Medicare covers many of your health-related expenses, but there are out-of-pocket costs like deductibles and copayments that you must pay. These can add up quickly. To help pay for these expenses, you may want to consider purchasing a Medicare Supplement plan in Virginia. These policies, also known as Medigap plans, are offered by private insurers and are designed to help reduce or eliminate out-of-pocket costs. In the state of Virginia, there are 12 different Medicare Supplement insurance plans, including two high-deductible options.
In order to enroll in a Medicare Supplement plan, you must be enrolled in Original Medicare Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B and be a legal resident of the state of Virginia. In addition, you must have been working and paying into Social Security to qualify for Medicare at age 65 or over, or you may be eligible if you are receiving SSDI due to disability as a result of end stage renal disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. You are allowed to apply for Medicare Supplement coverage during your Open Enrollment Period, which is a six-month period that begins the month you turn 65 or are enrolled in Medicare Part B. During this period, insurance providers can’t charge you more or deny you coverage based on preexisting conditions.
Each Medicare Supplement insurance Medigap Benefits Virginia plan has a unique benefit structure, but all Medicare Supplement plans offer the same core benefits. You can compare the plans by their letter designation and look for the one that offers the best combination of cost and coverage for your specific needs. To narrow down your choices, consider your budget and the doctors and medical facilities that you visit most often in your local area and if traveling is an option for you.
Most people choose to enroll in Plan F, which is the most popular plan available. However, Plan G is quickly gaining popularity and is a great choice for anyone looking for an affordable and comprehensive Medicare Supplement policy. Plan G covers all of the out-of-pocket expenses that Original Medicare leaves behind, and it does so for less money than Plan F on average.
You should always review your options and compare rates from various insurance companies to ensure you are getting the best price for your Medicare Supplement policy in Virginia. AARP/UnitedHealthcare sells eight out of the 10 Medicare Supplement plans available in Virginia and has the lowest rates for all of its plan options. The other two plans that they don’t sell, Plans K and L, make up only 1% of the overall Medicare Supplement market in the state.
You should also check out what complaints each provider has received regarding their customer service and how well they treat their members. Mutual of Omaha is the top Medigap insurer in Virginia, with low prices and few complaints. They offer both Plan G and Plan N, which are some of the most popular Medicare Supplement policies in the state. Medico has the second lowest premium for Plan G and is another good choice in Virginia.