What Are Medigap Plans?
Medigap plans are Medicare Supplement Insurance offered by Medicare-approved private insurance companies to help cover cost sharing requirements of Original Medicare Parts A and B.
While Medicare pays for a large percentage of the health care services and supplies you may need, you are still responsible for a portion of the costs in the form of deductibles, copays, and coinsurance. Medigap policies help with these costs and sometimes offer more coverage for excess charges and foreign travel health emergencies.
Medigap plans are standardized by Medicare and regulated by state laws and insurance commissioners. You pay a monthly premium for Medigap. Costs and availability of Medigap plans vary depending on several factors including your age and gender, the insurer, and your state of residence. Learn about Medigap in West Virginia so you can determine which plan best meets your needs.
- Plans F and G are the most popular and comprehensive Medigap plan types in West Virginia. Plan F is no longer available to people who are eligible for Medicare after December 31, 2019.
- Monthly premiums for Plan G for a 65 year old female who doesn’t use tobacco range from $93 to $1,120.
- The official U.S. government website for Medicare, providing information about plans, coverage, costs, claims, resources, and more to the public.
- West Virginia does not require Medigap insurers to offer plans to disabled Medicare beneficiaries under age 65, however, three state insurers offer plans at higher premiums.
Medicare Supplement Plans in West Virginia
Compare ratings of some of West Virginia’s Medigap providers: | ||||
Insurance company | A.M. Best rating | NAIC complaint index | BBB rating | Consumer Affairs |
Aetna | A+ | Above average | A+ | 2.4/5 |
Blue Cross Blue Shield | A | Above average | F | 1.2/5 |
Cigna | A | Below average | No rating | 3/5 |
Humana | A- | Above average | A+ | 2.3/5 |
UnitedHealthcare | A- | Below average | A+ | 2.1/5 |
What Medicare Supplement Plans Cover
Medigap policies serve as your secondary source of insurance after Medicare pays. Medigap fills in the “gaps” between what Medicare pays for covered services and what you are charged. Some plans offer extended coverage for Part B excess charges and foreign travel emergency costs.
There are 10 standardized Medigap plans that are regulated by federal and state governments. Two of the 10 plans (F and G) are the most comprehensive plans and also offer high-deductible versions. All plans are not available in all states.
Medigap policies may include the following benefits:
- Part A coinsurance and hospital costs up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits are used up
- Part B coinsurance or copayment
- The first three pints of blood
- Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment
- Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance
- Part A deductible
- Part B deductible (only certain plans for people eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020)
- Part B excess charges
- Foreign travel emergency services
- Out-of-pocket limits
Do You Need a Medicare Supplement in West Virginia?
Should you consider a Medicare supplement? | |
Yes, if you:
|
No, if you:
|
What Medigap Plans Cost in West Virginia
Expect to pay about $70 to $1,120 each month for a Medigap plan A, G, or N in West Virginia if you enroll during your open enrollment period. Premiums will vary depending on your insurer and how your premium is rated.
Medigap policies can be rated in three ways:
- Community rated (or no age-rated): Your premium isn’t based on your age and may only increase due to inflation or other factors. Everyone, regardless of age, is charged the same premium.
- Issue-age rated (or entry age-rated): Your premium is based on your age when you buy the policy and won’t increase as you grow older. Your premium may only increase due to inflation or other factors.
- Attained-age-rated: Your premium is based on your age and can increase as you grow older and due to inflation and other factors.
Medigap vs. Medicare Advantage Plans
Medigap and Medicare Advantage Plans are very different. You are eligible for either type of plan when you are enrolled in Medicare Part A and B, but you cannot have both at the same time. Both Medigap and Medicare Advantage Plans are offered by Medicare-approved private insurance companies. You can only choose to join plans that are available in your area.
Compare your options:
Plan type | Medigap | Medicare Advantage |
What it is | Medigap is insurance designed to supplement Original Medicare and helps cover your out-of-pocket expenses, like deductibles, copays, and coinsurance you incur when you access your Medicare services. You pay a monthly premium for Medigap. Medigap plans are standardized across the U.S. Benefits, costs, and availability of plans vary depending on your age, gender, tobacco use, and state of residence. | Medicare Advantage Plans, on the other hand, are an alternative way to receive your Medicare benefits. These plans must offer all the services Original Medicare does, and frequently add on prescription drug coverage and other services, such as hearing, vision, and dental. |
What it covers | Covers:
|
Covers:
|
What it works with |
|
|
When it’s best | If you frequently access your Part A and B benefits, want your out-of-pocket expenses covered, and want to choose your providers. | If you want all of your health and drug coverage through one plan, want extra benefits, and are willing to follow your plan’s rules and network restrictions. |
Types of Medigap Plans in West Virginia
Every standardized type of Medigap plan is offered in West Virginia, but Plans F and G offer the most comprehensive coverage and are the most popular. Plans F and G also come in a high-deductible version. Here are some highlights and difference among some of the plans:
Plan F
|
Plan G
|
Plan K
|
Plan L
|
Plan N
|
Compare Medicare Supplement Options
Medigap Benefits | Plan A | Plan B | Plan C | Plan D | Plan F* | Plan G* | Plan K | Plan L | Plan M | Plan N |
Part A coinsurance and hospital costs up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits are used up | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Part B coinsurance or copayment | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 50% | 75% | Yes | Yes*** |
Blood (first 3 pints) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 50% | 75% | Yes | Yes |
Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 50% | 75% | Yes | Yes |
Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 50% | 75% | Yes | Yes |
Part A deductible | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 50% | 75% | 50% | Yes |
Part B deductible | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
Part B excess charge | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
Foreign travel exchange (up to plan limits) | No | No | 80% | 80% | 80% | 80% | No | No | 80% | 80% |
Out-of-pocket limit** | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $6,620 | $3,310 | N/A | N/A |
* Plans F and G also offer a high-deductible plan in some states. With this option, you must pay for Medicare-covered costs (coinsurance, copayments, and deductibles) up to the deductible amount of$2,700 in 2023 before your policy pays anything. (Plans C and F aren’t available to people who were newly eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020.)
** For Plans K and L, after you meet your out-of-pocket yearly limit and your yearly Part B deductible, the Medigap plan pays 100% of covered services for the rest of the calendar year.
*** Plan N pays 100% of the Part B coinsurance, except for a copayment of up to $20 for some office visits and up to a $50 copayment for emergency room visits that don’t result in inpatient admission.
What’s the most popular West Virginia Medigap plan in 2023?
Plan F, because it pays the annual Part B deductible and is the most comprehensive plan available, is the most popular plan. However, because Plan F is only available to Medicare beneficiaries who were eligible before January 2020, Plan G is gaining in popularity. Plan G offers comprehensive coverage, except for the Part B deductible, and is widely available from most insurers.
When to Sign Up for Medicare Supplement Plans in West Virginia
In general, you will get the best price for Medicare Supplement Insurance if you purchase a plan as soon as you are eligible for Medicare and enrolled in Parts A and B.
Medigap Open Enrollment starts on the first day of the month that you turn 65 and are enrolled in both Parts A and B and lasts for six months. An insurance company is not allowed to use medical underwriting to decide whether to accept your application or change the price during this time.
To enroll in a Medigap Plan, contact the insurance company to make sure you are in your open enrollment period or have guaranteed issue rights. Complete the application and determine when you want your policy to start.
There are certain situations which may give you guaranteed issue rights to purchase a Medigap policy, regardless of your health conditions or any preexisting health conditions.
These include:
- Moving out of the coverage area while in a Medicare Advantage Plan or Medicare SELECT Plan
- Your existing Medicare Advantage Plan leaving Medicare coverage
- Your other insurance plan outside of Medicare is ending
- You are within your trial right period
- Your plan coverage ends through no fault of your own
How to Choose a Medigap Plan in West Virginia
Consider these factors as you compare Medicare Supplement Insurance plans available in your area: | |
Monthly premium | This is in addition to your Part B monthly premium, so it affects your monthly cash flow. You pay whether or not you access your benefits. Your premium amount is determined based on the type of plan you get, your age, gender, tobacco use, and state of residence. |
Benefits | Basic coverage for Part A copays and coinsurance and at least a portion of Part B copays and coinsurance, three pints of blood, and hospice care are offered with every type of plan. Other benefits may not be included, so check to see which benefits are most important to you. |
Insurance provider | Look at ratings and past experience, either your own or other consumers, with the carrier you are considering. Contact a company representative to get an idea of their customer service and responsiveness. |
Extra discounts | Some plans and insurers offer added perks or discounts once you become a member. You may have access to discounted hearing aid providers or eyeglass suppliers, for instance. |
Medicare Supplement Resources in West Virginia
Determining if you want to remain on Original Medicare or select a Medicare Advantage program can be a frustrating process. Original Medicare presents you with one option while there are many Medicare Advantage programs in West Virginia, depending upon which county you live in. Fortunately, there are resources for senior residents of West Virginia to find help. These organizations will answer questions about Medicare and Medicare Advantage and other important issues like prescription drug coverage, legal aid for seniors, and any other special needs.
Area Agencies on Aging | Website | (304) 558-3317 | These agencies cover four different areas of West Virginia. They’re part of a group of organizations that were created by the Older Americans Act. They help provide seniors with information on Medicare and Medicare Advantage, meals, transportation, and other services. State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) counselors are available through the various AAAs. These trained professionals provide unbiased advice on choosing Medicare plans and also coordinate area Medicare education events. |
West Virginia RX card | Website | (888) 808-0099 | West Virginia’s free statewide prescription assistance plan is open to all residents of the state. It’s designed to help the uninsured and under-insured with prescription drug costs, so it’s ideal for seniors who may have selected a plan that doesn’t cover prescription drug costs. The card is accepted at 56,000 pharmacies nationwide, including CVS, Target, and Walgreens. |
West Virginia Bureau of Senior Services | Website | (877) 987-3646 | West Virginia’s Bureau provides information to seniors and their family members about available programs and services, including Medicare and Medicare Advantage. It also helps residents of West Virginia connect to various senior-related services throughout the state. |
Learn More From Our Sources
- Area Agencies on Aging | Last accessed December 2024
- Medicare | Costs of Medigap policies | Last accessed December 2024
- Medicare | Find a Medigap policy that works for you | Last accessed December 2024
- Medicare | Guide to Choosing a Medigap Policy | Last accessed December 2024
- Medicare | How to compare Medigap policies | Last accessed December 2024
- Medicare | What’s Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap)? | Last accessed December 2024
- SHIP (Medicare) | Last accessed December 2024
- West Virginia Bureau of Senior Services | Last accessed December 2024
- West Virginia Rx Card | Last accessed December 2024