With Original Medicare, there is no annual out-of-pocket limit, which could leave you owing substantial medical bills. Medicare Supplement Insurance plans in Wyoming help pay a variety of healthcare costs under Medicare Parts A and B. Commonly known as Medigap, the right amount of coverage for you depends on your unique situation.

How does Medigap work in Wyoming?

Across the country, Medigap plans help pay your out-of-pocket costs with Original Medicare. This includes Part A, inpatient care, and Part B, medical services.

There are 10 standard Medicare Supplement plans available in Wyoming (A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N). Some insurance companies offer high-deductible options as well. The state does not require Medigap insurers to provide all 10 plans.

Supplement plans are standardized, meaning you get the same benefits with a plan no matter where you live or which insurance company you choose. Premiums are not standardized, though, and vary widely from one provider to another.

You can be denied a Supplement plan if you don't have a guaranteed issue right – even if you qualify for Medicare. Medigap insurers use a process called medical underwriting to decide whether to offer you a plan and at what rate. If you smoke, have preexisting health conditions, or are otherwise considered a high-risk enrollee, Medigap insurers may charge you higher premiums or even refuse to sell you a plan.

Who qualifies for Medicare Supplement Insurance in Wyoming?

At the federal level, you qualify for Medicare Supplement Insurance in Wyoming once you enroll in Original Medicare and are at least 65 years old. Most states also require Medigap insurers to offer plans to beneficiaries who qualify for Medicare due to a disability and are not yet 65 years old. Wyoming, however, does not provide this protection.

If you have Medicare and are under 65, the Wyoming Health Insurance Pool (WHIP) guarantees supplemental coverage. Click here to learn more.

What does Medigap cover?

Benefits vary according to the plan you choose, although every Medigap plan pays the Medicare Part A coinsurance and gives you an additional 365 lifetime reserve days as a hospital inpatient.

Compare Medigap plan benefits with the following table:

Please note that Medicare Supplement Insurance does not include prescription drug coverage. You get these benefits by joining a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan.

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

The best time to join a Wyoming Medicare Supplement plan is during your 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period (OEP), which starts the day you enroll in Original Medicare and are age 65 or older.

Your OEP is one of the few times you have guaranteed issue rights. This means your application can't be rejected and you can't be charged higher premiums, even if you have preexisting medical conditions.

Medigap Plan C and Medigap Plan F in Wyoming

Thanks to a change in federal law, Medigap Plan C and Medigap Plan F are not available to people who qualify for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. We recommend either Medigap Plan D or Medigap Plan G instead, which offer the same benefits as Plans C and F, minus the Medicare Part B deductible. You also usually pay less for Plans D and G.

Choosing a Medigap plan in Wyoming

Since Wyoming Medigap plans are standardized, the first step is deciding how much coverage you want. We recommend choosing a plan with the most comprehensive benefits you can afford. If you don't have a guaranteed issue right, medical underwriting may make it impossible to get this coverage later.

Look at pricing next. Most Medigap insurers use one of three pricing methods:

• Attained-age rated: Premiums start out low but go up as you get older. These policies cost the most over time.
• Community rated: This pricing method does not consider your age. Over time, these plans cost the least.
• Issue-age rated: Premiums are based on your age at the time you join the plan but don't go up due to age. They may rise over time due to inflation, though.

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