Medicare Supplement Plans
Also called Medigap, Medicare Supplement plans can assist with covering costs Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B (Original Medicare) do not cover. To be qualified for a Medicare Supplement plan, you must be enrolled in Original Medicare in order for the supplement plan to fill in the gaps in coverage. However, these plans are not meant to replace Original Medicare or serve as a primary insurance. They only supplement Original Medicare.
Medigap Open Enrollment Period
If you are interested in a Medicare Supplement plan, you can choose one during your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period, which begins as soon as you are enrolled in Original Medicare and are 65. Applying during this period means that insurers cannot deny you coverage or charge you extra for premiums.
If you wait to enroll in a Medicare Supplement plan and miss this period, you will not have a guaranteed right to a plan. Insurers can turn you down or charge you extra based on your medical history.
