How to Compare Medicare Supplement Health Care
- 1). Assess what you can afford. Medigap coverage is not cheap and having a budget in place while you evaluate plans will help.
- 2). Familiarize yourself with types of Medigap plans on the market and decide what benefits are most important to you. This will help you more easily eliminate plans with features you don't need.
- 3). Get a list of the Medigap companies in your state. You can obtain this list by calling your SHIP. The agency will have a list of the Medigap polices and can offer counseling and advice in choosing a plan.
- 4). Log on to Medicare.gov and use the Medigap Policy compare tool. Click on "Health & Drug Plans" on the front page and then "Find & Compare Health Plans" to access the tool. It is labeled "Find & Compare Medigap Policies," which is the second blue box on the left.
After you enter your zip code, age and health status, you will be brought to a page with a list of the different Medigap levels available in your area. The third column is important because it shows you what the average cost will be for someone at your age with your health status.
If you'd like to see what companies in particular offer the plans in your area, click "View Details" and then click "View All Companies" on the left. This will furnish you with a list of plans. - 5). Call the plans directly and ask representatives specific questions about coverage of the services you are most interested in. Make sure to ask about any restrictions on services of particular interest.
Get the latest rates because prices can vary from plan to plan and ask how the company determines the price. Medigap plans often base rates on variables such as smoking. This is good opportunity to rate the company's customer service.
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