Medicare Supplemental Plan D
Medicare is a federal health insurance program that helps seniors in pay for medical bills. However, sometimes coverage provided by Medicare is simply not enough, especially with the rising cost of healthcare. Thankfully, Medicare supplemental insurance plans are available to help offset the remaining health care costs after Medicare coverage has been applied.
What is Medicare Supplemental Plan D?
Medicare supplemental plans, also referred to as Medigap, are policies that can be obtained through private insurance companies that provide coverage for some of the costs that Medicare does not cover. These plans differ from the Medicare Advantage Plan, or Medicare Part C, which is a way to receive Medicare benefits through a private insurance company that can often have less out-of-pocket costs than receiving benefits directly through Medicare. Ten Medigap plans are available in most states, and they are identified by a single letter of either A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, or N. Each plan offers a different level of coverage and cost. To be eligible to purchase a Medigap policy, you must have Medicare Parts A and B, or what are referred to as Original Medicare. Medicare Supplement Plan D is a supplemental plan that provides a mid-level amount of coverage among the ten plans offered. It should not be confused with Medicare Part D, which provides coverage for prescription drugs.
What Does Supplemental Plan D Insurance Cover?
Medicare Supplement Plan D covers several parts of Medicare Part A’s non-covered costs which include 100 percent of the deductible cost, co-payment or coinsurance for hospice care, as well as the coinsurance and hospital costs for up to 365 days after Medicare benefits have been exhausted. The co-payment or coinsurance for Medicare Part B services is covered at 100 percent. The first three pints of blood that are necessary for a medical procedure and the coinsurance that’s charged for utilizing a skilled nursing facility are also covered at 100 percent. The charges for emergency care when traveling outside of the United States are covered at 80 percent with a maximum lifetime pay-out limit of $50,000.
Medigap Policy D provides the following benefits:
- Basic Benefits
- Skilled Nursing Facilities
- Part A Deductible
- Foreign Travel Emergency
Basic Benefits
- Part A Hospital Coinsurance
- Days 61-90 of a hospital stay in each Medicare benefit period
- Days 91-150 of a hospital stay. Medicare will only pay for these 60 days once during your lifetime
- Additional Part A Hospital Benefits
- An extra 365 days of inpatient hospital care after you use your Original Medicare hospital benefits
- Part B Coinsurance
- Pays for the Part B coinsurance after you meet your annual deductible
- Part A and B Blood Coverage
- Pays for the first three pints of blood per calendar year
- Part A Hospice Coinsurance
- Pays for outpatient prescriptions drug and inpatient respite care coinsurance
Skilled Nursing Facility
A nursing facility with the staff and equipment to give skilled nursing care and, in most cases skilled rehabilitation services and other related health services.
Part A (Hospital Insurance)
The part of Medicare that pays for inpatient hospital stays, care in a skilled nursing facility, hospice care and some home health care.
Foreign Travel Emergency
After the first $250: 80% up to a lifetime maximum of $50,000
When Can You Enroll In Medicare Supplement Plan D Insurance?
The best time to enroll in Medigap Plan D is during the Medigap Open Enrollment Period which is six months of becoming eligible for Medicare which is when you reach the age of 65. You can apply for coverage at any time after this initial open enrollment period. However, you can be denied coverage or charged higher premiums due to pre-existing conditions after the first six months of eligibility.
What Does Medicare Supplemental Insurance Plan D Cost?
The cost for Medigap plans widely vary as different companies use different methods for determining the rates for premiums, although most rates range from around $100 to around $350. Some factors that determine rates include plan type, gender, age, tobacco usage, the time the policy was obtained, geographic location, and discounts applied such as a discount for using electronic funds transfer.
The importance of obtaining a Medigap plan cannot be overstated. Dealing with financial obligations can be a hassle, and if you’re living on a fixed income, figuring out ways to pay the bills can seem almost impossible. Medicare supplemental insurance can be a tool that is used to help minimize the stress of financial obligations, and it has the potential to save you thousands of dollars. To learn more about Medicare Supplemental Plan D insurance or get a quote for a policy, contact Plan Medigap by calling (800) 750-2407 today.