What’s Covered Under Medigap Plan A?
Of the 10 standardized plans, Plan A is considered the most basic Medicare Supplement. It covers these items/services not covered by Original Medicare:
- Medicare Part A copayments for inpatient hospital care — up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits are used up
- Medicare Part B copayment
- First 3 pints of blood
- Part A hospice care copayment
What Costs Are You Responsible for?
Plan A members are responsible for paying their Medicare Part A and Part B deductibles, as well as the Part B excess charges, skilled nursing facility care coinsurance, and any foreign travel emergency care. If these costs seem like a lot, consider a more comprehensive plan like F, G, or N that covers more (or all) of these services.
Is Plan A Right for You?
It depends on your health and financial situation. All Medigap plans come with a monthly premium that can be costly, especially if you don’t use the benefits.
While it can be added to your Original Medicare coverage, Plan A will still leave you with higher out-of-pocket costs than other Medigap plans.
Plan A Eligibility and Enrollment
If you have Original Medicare (Parts A and B), you’ll be eligible for any Medigap plan offered in your state.
We suggest you apply during the Medigap Open Enrollment Period, which is a six-month window that begins when you turn 65 and have signed up for Medicare Part B. If you enroll after this period, insurers may increase the monthly premiums because of medical underwriting.
How the Companies Charge You
Every Medigap plan has a monthly premium. The exact amount can vary by policy. Insurers can set monthly premiums for their policies in three ways:
- Community rated — Everybody who buys pays the same monthly amount no matter their age.
- Issue-age rated — Monthly premiums are based on the age when you first buy a policy. Younger buyers will have lower premiums, and the premiums don’t go up as you get older.
- Attained-age rated — Monthly premiums are based on your CURRENT age. So, your premium will increase as you get older.
If you’re thinking about enrolling in a Medigap plan, you’ll want to compare multiple policies that are available in your area. This can help you know how premiums are set and how much you can budget for each month. You’ll have an idea of what you’ll pay for the policy.