Medicare Plan G – Coverage, benefits, and providers

With healthcare costs rising incrementally over the years, Medicare has been useful for many seniors and differently abled people. Original Medicare as well as supplemental plans have made healthcare accessible and affordable. The supplemental plans, known as Medigap plans, are quite popular among those enrolled in Medicare, since these plans help in paying off bills that the Original Medicare may not cover. Introduced in January 2020, Medicare Supplement Plan G is the latest addition to Medigap plans.

Coverage
Medigap Plan G coverage is similar to Plan F. However, the latter requires Medicare Part B’s deductibles to be paid out-of-pocket. Basically, when the out-of-pocket expenditure reaches the limit of the Part B deductible amount, then one has to pay almost 20 percent of the total cost of the Part B services that are approved by Medicare. Most Medigap plans do not cover excess charges. However, Medicare Insurance Plan G covers all the additional charges incurred through Part B.

Benefits
Medicare Plan G offers several benefits over the Original Medicare Plans A and B. Here are some of the many benefits:

• Hospital coinsurance and costs for a maximum of 365 days under Part A
• Part A deductible
• Hospice care copayment or coinsurance under Part A
• Copayment as well as coinsurance under Part B
• Preventive care coinsurance under Part B
• Excess charges under Part B
• Coinsurance coverage for skilled nursing care facility (SNF)
• Emergency medical care during foreign travel on a limited basis

While choosing a Plan G option, the first thing to check is the geographical coverage provided by it. Make sure that the plan covers at least 40 states. This means that there are more people enrolled in the plan, which can be considered a sign of reliability. Another essential parameter is pricing. You should also determine whether you want a regular or high-deductible option. Other points to note are ease of use of the provider’s website, ease of application, required information, and additional benefits, if any.

The basic benefits of Plan G are the same across all providers. However, the availability and cost may differ based on the location and insurance provider. The best way to look for a plan that gives the best value for money is by browsing and exploring. There are a number of plan finder tools that can assist in finding and viewing all the Medigap plans that are available in a specific service area. This makes it possible to compare plan benefits. All you have to do is enter your zip code to compare Plan G’s benefits with those of other Medicare Supplemental plans.

Top providers

• Aetna
  Known to offer competitive pricing options, Aetna is a popular provider of Medigap Plan G. It offers standard as well as high-deductible options. It also offers all-inclusive premiums and household discounts.
• Cigna
  Cigna offers multiple Plan G options. The provider gives detailed descriptions of each plan for easier understanding. There is an inhouse health information line that offers access to medical information 24/7.
• Humana
  This provider offers both regular as well as high-deductible Plan G options. It also offers portable coverage that is applicable to whichever state you wish to move to. There are also wellness plans that include discounts for prescription, and a 24/7 nurse hotline access.
• Mutual of Omaha
  With one of the easiest application processes, Mutual of Omaha is another popular provider of Medicare Plan G. The plan’s pricing is moderate; and the provider also offers household discounts.