Medicare has several supplement plans, and Plan G is among them. It is a popular plan considering that it’s the most comprehensive compared with the other plans. This coverage is available to Medicare seniors and works by filling the gaps between what the Original Medicare pays and the costs you are responsible for. It is a plan with many beneficiaries across the United States, and its popularity continues to grow.
Like the other supplement plans under Medicare, Plan G pays secondary to Part A and Part B, which are the Original Medicare covers. The two are good, but unfortunately don’t offer the full coverage most people are looking for regarding medical services. This makes it important to consider a supplement plan so that it can cover your out-of-pocket costs.
Generally, there are ten standardized supplement plans and two versions with high deductibles available to those enrolled in Medicare across the country. The plans are each identified using letters A to N, and each letter offers a different coverage level and monthly premiums. If you are new to the plans, familiarize yourself with them to understand what healthcare services they cover and whether they meet your expectations and budget needs.
Even though Medicare has ten options readily available to interested seniors, the Medigap Plan G is the most comprehensive and popular. This plan should be on your list if you are a new beneficiary. When you enroll and sign up for the plan, you will only part with a small fraction of out-of-pocket fees, compared to if you only had the Original Medicare. When the annual deductible is met, Plan G will cover any additional costs fully for the rest of the year. Nothing is more fulfilling than knowing that all your healthcare needs are catered for, and you have nothing to worry about or people to bother.
After enrolling in the supplement plan, you still enjoy the great benefits of Part A and B, but with the added benefit of predictable costs as far as healthcare goes. With plan standardization, you will still receive professional medical care from facilities accepting Original Medicare, your Medigap carrier notwithstanding. Practitioners can in no way turn you away because of the Medigap insurance company you have chosen to work with. You can use Medicare Plan G reviews to find an offer that suits your budget perfectly.
What does Plan G cover?
This Medicare supplement plan helps reduce out-of-pocket costs so that you can pay as little as possible. Considering how expensive medical care can be, it is important to look for all possible ways to enjoy the best services at an affordable rate, and this is what the supplement will do for you. The supplement offers:
- Full coverage for Part A deductible
- Full coverage for coinsurance, as well as hospice copayments
- Full coverage for Part B excess charges
- Additional benefits for foreign travel emergencies
- Guaranteed policy renewal regardless of your health status
The coverage clearly shows that this plan does not cover Part B deductible. However, on meeting this deductible, you will have no worries about additional copayments or unexpected medical bills. The federal government has standardized the Medicare supplement plans; hence Plan G benefits remain the same across all carriers. What might differ are the monthly premium rates by the carriers; the rates can also vary from one state to the other. Reviews are great tools to help you compare and choose a carrier with reasonable rates according to what you feel you can afford.
It is true to say the Medicare supplement Plan G is the most comprehensive; however, it is second to Plan F. The difference is that Medigap Plan F does not accommodate all Medicare beneficiaries. According to the terms, receiving Medicare after January 1st, 2020 leaves you not eligible for Plan F. The change has left new seniors enrolling in the next best option, the Plan G.
What is not covered by supplement Plan G?
The cost left behind by Original Medicare, which is not covered by Plan G, is the Part B deductible. It is important to know before enrolling so you know exactly what that means and what is expected from you. You will be responsible for the deductible before the Medigap benefits work to your advantage.
It is also important to note that the plan does not cover routine dental visits, prescription drugs, or hearing and vision health services. Simply put, if the service you are interested in is not covered by Original Medicare, then the supplement Plan G will not offer coverage. If the services not covered are still important to you and you will need them from time to time, then you will be required to enroll in separate covers. For instance, the Medicare D plan offers prescription drug coverage. By working hand in hand with Original Medicare, your benefits are greatly increased without losing health coverage.
Enrolling in Plan G
The first requirement of enrolling in Medicare Supplement Plan G is to have Medicare Part A and Part B. Depending on when you apply for the plan, pre-existing conditions might determine your enrollment. If you have pre-existing conditions, you should enroll for Medigap Plan G during the open enrollment period. You can also enroll when you qualify for guaranteed issue rights. During these times, no carrier can deny you coverage.
Enrolling at other times may subject you to underwriting health questions. State rules can also help you enroll without the need to provide answers to the questions. This makes it important to find out beforehand what your state permits. In case you are a resident of a state with no exceptions, applying outside the enrollment periods will require you to answer the underwriting health questions to determine insurability. The answers you provide can leave carriers denying you coverage. It is, therefore, best to take advantage of the enrollment periods to dodge the possibilities.
If you hold a Medicare Advantage Plan and are interested in Plan G, switching back to Original Medicare will be a requirement. You can make the change through the Annual Enrollment Period, usually in the fall, or through Medicare Advantage open enrollment period falling in the first quarter of every year. The return is a step to switch to a supplement plan from Medicare Advantage. It is always safer to take the steps during provided enrollment periods to reduce the chances of being denied cover, especially when you have pre-existing health conditions.
