The Difference Between Medicare Advantage Plans and Medigap

Medicare and Medigap are often given a bad name because so many people are tricked or told to get the wrong types of policies that leave them in a lurch. The problem here is just as much about educating Medicare policyholders as it is making the Medicare fraudsters go away. There are a few things that could help you not make a mistake when getting your Medicare or Medigap coverage going, especially to ward off fraudsters.

First, understand that a Medicare Advantage Plan is not a Medigap plan, it is something completely different altogether. A Medicare Advantage Plan is similar to an HMO, PPO or Private Fee-for-Service Plan and is not a coverage separate from Medicare. Medigap is supposed to help you fill in the gaps that original Medicare leaves so that you can get the right type of treatment and coverage for your life.

It is actually illegal for an insurance company to sell you a Medigap policy if they know that you currently have a Medicare Advantage Plan. The only way around this is if your Medicare Advantage Plan would end before your Medigap coverage begins. If you think you may have been taken advantage of in an instance like this you need to contact your insurance provider immediately.