Many people don’t realize that people with Original Medicare can purchase supplemental insurance to help cover some of the out-of-pocket costs. However, it’s important to know what Medicare Supplement plans are and what they can do for you. There are several Medicare Supplement, or Medigap, plans sold, and they are identified by letters. Let’s discuss Medicare Supplement Plan G.
Understanding Medigap Coverage
Medigap insurance can help cover costs that Original Medicare does not. Since medical bills can stack up quickly, having this supplemental insurance can be vital.
You can add this supplemental insurance to your Original Medicare insurance. Plan G covers many costs, and this is why it’s the second most popular supplemental insurance plan behind Plan F. Many companies that offer Medicare Supplement policies are free to set premium rates. Still, each Medicare Supplement policy is regulated by the government and has to provide the same coverage.
So, if you have Plan G in Minnesota, companies would have to offer you the same coverage for Plan G in California. Some companies do offer additional benefits, so it’s important that you shop around a little before you decide on a certain plan.
What Plan G Covers
Plan G covers a variety of services and fees, including the following at a 100% coverage rate:
- First three pints of blood cost for a procedure if the hospital purchases the blood
- Foreign travel emergencies
- Part A deductible
- Part A hospice care copayment or coinsurance
- Part A hospital coinsurance and every cost up to a full 365 days after you exhaust your Original Medicare benefits
- Part B copayment and coinsurance
- Part B excess costs
- Part B preventative care coinsurance cost
- Skilled Nursing Facility care coinsurance cost
Additionally, Plan G is the only Medicare Supplement other than Plan F that will cover all of the excess charges Part B may have. An excess charge happens when a provider or doctor doesn’t accept Medicare assignment.
What Plan G Doesn’t Cover
Unfortunately, Plan G doesn’t cover every type of medical expense. For starters, it won’t cover the cost of your annual Part B deductible. This means you should plan to pay for it out of pocket. The Part B deductible in 2020 is $198.
Plan G doesn’t cover routine dental care. This means you’ll either have to enroll in a stand-alone dental plan, pay for your dental visits out of pocket, or choose to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan that may include your Part A, Part B, and additional benefits, such as dental care. As a general rule, Original Medicare won’t cover most routine dental procedures care, cleanings, supplies, fillings, dentures, tooth extractions, or dental plates.
However, if you’re staying in the hospital and get dental care while you are admitted, Medicare Part A may pay for a few dental services. For example, if you have an emergency or a complicated dental procedure that requires inpatient hospital care, Part A may cover it.
If you want dental coverage, consider Medicare Advantage plans. Part C offers additional benefits that Original Medicare won’t cover, like dental, vision, or hearing. It is important that you contact your provider before you settle on a plan. Picking the right Medicare insurance is essential to make sure you have the coverage you need moving forward.
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