How to Choose a Medicare Supplement Plan and Vendor

How to Choose Medicare Supplement Plan

UPDATED Nov. 23, 2024.  How will you choose your optimal Medicare Supplement Plan?

Original Medicare does not cover the allowable Medicare expenses fully, therefore leaving a lot of them as your responsibility. Medicare Supplement Plans (Medigap Plans) seem to be the only real way to cover those gaps. Medigap plans provide protection against future (catastrophic) losses for Original Medicare out-of-pocket expenses such as deductibles, copayments/ coinsurances, and excess charges. To choose the Medicare Supplement Plan, follow the steps below.

Steps to select the Medicare Supplement Plan

I. Learn how to compare Medicare Supplement Plans
II. Learn about Medigap regulations in your state
III. Select the Best Medicare Supplement Plan from the most suitable vendor


How to Compare Medicare Supplement Plans

I. Compare Medicare Supplement Plans

The first step is to understand the Standardized Medigap Plans: their benefits, and in-depth understanding of strengths and weaknesses of every plan.

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II. How to Choose a Medicare Supplement Plan: State Regulations

Medicare Supplement Plans are sold by private insurance companies licensed in a particular state. Most Medigap rules and regulations are common to all states and defined through the Standardized Medicare Supplement Plans. (The exception states are Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin).

The following factors determine Medigap premiums:

  • Age
  • Zip code (and sometimes a county within the zip code)
  • Gender
  • Whether or not you are a tobacco user.

Rates are usually higher in urban areas and lower in rural areas. For most Medigap insurance companies, female rates are 10-15% lower than male rates.

Also, each state has its own state-specific rules. The rules are described below:

  • The Federal Government has no requirements that would force Medigap carriers to sell Medicare policies to people under the age of 65 (Medicare due to disability). However, the state may have its requirements that allow people under 65 to get Medicare Supplement. These requirements typically include:
  • In some states, the law prohibits Medicare providers to charge more than what Medicare allows. This difference is known as Extra Charges. In states where Extra Charges are illegal, the less expensive Medicare Supplement Plans that do not include Extra Charges (Medicare Supplement Plan C and Medicare Supplement Plan D) are identical to the more expensive plans that include Extra Charges (Medicare Supplement Plan F and Medicare Supplement Plan G).
  • Most states permit a household discount to be applied to Medigap policies; therefore many Medicare Supplement providers offer this discount. Most of them require for both members of the household to apply. However, for some of them, even a single application is entitled to the household discount, as long as the applicant is a part of the household.
  • In addition to the standard Guaranteed Issue Rights, some states have additional particular Guaranteed Issue periods, such as 30-day birthday period. In those states, there is no medical underwriting if you are applying during such periods.

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III. How to Choose Medicare Supplement Plan: Vendors

To select the insurance company offering the Best Medicare Supplement Plan, you should do the following:

  • Learn How to Compare Medicare Supplement Plans (see Step I above)
  • Find out the Medigap State Regulations in your State (see Step II above)
  • Learn about the company’s medical underwriting procedure. If you are not within the Medigap Open Enrollment Period and do not have Guaranteed Issue Rights, check what your chances are to be approved by the insurance company for a Medigap policy.
  • Find out the insurance company’s Rating Methods. Most of the carriers use an attained-age rating method.
  • Confirm the Medicare Supplement premium for your age and location. Take into account a company’s household discount, Extra Charges and Under the Age of 65 state regulations, etc.
  • Find the premium rate increase history (if available).
  • Check the insurance company’s record of complaints.
  • Check the insurance company’s financial stability rating (AM Rate).
  • Find whether the insurance carrier adds extra benefits outside of the standard benefits, such as the Silver Sneakers health program and the Vision Plan discount.

All Medicare Supplement plans are standardized, i.e., any particular Medicare Supplement Plan is identical from one company to another regarding benefits, how claims are processed, claims decisions and doctor’s network. The major difference is the premium – it may be quite different from carrier to carrier.

Get Medicare Supplement Quotes from the multiple insurance companies we represent.

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US Government Sources

Let Liberty Medicare Help you to Choose Medicare Supplement Plan

If you are looking for Medicare Supplement coverage, Liberty Medicare is here to assist you. We’ll help you in all stages of comparing, selecting and enrolling in the most suitable Medicare Supplement Plan with the best Best Medicare Supplement insurance company.

All of our services are offered to you at no cost. We’ll help you:

  • Find all available to you plans and compare their benefits
  • Determine your eligibility (particularly if medical underwriting is required)
  • Find the least expensive Medigap plan and enroll into it

Learn more about all the benefits of working with Liberty Medicare.

Please contact Liberty Medicare, or give us a call at 877-657-7477.