Medicare Supplement, or Medigap, plans fill in the gaps in coverage left behind by Original Medicare, such as deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. In 47 states, there are 10 standardized Medigap plans that are denoted by the letters A through N. The private insurance companies offering these plans do not have to offer every Medigap plan, but they must offer at least Plan A and either Plan C or Plan F if they choose to offer any supplemental coverage.

Medicare Supplement Plan Coverage

Medicare Supplement plans each offer different levels of coverage, but each lettered plan must include the same standardized benefits regardless of carrier and location. For example, Plan F in Florida includes the same benefits as Plan F in North Dakota. Please note that, if you live in Massachusetts, Minnesota, or Wisconsin, your Medicare Supplement Insurance options are different than in the rest of the country. Medicare Supplement plans do not cover vision, dental, long-term care, or hearing aids, but all plans do cover the following basic benefits:

Medicare Part A coinsurance costs up to an additional 365 days after Original Medicare benefits are exhausted
Medicare Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayments
Medicare Part B coinsurance or copayments
First three pints of blood used in a medical procedure

Plans that include additional coverage, such as Plan F, may also offer a variation of the following additional benefits: