There is no limit to your annual out-of-pocket costs when you have Original Medicare (Parts A and B). Medicare Supplement plans in New Hampshire help pay some or even all of these costs.

What is Medigap in New Hampshire?

Commonly known as Medigap, Medicare Supplement Insurance helps pay your costs under Original Medicare, which includes Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance).

There are 10 standard Medigap plans (A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N) but not all insurance companies offer every plan. Some Medigap insurers also provide high-deductible versions of one or more plans.

Medicare Supplement plans are standardized, which means each individual plan offers the same benefits no matter where you live or who your insurance company is.

What does Medigap cover?

New Hampshire Medigap coverage varies depending on which plan you choose. However, every Supplement plan covers your Medicare Part A coinsurance and gives you an additional 365 lifetime reserve days for hospital care.

The following chart helps you compare the benefits of each Medigap plan:

Note that there are no Medigap plans that include prescription drug coverage. This benefit is provided by a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan.

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

The best time to join a New Hampshire Medicare Supplement plan is during your 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period (OEP). It begins the day you're both enrolled in Original Medicare and age 65 or older.

During your Medigap OEP, you have what Medicare calls guaranteed issue rights. When this happens, you cannot be denied a Medigap policy nor charged more for it, even if you have preexisting conditions.

You also get a Medigap OEP if you qualify for Medicare due to a disability. However, although Medigap insurers cannot refuse to sell you a policy, they may charge you more for it.

Who qualifies for Medicare Supplement Insurance in New Hampshire?

If you have Original Medicare and are age 65 or older, you qualify for Medicare Supplement Insurance in New Hampshire. The state also requires Medigap insurance companies to offer coverage to Medicare beneficiaries who qualify due to disability instead of age. However, if you're under 65, that requirement only exists during your Medigap Open Enrollment Period.

Medicare beneficiaries who qualify due to a disability get a second Medigap OEP when they turn 65.

Medigap Plan C and Medigap Plan F in New Hampshire

A new federal law prohibits Medigap plans that cover the Medicare Part B deductible. Medigap Plan C and Medigap Plan F provide this benefit. These plans are no longer available to those who qualify for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020.

You can get the same coverage (minus the Part B deductible) with either Medigap Plan D or Medigap Plan G.

How to choose a Medigap plan in New Hampshire

The medical underwriting process is why we recommend you choose the most comprehensive coverage you can afford. If you wait until you have health problems, you may not be able to find Medigap coverage. Or, the premiums may be higher than you can afford.

You should also look at pricing. Most Medigap insurers use one of three pricing methods:

• Community rated: These plans charge the same premium regardless of age, making them the least costly option over time. Few insurance companies use community rated pricing.
• Issue-age rated: Premiums are based on your age when you join the plan but do not go up as you get older. However, they may rise due to inflation.
• Attained-age rated: Premiums start out low and increase as you age. These plans `cost the most over time.

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