Medicare Supplemental Insurance

For extra benefits, you may purchase a Medicare Supplemental Insurance Policy, called Medigap. Medigap is sold by private companies to fill the gaps in the Medicare Part A and Part B plan coverages including copayments, coinsurance and deductibles. You must have both parts A & B to be eligible. You cannot use a Medigap policy with a Medicare Advantage Plan. Medicare pays its share of health care costs before the Medigap policy pays.

There are ten Medigap policies to choose from and they are standardized among insurance companies. Medigap policies must follow federal and state law and they only work with the Original Medicare Plan. You pay the insurance company a monthly premium in addition to your Part B premium. Premiums may vary among insurance companies although coverage should not. Purchasing a Medigap plan allows you to go to any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare. You and your spouse must purchase separate plans in order to both be covered.

Medicare SELECT is a type of Medigap policy that may require you to use doctors and hospitals within the carrier’s network in order for you to be eligible for full benefits.

You may enroll in a Medigap policy starting when you enroll in Medicare Part B and enrollment lasts for 6 months. During this time, companies cannot turn you down due to health reasons, but they may after the enrollment period is over. It is important to compare policies as there is a wide divergence among them. Comparisons of Medigap plans can be found using the Medicare Plan Finder at Medicare.gov/find-a-plan.

“Choosing a Medigap Policy: A Guide to Health Insurance for People with Medicare” is a guide for purchasing and using Medigap Insurance as well as understanding other kinds of health insurance available. For more information on Medicare Supplemental Insurance Policies or to obtain a copy of the guide, contact:

The Official U.S. Government Site for Medicare
Medicare.gov
800-633-4227
877-486-2048 TTY

“Medicare Supplement Policies: A Guide for Nebraskans” outlines the different supplemental insurance policies available in Nebraska.

For more information or to obtain a copy, contact:

State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)
DOI.Nebraska.gov/consumer/senior-health
The Nebraska Department of Insurance
PO Box 95087
Lincoln, NE 68509-5087
402-471-2201
402-471-4610 Fax
Consumer Affairs Hotline:
877-564-7323 In-State Only
DOI.SHIP@Nebraska.gov

Senior Health Insurance Information Program
(SHIIP-SMP)
SHIIP.Iowa.gov
Iowa Insurance Division
1963 Bell Avenue, Suite 100
Des Moines, IA 50315
800-351-4664
800-735-2942 TTY
515-654-6500 Fax
shiip@iid.iowa.gov

Volunteers Assisting Seniors
VAS-Nebraska.org
1941 South 42nd Street, Suite 312
Omaha, NE 68105
402-444-6617
director@vas-nebraska.org