Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Plans in Iowa
Key Takeaways
- Medicare Supplement Plans are private insurance plans.
- These plans, also called Medigap plans, can only be added to Original MedicareOriginal Medicare is a fee-for-service health insurance program available to Americans aged 65 and older and some individuals with disabilities. Original Medicare is provided by the federal government and is made up of two parts: Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance). .
- Medigap plan benefits can be used to pay for things like Medicare deductiblesA deductible is an amount you pay out of pocket before your insurance company covers its portion of your medical bills. For example: If your deductible is $1,000, your insurance company will not cover any costs until you pay the first $1,000 yourself. and copayments.
- The cost of your monthly Medigap premium, and how much you will pay in other out-of-pocket costs, will depend on your individual plan.
Medicare Supplement Plans in Iowa
Medicare Supplement Plans, also known as Medigap plans, are private insurance plans that you can add on to Original Medicare. These plans are not mandatory but, for the cost of a monthly premium, they can help you lower other out-of-pocket costs you would normally pay with Original Medicare, like copayments and deductibles.
If you are eligible for Medicare in Iowa, you have the option of enrolling in a Medigap plan. While these plans aren’t mandatory, you can usually get the best price when you first become eligible for Medicare. This is also the only time that your coverage is guaranteed. If you wait to sign up for a Medigap plan, you may be denied due to things like pre-existing health conditions.
If you want to sign up for a Medicare Supplement Plan in Iowa, you should decide what kind of coverage you want, what your budget is, and then see what plans and prices are offered where you live. A GoHealth insurance agent can help you find specific Iowa Medigap plans that meet your needs.
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Iowa Medicare Supplement Plan Coverage
There are 12 different types of Medigap plans, two of which are high-deductible versions of other plans. The federal government dictates what each plan has to cover, but each insurance company has some room to tailor individual plans and prices.
All Iowa Medigap plans will cover:
- Medicare Part A coinsurance for hospital and hospice care
- Medicare Part B coinsurance and copayments
- Blood needed for medical procedures (first 3 pints in a year)
- Part A coinsurance for skilled nursing care facility
- Part A deductible
- Part B excess charges
- Up to 80% of foreign travel emergency healthcare
IA Medigap Plan Costs
The cost of your Medigap plan in Iowa will depend on the specific plan you choose, as well as the company offering that plan. You may also find that factors like your age, whether or not you are married, and what health problems you have can also impact the total cost of your supplement plan.
Rates vary by plan type and insurance company. Monthly premiums for Medigap policies in Iowa range from about $38 to $959 in 2022. For the two high-deductible plans, you can expect to pay a monthly premium of between $28 and $326. Most plans offer a $0 deductible for Part A services, and a $0 to $233 deductible for Part B services. For the high-deductible plans, however, you will pay around $2,400 for an overall plan deductible, and then pay no separate deductibles for Part A or B coverage. Copayment and coinsurance rates also vary by plan, but usually range from $0 to about 10% of the service cost after your deductible is met.
No matter which Medigap plan you choose, Original Medicare will pay its share of your healthcare costs first, and then your supplemental plan coverage will be applied. Although you will pay a premium for your Medigap coverage, for people who have a lot of healthcare needs — and expenses — the cost of your Medigap premium is usually less than you would pay for out-of-pocket costs without supplemental insurance.
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You are eligible to purchase a Medigap plan if you are eligible for Original Medicare. However, if you don’t buy a Medicare Supplement Plan when you first enroll in Medicare, there’s no guarantee you will be able to buy a plan later on, and you could pay more if you do get one.
The best time to sign up for Medigap is during your initial enrollment period, which is a six-month window that begins the first month you have Medicare Part B. During this period, insurance companies cannot deny you coverage based on any pre-existing health conditions, or charge you more for the same plan. After the initial enrollment period, you are not guaranteed coverage, and your rates may increase based on your age and overall health.
If you do add a Medigap plan to your Original Medicare coverage, you should review which plans best fit your health needs and your budget. You can use Medicare’s online plan finder tool to help you locate plans and providers in your zip code, and compare what different plans cost and cover. GoHealth licensed insurance agents can also help you thoroughly compare plans in your area so you can find the right one that will fit your needs.
Are There Iowa Medicare Supplement Plans with Prescription Drug Coverage?
Some Medigap plans used to cover prescription medications, but this changed in 2006. Plans purchased after January 1, 2006, cannot include prescription drug coverage. If you bought your Medigap plan before that date, you can keep the coverage, but you may lose it if you make changes to your plan.
If you missed out on drug coverage in your Medigap plan, there are other options to help you pay for prescriptions. Even with Original Medicare and Medigap, you can enroll in Medicare Part D. These are private insurance plans that help you cover the cost of prescription medications. If you don’t sign up for one of these plans when you are first eligible, you will have to pay a late enrollment penalty based on how long you went without a drug plan.
Medigap vs. Medicare Advantage in Iowa
Medicare Supplement Plans are only an option if you have Original Medicare. These plans cannot be combined with a Medicare Advantage plan because those plans are already designed to help you get more coverage or lower your out-of-pocket costs.
If you have Medicare Advantage and you want to enroll in a Medigap plan, you will have to drop your Medicare Advantage plan and go back to Original Medicare. Similarly, if you have Original Medicare with Medigap coverage and you want to join a Medicare Advantage plan, you will have to contact the company you purchased your Medigap policy through and cancel the plan before enrolling in Medicare Advantage.
If you switch from Original Medicare with a Medigap plan to a Medicare Advantage plan and you’re not happy with your choice, you have a one-time, 12-month grace period to switch back to Original Medicare and get your Medigap plan back or buy a different one.
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Medicare Learning Guides
Healthcare is personal. So is choosing insurance. If you are new to Medicare, a beneficiary researching options, or a caregiver, we have tailored Medicare Guides for you.
Before 65 Guide
Understanding health insurance before age 65, especially when considering early retirement
Medicare Plans Guide
Costs, coverage and enrollment details for each Medicare plan
Medicare Beneficiary Guide
For those currently enrolled in Medicare
Low Income and Medicare Guide
For individuals with a qualifying income status
A Caregiver's Guide
For individuals with a qualifying income status
Sources
- When can I buy Medigap? Medicare.gov.
- Find a Medigap policy that works for you. Medicare.gov.
- What’s Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap)? Medicare.gov.
- How to compare Medigap policies. Medicare.gov.
- Supplement Insurance (Medigap) plans in Iowa. Medicare.gov.
- Buying your Medigap policy. Medicare.gov.
- Medigap & Medicare drug coverage (Part D). Medicare.gov.
- Medigap & Medicare Advantage plans. Medicare.gov.
This website is operated by GoHealth, LLC., a licensed health insurance company. The website and its contents are for informational and educational purposes; helping people understand Medicare in a simple way. The purpose of this website is the solicitation of insurance. Contact will be made by a licensed insurance agent/producer or insurance company. Medicare Supplement insurance plans are not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. Our mission is to help every American get better health insurance and save money.
Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.