits and coverage restrictions may vary among plan types. The accompanying chart provides additional coverage specifics by plan types.

The Most Popular Medigap Plans

Plans F, G and N are among the most popular Medigap options currently being offered, but Plan F is only available to beneficiaries who became Medicare eligible before the start of 2020. These plans typically have lower monthly premiums, so they’re ideal for seniors who are living on a budget, but they may come with high deductibles, which can delay reimbursement.

Once applicable deductibles have been met, Plans F, G and N all reimburse policyholders for 80% of foreign exchange travel and pay the full coinsurance amount for skilled nursing facility care. None of these plans have out-of-pocket limits.

Differences Between Insurers

When shopping for a Medigap plan, you may find that different insurers offer a different selection of plans. However, all Medigap insurers must, at a minimum, offer plans A, C and F.

Other than the overall selection, the main differences between insurers are customer service and plan price. Although benefits are standardized by plan type regardless of the issuer, premiums may vary, so you may be able to save money by comparison shopping.  

How Do I Enroll in a Kentucky Medigap Plan?

Once you turn 65 and enroll in Medicare Part B, you can purchase Medicare supplement insurance. These policies may be purchased from the private insurance company of your choice in Kentucky.

When to Enroll

The best time to purchase Medicare supplement insurance in Kentucky is during your Medigap open enrollment period. Your Medigap open enrollment period starts once you are enrolled in Medicare Part B and are at least 65 years old, and it lasts for a total of six months.

During this period, you are guaranteed eligibility for a Medigap plan regardless of the state of your health, and Medigap providers may not charge higher premiums to beneficiaries who have current or past health concerns. If you have health risks, it’s important to purchase a Medigap plan during this timeframe because once open enrollment ends, applicants may be subjected to medical underwriting and may be denied coverage or incur higher premiums due to current or past medical conditions.

Individuals who are 65 or older but who have health insurance through an employer or union may delay Medicare Part B enrollment. The six-month Medigap enrollment period may also be delayed until your employer-sponsored health care coverage ends and you’re enrolled in Medicare Part B.

Common Guaranteed Issue Rights

When possible, Medicare beneficiaries should take advantage of Medigap’s open enrollment period to purchase a plan. However, federal law provides guaranteed issue rights, which let beneficiaries buy a Medigap plan under certain circumstances without being subjected to medical underwriting. When guaranteed issue rights are invoked, an insurance company must let you enroll in any Medigap plan you choose at the standard premium without going through the medical underwriting process.

Guaranteed issue rights include, but are not limited to, these common scenarios:

• You lost your supplemental insurance through no fault of your own and need to replace it with a Medigap plan.
  
  
• You relinquished your current Medigap coverage because of misleading policies or an insurer’s refusal to follow federal guidelines and you want to purchase a new plan.
  
  
• You lost employer- or union-sponsored coverage that you were using to supplement your Original Medicare plan and now want to purchase a Medigap plan.
  
  
• You exercised your trial right to a Medicare Advantage plan and switched back to Part B within a year.
  
  
• You were enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan that was discontinued or no longer offers coverage in your area, so you switched back to Original Medicare.
  
  
• You moved to an area that your Medicare Advantage plan doesn’t cover and had to switch back to Original Medicare.

Guaranteed issue right protections may begin as early as 60 days prior to the anticipated loss of your current coverage and typically continue for up to 63 days afterwards. In certain extenuating circumstances, however, these protections may be extended for up to a year.

Who Isn't Eligible for Medicare Supplement Insurance

If you're under 65 or you're enrolled in a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan, you aren't eligible for a Medigap plan. You may also be ineligible for a Medigap plan if you've missed the open enrollment period and are deemed uninsurable after undergoing a medical underwriting process.