Choosing Medicare Supplements – What’s the Difference?

Many people are still confused about Medicare Supplemental Insurance, even though since 2006 there have been 12 plans that are standardized. This is where the confusion comes in. Plans from Plan A through Plan L are also called Medigap plans. Each plan covers different things and has different benefits at different costs from very inexpensive to more expensive because of the coverage they provide.

The lower the cost, the fewer the benefits and individuals who need Medicare Supplements must look at each supplement and determine which one has the coverage they need at the cost they can afford.

The real confusion is that all of the supplements are not available in every state. Then there are other states that offer all of the supplements but they are offered under different names.

Now for the most confusing part of all. Each supplement offers the same benefits no matter which company is offering them. Unfortunately, many of the people selling these supplements add to the confusion of many seniors by making them think that this is not the case. In addition some salespeople try to sell individuals coverage they don’t need and is too expensive – but pays the salesperson a higher commission.

So to avoid confusion, it is important to determine which plan fits your needs and call the insurance companies to find out how much the premiums are. Make a list and write them all down. Write down each company’s name and write down the premium amount next to it for the policy you want to buy. Remember that all of the policies have the same coverage – for instance all A’s cover the same thing, no matter what company is selling them the coverage is identical. That works the same way all the way through supplement plan L.

The problem is that most people don’t know this information and, as a result, are not doing the comparisons suggested above. If they did these comparisons, they would be able to see at a glance who had the lowest cost for the plan they need. If you need Plan J and call all companies who sell it, or check the internet for a comparison, you will be able to immediately see the best price, call the company and make your purchase – knowing that you are getting the exact same coverage that the company with the highest price is selling.

There should not be so much confusion and there is no difference in the coverage for each plan. The confusion comes from companies and salespeople who are trying to sell policies and get commissions.

So before you buy, compare. If you do this, you will now that you are getting the right coverage at the best price.