Medicare Plan B
is the most basic Medicare Supplement.
Medigap Plan B Benefits
Your hospital deductible is a per-incident deductible, not an annual one, so this is an important benefit. Medicare Plan B will pay the deductible even if you incur it more than once in the same year.
The chart below shows basic information about the different benefits Medigap policies cover.
✔ ​= the plan covers 100% of this benefit
​X = the plan doesn’t cover this benefit
% = the plan covers that percentage of this benefit and you’re responsible for the rest
N/A = not applicable
The Medigap policy will only pay your coinsurance after you’ve paid the deductible (unless the Medigap policy also covers your deductible).
Medigap Plan B Costs
Each insurance company that offers Medigap Plan B sets its own rates. These rates can vary widely by region. Your zip code, gender, age, tobacco usage, and eligibility for household discounts also affect the rate.
The insurance companies also have different loss ratios from their existing clients. Just remember that the benefits are standardized so a Medigap Plan B with one carrier has the same benefits as Plan B with the next. Choose a carrier with low rates and a good, stable history of low-rate increases. Our quoting software can provide all of that information for you.
Medigap Plan B is just one of the many different Supplements you can purchase to help offset your medical expenses. It is not the same as Part B, which is the outpatient medical coverage you purchase directly from Social Security.
People must have Part B for outpatient coverage, and then they still need a Supplement to help them pay for the things that Original Medicare doesn’t cover. Just make sure not to confuse the two – and if you feel uncertain, give us a call.
Because these two things are similarly named, many people find the terminology hard to understand. It’s very important to understand the difference before you make an insurance choice.
- Medigap Plan B should not be confused with Medicare Part B, which provides coverage for outpatient services.
- Medigap Plan B offers the same benefits as Medigap Plan A, plus the Part A deductible.
- The cost of a Medigap plan such as Plan B depends on multiple factors, such as your age, zip code, gender, and tobacco use.