If you’re looking for the best Medicare supplement plans, you’re probably concerned about limiting out-of-pocket expenses with your original Medicare plan.

Since original Medicare pays about 80 percent of your doctor and hospitalization expenses, the average 20 percent co-pay obligation can add up quickly. Up to 10 plans are offered in each state. These plans are identified according to letter, such as A to G and K to N plans. It’s important to know that Medicare supplement plans, or Medigap plans, are “standardized.”

In other words, Plan A benefits are the same regardless of the insurer offering it or the state in which the plan is sold.

A Medicare supplement plan used by a friend or family member might not be the best Medicare supplement for you. It will take some effort on your part to identify the best plans offered in your area.

Medicare Supplement Plans and Rates

However, it’s challenging for most new to Medicare beneficiaries to made an apples-to-apples comparison of Medicare supplement plans and premiums. If you’re searching for information about the best Medicare supplement for your needs, contact MedicareFAQ.com at (800) 845-2484 to speak with a qualified agent.

With facts and figures at hand about popular Medicare supplement plans, including Humana, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aeta, Mutual of Omaha, Cigna, Transamerica, and many other providers in your area, the task of comparing Medicare plan supplement benefits and premium costs is easier. A call to Medicare may help you compare a few plans, but you won’t receive necessary details about the Medicare supplement plan offerings without placing individual calls to each insurer.

Contacting each qualified insurer is time-consuming and you may find it difficult to easily compare each plan’s benefits vs. premium costs.

MedicareFAQ.com service is free, and they’ll help you compare the best Medicare supplement plans by phone. It’s also easy to fill out the form to help you decide the best plans for yourself or a loved one.

Compare Medicare Supplement Plans

According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid, most beneficiaries choose A to D, F and G plans. K to N plans cost less but these plans have higher deductible costs.

If you’re purchasing a Medicare supplement plan to manage potentially high out-of-pocket co-pay deductibles. Other plans (K and L) pay limited benefits until a certain out-of-pocket range is reached.

Determining the best plan will depend on the options you select.

Because it’s probably impossible to know which particular Medicare supplement plan benefits you’ll need in the future, it may be prudent to choose a comprehensive plan you can afford.

Simply selecting the most expensive monthly premium payment offered by an insurer doesn’t mean you’re getting the most potential benefits.

The best Medicare supplement plan for you might cost less than the supplement plan with the largest number of benefits. So it is in your best interest to consider your family health history and life expectancy in the comparison process.

If you’re a healthy older person and members of your family tend to live long lives, you might not need the most comprehensive Medicare supplement plan offered.

Medicare Supplement Plans vs. Medicare Advantage Plans

Don’t confuse a Medicare Advantage Plan with a Medicare Supplement Plan. This can be a very costly mistake.

Medicare Parts A and B covers the beneficiary’s hospital visits and Part B covers his or her doctor office appointments. You still pay premiums, co-insurance costs, and deductibles with a Medicare advantage plan and these plans will cover some costs and incidental benefits, such as low-cost gym memberships, dental plans, eye and/or hearing care, etc., but they can’t compete with a Medicare supplement plan if the need to pay for long-term hospitalization or care for a chronic condition presents.

Medicare advantage plans are also called Medicare Part C plans. They don’t offer the same benefits as a Medicare supplement plan.

Medicare Supplement Plan Benefits

If you travel or need to see a medical specialist outside of your local market and/or state, Medicare supplement plans offer attractive advantages. A Medicare advantage plan may require your primary care doctor to write a referral if you need a specialist.

If you need to travel out of the state in which your advantage plan is written, you may be required to get written approval from the plan’s corporate office to get the care you need. However, a Medicare supplement plan gives you the freedom to choose doctors and hospitals. If your provider accepts Medicare, your supplement plan should help you get care when and where you need it.

The best plans also help you manage out-of-pocket costs, such as your PCP or specialist physician’s co-pay requirements. For these reasons and more, a Medicare supplement insurance plan may be a financially prudent choice for you.

Article Submitted By Community Writer