Mainstreet Financial Education · Medicare Supplement
Original Medicare does not cover everything. A Medigap policy is standardized private insurance designed to pick up much of what is left. Here is how it works.
Medigap is private insurance that helps pay the out-of-pocket costs Original Medicare leaves behind, such as coinsurance, copays, and deductibles. Plans are standardized and sold by letter (A, B, D, G, K, L, M, N, and others), so a Plan G from one insurer covers the same benefits as a Plan G from another. The difference between insurers is price and service, not coverage. Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin run their own standardized systems.
| Benefit | What it helps with |
|---|---|
| Part A coinsurance | Hospital copays for days 61–150, plus up to 365 additional lifetime days paid in full |
| Part B coinsurance | The share you owe for doctor visits, labs, and outpatient services |
| Part A deductible | The $1,736 inpatient hospital deductible per benefit period (2026) |
| Skilled nursing coinsurance | The $217 per day cost for days 21–100 (2026) |
| Foreign travel emergency | A portion of emergency care abroad, up to plan limits |
| First three pints of blood | The cost Original Medicare does not cover |
Buy when you are guaranteed acceptance. Your strongest guaranteed-issue window is the six months that begin when you are 65 and enrolled in Part B. Inside it, an insurer cannot turn you down or charge more for your health. After it closes, most states let insurers underwrite, so timing is part of the decision.
Timing is part of the decision.
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