Things You Need to Know About Before Purchasing a Medicare Supplement Plan

By buying Medicare Supplement Plans in Texas, you can fill in the gaps in your medical insurance coverage. With the Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) plan, for instance, you don’t get coverage costs for copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles. A Medicare Supplement, however, will cover them.

While it makes sense then to get Medicare Supplement Plans Texas, here are a few things you need to know before making your purchase:

There Are Several Letter Plans

Currently, out of the available ten Medicare Supplement plans, the most affordable ones are Plan G, Plan N, Plan C, and Plan D. However, you should stay alert about the extensive Medicare changes that 2020 will usher in.

In the new year, you will have no out-of-pocket medical expenses if you get Plan C and two other first-dollar coverage plans. However, if you become eligible for Medicare after Jan. 1, 2020, you can no longer buy Plan F and High Deductible Plan F. These plans will remain available, though, if you already have them or if you become 65 before January.

There Are Monthly Premiums

You will have to pay monthly premiums on the Medicare Supplement Plans. The amount you must pay will depend on how old you are, what your gender is, and where you live. However, the exact cost can differ from insurance carrier to insurance carrier. Also, they may follow the Issue-Age, the Attained-Age, or the Community-Rating pricing methods.

With the first, your premium amount will depend on how old you were when you bought the plan. With the second, the premium amount will increase as you grow older. And, with the third, it will vary according to location. So, what you pay in Texas will be different from what you might have to pay in Wisconsin.

Medicare Supplement Plans in Texas That Are Available in 2020

In 2020, you should consider buying Plan G, Plan N, and Plan D. These are the three most affordable letter plans in the new year. Let’s look at what they offer:

Plan G

With this plan, you can fill in the 20% coverage that you won’t get with your 80% Medicare Plan. It provides coverage for your copayments and coinsurance. Additionally, it will cover for the Part A deductible. There is no yearly payment for this deductible, by the way. You will need to pay only according to the times of hospitalizations in one year. For instance, if you were admitted to a hospital once in one year, you will only have to make one payment.

Having Plan G is also essential if you are going to travel abroad in the coming year. The full insurance coverage policy will provide medical emergency coverage and cover any excess charges you might incur by seeing a medical provider whose fees exceed the Medicare-approved amount. Plus, the premiums are quite low. You must only pay for the Part B deductible every year. There is no need to pay for the services that Medicare covers.

Plan N

Here is another decent plan to back up your 80% Medicare coverage and also to cover any medical emergencies that might occur while you are out of the country. If you visit a doctor’s clinic, the plan will provide $20 in copayment and $50 if you go to the emergency room. However, it does not provide for any payments for hospitalization or if you have excess medical charges.

The issue of excess charges is not much of a concern in the United States, though, as it is illegal in most of the states, and only about 3% of the medical practitioners in the country charge more than what Medicare considers acceptable. And, on the positive side, you will have to pay lower premiums with Plan N.

Plan D

You should consider Plan D if you need a solid support plan after your traditional Medicare plan. It covers both the hospital and hospice cover and coinsurance costs that Part A offers and the copayments and coinsurance you would get with Part B. Furthermore, you are also covered for medical emergencies abroad. The only issue with Plan D is that it doesn’t cover excess charges and the Part B deductible.