If you have Original Medicare, you can get help paying some of your out-of-pocket costs with Medicare Supplement Insurance. Private insurance companies provide these plans, which may cover coinsurance, deductibles, and more. This page describes Medicare Supplement Insurance plans in Indiana and explains the best time to join and who qualifies.

What is Medigap in Indiana?

Medicare Supplement Insurance is more commonly known as Medigap because it fills the "gaps" left by Original Medicare. This means that Medigap pays some of your out-of-pocket cost, not that it covers services that Medicare doesn't cover.

Original Medicare includes Part A, which covers inpatient care, and Part B, which covers outpatient services. It does not cover prescriptions, dental, routine vision, or hearing aids.

There is no yearly out-of-pocket max with Original Medicare, which can lead to significant healthcare costs. Medicare Supplement Insurance helps protect you from this type of medical debt.

Medigap plans are standardized, which means you get the same coverage with every Plan A (or B, D, etc.) no matter which insurance company provides the policy. Prices, however, do differ. In addition, not every Medigap insurer offers every plan.

There are 10 basic Medigap plans available, each represented by a letter (A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N). Some insurers also offer high-deductible Medigap plans.

Who qualifies for Medicare Supplement Insurance in Indiana?

If you have Original Medicare and are age 65 or older, you qualify for Medicare Supplement Insurance in Indiana.

In addition, the Indiana legislature passed S.B. 392 in 2019. This extends Medigap coverage to Medicare beneficiaries who qualify due to a disability. The change took effect in July of 2020. If you are under age 65 and have Medicare, you can now sign up for an Indiana Medigap plan, with the same guaranteed issue right through your first six months of having Medicare Part B. This means you cannot be denied a Medigap policy. However, insurers may charge you significantly more for this coverage, depending on your medical history.

What does Medigap cover?

Medigap coverage varies according to which plan you choose, although all plans cover at least the Medicare Part A coinsurance and give you an extra 365 lifetime reserve days for inpatient hospital care. The following table explains what each Supplement plan covers:

2024 Medigap Plan Costs

Since Medigap only pays for services covered by Original Medicare, you cannot get prescription drug coverage with one of these plans. This is available through either a standalone Medicare Part D plan or a Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plan (MA-PD).

Medigap Plan C and Medigap Plan F in Indiana

A recent change in federal law prohibits Medigap plans from covering the Medicare Part B deductible. Medigap Plan C and Medigap Plan F both cover the Part B deducible. If you qualify for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020, you may no longer join either plan.

You can get comparable coverage with either Medigap Plan D or Medigap Plan G. With the exception of the Part B deductible, these options cover everything Plans C and F did.

When is the best time to join a Medicare Supplement plan in Indiana?

The best time to join an Indiana Medicare Supplement plan is during your 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period (OEP). As of July 1, 2020, it is available to everyone enrolled in Original Medicare, regardless of age.

The Medigap OEP is one of the few times you have a guaranteed issue right, which means you cannot be denied a Supplement plan. If you're over age 65, you also cannot be charged a higher premium, even if you have preexisting medical conditions.

Without guaranteed issue rights, your Medigap application goes through medical underwriting. This process involves answering a series of health-related questions. Insurance companies use medical underwriting to decide whether to sell you a policy and at what premium.

How to choose a Medigap plan in Indiana

You first need to decide how much coverage you want and/or need. It's tempting to join the plan that costs the least. However, when you're ready for more comprehensive coverage, your application may be denied based on medical underwriting.

Cost should be your next consideration. Medigap pricing methods include:

  • Attained-age rated: Premiums start out low but go up as you age. Over time, attained-age policies cost the most.
  • Community rated: You pay the same for these policies regardless of age. Over time, these are the cheapest Medigap plans.
  • Issue-age rated: Premiums are based on your age at the time you join the plan but may rise over time due to inflation.

Our Find a Plan tool makes it easy to compare Medigap plans in Indiana. Simply enter your location information to review Medicare plan options in your area.

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