Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Plans in Ohio
Key Takeaways
- Medicare Supplement Plans are private plans that can be added on to your Original Medicare coverage.
- You pay a monthly premium for these optional plans, but they can help reduce your out-of-pocket costs.
- These plans, also called Medigap plans, cover things like Medicare deductibles and copayments.
- You cannot add a Medigap plan to a Medicare Advantage plan, only Original Medicare.
What are Medicare Supplement Plans?
Medicare Supplement Plans, sometimes called Medigap plans, are private insurance plans that you can add on to your Original Medicare coverage. These plans can help pay for your share of the costs for Medicare-covered services.
If you are eligible for Medicare in Ohio, you can enroll in a Medigap plan. There are several Medigap plans in Ohio. Each type of plan has different coverage, rates and availability, and these vary by plan provider, too.
Because Medigap plans are private insurance, you might not be able to find the same plans or rates everywhere. You will need to check with insurance companies in your area to find out what specific plans are offered, how much they will cost and who qualifies. A licensed GoHealth agent can help you walk through your options for Medicare Supplement Plans in Ohio.
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Ohio Medicare Supplement Plan Coverage
There are 10 types of Medigap plans, plus high-deductible versions of two of these plans. Each plan is named with a letter, like Medigap Plan A or Medigap Plan G. The federal government sets standards for what each plan must cover, so — for example — any company that offers Medigap Plan G in Ohio must offer the same coverage. Some insurance companies may not offer every one of these plans, or they may choose to include additional coverage.
All Ohio 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
Ohio Medigap Plan Costs
Medigap rates depend on the insurance company offering the plan. Some plans determine costs based on your age, while others price premiums based on market conditions.
While rates vary by plan type and insurance company, premiums can range from about $39 to $1,014 a month for standard plans and $30 to $178 per month for high-deductible plans in Ohio in 2022. Most plans offer full coverage of Part B copayments and coinsurance, too.
Your Medigap plan can be used to cover your share of Part A deductibles, as well as any copayments or coinsurance you are left with after your Original Medicare benefits are paid. You will pay a monthly premium for your Medigap Ohio coverage, but often the cost of that premium is less than what you might pay for out-of-pocket costs if you did not have a supplemental plan.
Some Medigap plans also give discounts for things like:
- Not smoking
- Paying your premium annually instead of monthly
- Joining as a married couple
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Medicare Supplement Plan Eligibility & Enrollment in Ohio
If you are eligible for Original Medicare, you can buy a Medigap plan. However, if you don’t buy a Medigap plan when you are first eligible, there’s no guarantee you will be able to buy a plan later on, and you could pay more if you do get one.
You will get the best prices and the most choices if you purchase a Medigap plan during your initial six-month Medigap open enrollment period, when plans cannot choose to deny coverage based on your pre-existing health conditions. This period begins the first month you have Medicare Part B coverage. After this initial period, you may not be able to buy a plan at all due to your health status.
You can use Medicare’s online plan finder tool to help you locate plans and providers in your zip code. Or, you can call one of GoHealth’s licensed insurance agents, who can walk you through plans in your area to find the one that will best fit your needs.
Are There Medicare Supplement Plans with Prescription Drug Coverage in Ohio?
Medigap plans were allowed to include prescription drug coverage before 2006. If you bought one of those plans, you can keep it. Any changes you make to your plan, however, could mean you lose this coverage. And any new plans bought after 2006 do not include prescription drug coverage.
While you can’t wrap prescription coverage into your Medigap plan anymore, you can still get medication coverage through Medicare. To get prescription drug coverage, you will need to purchase a Medicare Part D plan.
If you have drug coverage from a Medigap plan purchased before 2006, you cannot be enrolled in a Part D plan at the same time.
Medigap vs. Medicare Advantage in Ohio
Medigap plans can only be added to Original Medicare. If you enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, you will have to contact the insurance company that supplies your Medigap coverage to cancel your policy.
Medicare Advantage plans combine all of the elements of Original Medicare plus other services like drug coverage, vision coverage and dental coverage. Once you switch to a Medicare Advantage plan, you will have a one-time 12-month grace period during which you can change back to your Medigap plan or buy a different one with no penalty.
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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 Ohio. 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.