Medicare Supplement insurance plans, also called Medigap plans, provide help with some of the out-of-pocket expenses not paid for by Original Medicare.
When you go to the doctor under Original Medicare, you still have expenses to pay. Medicare Supplement insurance plans work with your Medicare Part A (hospital stays) and Medicare Part B (doctor visits) to help lower the out-of-pocket medical costs that Original Medicare doesn’t cover.
The Medicare Supplement plans that are available to you depend on the state in which you live. And which Medicare Supplement plan you choose depends on your individual needs. Use the information below to help as you consider which Medicare Supplement plan is best for you.
Only applicants first eligible for Medicare before 2020 may purchase Plans C and F. A checkmark indicates the benefit is paid at 100%.
Reference the chart below to understand coverage and costs associated with each Medicare Supplement plan.
Part A coinsurance and hospital coverage
(up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits are used)
Part B coinsurance or copayment
1
Blood
(first 3 pints, per year)
Part A Hospice coinsurance or copayment
Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance
Part A deductible
Part B annual deductible
Part B excess charges
Foreign Travel Emergency Care 2
(up to plan limits)
Out-of-Pocket Limit in 2024 3
1 Plan N pays 100% of the Part B coinsurance, except for a copayment of up to $20 for some office visits and up to a $50 copayment for emergency room visits that don't result in an inpatient admission.
2 Care needed immediately because of an injury or an illness of sudden and unexpected onset. Benefit is 80% and beneficiaries are responsible for 20% after the $250 annual deductible with a $50,000 lifetime maximum for medically necessary emergency care received outside the U.S. during the first 60 days of each trip.
3 Plans K and L pay 100% of covered services for the rest of the calendar year once you meet your out-of-pocket yearly limit.
Benefits and costs vary depending on the plan chosen.
Now that you've seen plan coverage side-by-side, it's time to consider how much those plans impact your personal budget.
Medicare Supplement Plan A offers just the Basic Benefits while Plan B covers Basic Benefits plus a benefit for the Medicare Part A deductible. The Medicare Part A deductible could be one of your largest out-of-pocket expenses if you need to spend time in a hospital. Plans A and B generally have higher out-of-pocket costs for things like Skilled Nursing Facility Coinsurance, Medicare Part B Excess Charges, and Foreign Travel Emergency Care.
Plans C, F and G offer the most supplemental coverage, paying many of your out-of-pocket costs for Medicare-approved services. Consider one of these plans if you are willing to pay a monthly premium that is typically higher in exchange for more covered benefits and lower out-of-pocket costs.
1 You may only apply for plans C and F if you were first eligible for Medicare before 2020.
Plans K and L are cost-sharing plans offering lower monthly premiums. The premiums are typically lower because, for some services, they pay a percentage of the coinsurance instead of the full coinsurance amount. Once the out-of-pocket limit is reached, these plans pay 100% of covered services for the rest of the calendar year.
Plan N covers the Medicare Part B coinsurance, but you pay copayments for covered doctor office and emergency room visits in exchange for a monthly premium that tends to be more mid-range.
UnitedHealthcare provides information and tools to make it easier to find the plan you need, and learn as much as possible before you choose.
Get a Free Decision Guide
The Decision Guide provides you with information about AARP Medicare Supplement Plans.
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Go to the member site to see your plan benefit information.
View Important Disclosures Below
AARP endorses the AARP Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans, insured by UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company.
UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company pays royalty fees to AARP for the use of its intellectual property. These fees are used for the general purposes of AARP. AARP and its affiliates are not insurers. AARP does not employ or endorse agents, brokers or producers.
You must be an AARP member to enroll in an AARP Medicare Supplement Plan.
Insured by UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company, Hartford, CT (UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of New York, Islandia, NY for New York residents). Policy Form No. GRP 79171 GPS-1 (G-36000-4).
In some states, plans may be available to persons under age 65 who are eligible for Medicare by reason of disability or End-Stage Renal Disease.
Not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. Government or the federal Medicare program.
This is a solicitation of insurance. A licensed insurance agent/producer may contact you.
THESE PLANS HAVE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS, EXCLUSIONS AND LIMITATIONS. FOR COSTS AND COMPLETE DETAILS (INCLUDING OUTLINES OF COVERAGE), CALL A LICENSED INSURANCE AGENT/PRODUCER AT THE TOLL-FREE NUMBER SHOWN.
