Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Plans in Indiana

Medicare Supplement Plans, also known as Medigap plans, are private insurance plans that can be added to your Original Medicare. These plans are optional but can be used to help pay for your share of the cost for Medicare-covered services.

If you are eligible for Medicare in Indiana, you may be able to enroll in a Medigap plan. There are several types of Medicare Supplement Plans in Indiana, and each offers different levels of coverage, rates and availability. Medigap plans are private plans, so you might not be able to find the same plans or rates everywhere. To find what plans are offered in your area, you can check directly with the insurance companies or call a licensed GoHealth agent to walk through your options.

There are 10 different types of Medigap plans, plus high-deductible versions of some of these plans. The federal government has set standards for what each plan must cover, but some insurance companies may not offer every one of these plans, or may choose to include additional coverage.

All Indiana Medigap plans will cover:

• Medicare Part A coinsurance for hospital and hospice care
• Medicare Part B coinsurance and copayments
• Blood needed for medical procedures (first 3 pints in a year)

Some Indiana Medigap plans will also cover:

• Part A coinsurance for skilled nursing care facility
• Part A deductible
• Part B excess charges
• Up to 80% of foreign travel emergency healthcare

You can compare all 12 plans here in a side-by-side Medigap Plan comparison chart.

Availability of plans can vary between different insurance companies, and sometimes between zip codes or counties. If you became eligible for Medicare after January 1, 2020, you won’t be able to purchase Plans C and F. This is the result of a change that prohibits plans from fully covering Part B deductibles.

Medigap rates can vary based on the insurance company offering the plan. Some plans determine costs based on your age, while others price premiums based on market conditions.

Medigap premiums in Indiana range from about $47 to $1,425 per month for standard plans in 2022 and $29 to $206 per month for high-deductible plans. Most plans offer full coverage of Part B copayments and coinsurance, too.

When you have a Medigap plan, your Original Medicare coverage will pay first. Many people are eligible for premium-free Medicare Part A, but pay an income-based premium for Part B coverage, plus deductibles and out-of-pocket costs. Medigap can be used to cover your share of Part A deductibles, as well as any copayments or coinsurance you are left with after your Medicare benefits are paid.

Although you will pay a premium for your Medigap coverage, people who have a lot of healthcare needs — which means they may have more out-of-pocket costs — often pay less than they would without a supplemental plan.

Some Medigap plans also give discounts for things like:

· Being a non-smoker

· Paying your premium annually instead of monthly

· Joining as a married couple

You may also consider using a Medicare Advantage plan instead of Original Medicare with Medigap coverage. A GoHealth licensed insurance agent can help you find the right fit based on your budget and your healthcare needs.

If you are eligible for Original Medicare, you can purchase a Medigap plan. However, if you don’t buy a Medigap plan when you are first eligible for Medicare, there’s no guarantee you will be able to buy a plan later on, and you could pay more if you do get one.

You will get the best prices and the most choices if you purchase a Medigap plan during your initial six-month open enrollment period. This period begins the first month you have Medicare Part B coverage. After this initial period, insurance companies can deny coverage based on any pre-existing health conditions.

If you’ve decided to add a Medigap plan to your Original Medicare, you should start by reviewing the different types of plans to see what will best fit your needs. Next, compare which insurance companies offer those plans. You can use Medicare’s online plan finder tool to help you locate plans and providers in your zip code. GoHealth licensed insurance agents can also help you find plans in your area that will fit your needs.

At one point, Medigap plans were allowed to include prescription drug coverage. That changed in 2006. If you bought a Medigap plan before January 1, 2006, you can keep the coverage, but if you ever remove your drug coverage you won’t be able to add it back on later.

You can’t wrap prescription coverage into your Medigap plan anymore, but you can still get medication coverage through Medicare. To get prescription drug coverage, you will need to purchase a Medicare Part D plan.

If you do have drug coverage from a Medigap plan purchased before 2006, you cannot be enrolled in a Part D plan at the same time.

Medigap plans can only be added to Original Medicare. If you decide to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, you will have to contact the insurance company that supplies your Medigap coverage and cancel your policy.

Medicare Advantage plans combine all of the coverage of Original Medicare with additional services, like drug coverage, dental coverage and more. If you switch from Original Medicare with a Medigap plan to a Medicare Advantage plan and you do not like it, you will have a one-time 12-month grace period when you can switch back to your Medigap plan or buy a different one.