Medigap Plan A Supplemental Insurance
- Medigap Plan A policies help cover certain medical costs not covered by Original Medicare. Learn more about the benefits of this supplemental insurance plan.
Medigap Plan A is a supplemental Medicare insurance policy that beneficiaries can purchase through private insurers to help fill in coverage gaps in Original Medicare, Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B insurance. Medicare beneficiaries may prefer Medigap Plan A because it generally has lower monthly premium costs when compared to subsequent Medigap plans, and it's considered the most basic of all Medigap plans.
What Is Covered in Medigap Plan A?
Medigap Plan A supplemental insurance generally covers coinsurance payments for inpatient hospital stays for up to 365 days after Original Medicare benefits are exhausted and hospital-approved costs for days 151 through 365 of a beneficiary's hospital stay. In most cases, Medigap Plan A also helps cover 20% coinsurance for Part B medical costs, and the costs of the first 3 pints of blood that aren't covered by Medicare.
What Is Not Covered in Medigap Plan A?
Medigap Plan A does not cover Medicare Part A and Part B deductibles or skilled nursing care coinsurance costs. Medigap Plan A only covers core policy benefits, and it offers the minimum amount of benefits when compared to the other Medigap supplement plans.
In Which Medicare Supplemental Policies Are the Core Benefits Found?
Medicare's core benefits are found in all Medigap policies: A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, N, HD-G and HD-F. Every Medigap policy must provide coverage for coinsurance for days 61 to 90 of a beneficiary's hospital stay in each benefit period. It also pays the coinsurance for days 91 to 150 of an extended hospital stay, which is helpful because Medicare only covers this one per lifetime. Medigap policies are generally also responsible for all hospital-approved expenses for days 151 through 365 of a beneficiary's hospital stay.
Is Medigap Plan A the Same As Medicare Part A?
Medicare Part A is completely different from Medigap Plan A. Medicare Part A is a part of Original Medicare that provides coverage for inpatient hospital care, home health care, hospice care and skilled nursing facility care. Medigap plans are sold by private insurance companies and designed to help fill in coverage gaps for Original Medicare.
Is Medigap Plan A Available for People Under 65?
Medigap Plan A is available to any individuals under age 65 who are currently on Medicare due to a disability. However, insurance premiums for those under 65 and on Medigap Plan A may be up to three times higher than the premiums for those over 65. This is because individuals with disability coverage tend to have higher medical expenses than beneficiaries who sign up with Medicare after they turn 65.
What Are the 12 Standardized Medigap Supplemental Plans?
The 12 Medigap supplemental plans standardized by the Federal Government are alphabetized as A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, N, HD-G and HD-F. These supplemental plans are available in most states, but it's important for Medicare recipients considering a Medigap plan to verify costs and availability with their plan providers. Massachusetts, Minnesota and Wisconsin offer Medigap policies that are standardized differently than other states, and Plan F and Plan G may come with higher deductibles.
