Living with Diabetes

Medigap (Medicare Supplement Insurance)

• A Medigap policy, sold by private insurance companies, can help pay some of the health care costs (“gaps”) that Original Medicare doesn’t cover, like copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles. Some Medigap policies also offer coverage for services that Original Medicare doesn’t cover, like coverage for medical care when you travel outside the U.S.
• Every Medigap policy must follow federal and state laws designed to protect you, and it must be clearly identified as “Medicare Supplement Insurance.” In 2010, Medigap insurance companies can sell you only a “standardized” Medigap policy identified in most states by letters (Plans A through N).
• All standardized plans must offer the same basic benefits but some offer additional benefits, so you can choose which one meets your needs. (Note: In Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, Medigap policies are standardized in a different way.)
• For more information, please consult “Choosing a Medigap Policy: A Guide to Health Insurance for People with Medicare” at: (www.medicare.gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/02110.pdf). You can also call your state’s department of insurance to get more information. Both the guide and the phone number for your state insurance office can be found online at www.medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).