Trying to Understand Medicare Supplements

Do you have questions about Medicare and Medicare Supplements?  If you do, you’re not alone.  It seems like every time we think we get it, there’s another point we missed or another change.  By the time we get to the end of the year for open enrollment, which is happening from now until the end of December, they give us more confusing information.  We will try to clear a few things up here.

There are many parts to Medicare and each part covers something different. The parts are named by letters, starting with A, and continuing with B, C and D. A is hospitalization, B is medical and doctors, D is drug coverage. C used to be Medicare Choice, but it is now known Medicare Advantage (still C or MA). C is optional Medicare private insurance instead of the original Medicare plan.

If you have A and B, you are responsible for some hefty deductibles, and you will need to purchase another plan to fill these gaps. This is called a “Medigap” plan or Medicare Supplement. Part C. This part sometimes includes D, but not always. There are a number of D Plans which cover different things and it is important to check and determine which plans are best for you.  If you have never had Part D prescription drug coverage, it is especially important for you to do some research and make some comparisons before you sign up for a particular plan.
Part D is optional as long as you have Part A and Part B.  Part A is free for most people, but the rest of the Parts of Medicare involve some premiums and/or copayments.

You can get official information about Medicare and Medicare Supplements at www.cms.gov or www.medicare.gov, which are both official Medicare websites.  Try to do this when you have the time to sit for a while, as in some states there are over 30, 40 or even 50 plans available.
There are usually various free seminars regarding Medicare and Medicare Supplements during this time of year.  Check for them at your local senior center, your local hospital, your office on aging, or your local Medicare or Community Services offices.

We have only given a brief overview here.  Hopefully will be a solid start that helps you as you begin to wade through the many parts of the Medicare and Medicare Supplement system.