Medigap Plan D
| Medigap Plan D Policy Coverage | |
|---|---|
| Basic Benefits |  |
| Part A Deductible | |
| Part B Deductible |  |
| Part B Excess | |
| Skilled Nursing Coinsurance | |
| Foreign Travel Emergency | |
| At Home Recovery | |
| Additional Preventative Care | |
Quick Introduction to Medigap Plans
Medigap is a private health insurance policy that is designed to cover medical costs not covered by Medicare programs. It covers many of the costs that people would otherwise have to pay individually such as copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles. There are twelve different Medigap plans ranging from A to L. Any insurance company offering Medigap plans is required to offer Plan A, other plan availability will vary by insurance company and by state. Medigap policies do not cover long-term care such as nursing homes, vision or dental care, hearing aids, eyeglasses or private-duty nursing. This article will deal exclusively with Medigap Plan D covering some of the benefits and other considerations.
More on Medigap Plan D Policies
Medigap Plan D policies provide Basic coverage in addition to other benefits. Basic coverage of all Medigap plans includes:
- Medicare Part A Coinsurance, and all costs after hospital benefits are exhausted
- Medicare Part B Coinsurance or Copayment for other than preventative services
- Blood (first 3 pints). Medicare typically covers all costs associated with blood after the first 3 pints.
- Medicare Preventative Care Part B Coinsurance
Medigap Plan D policies extend Basic Benefits with additional coverage. Like Plan C, a Plan D policy covers Skilled Nursing Facility Care Coinsurance after the first 20 days. Plan D also covers costs associated with At-home Recovery, up to policy limits. These are the costs associated with doctor-ordered treatments not covered by Medicare. The recuperation process for home recovery can be nearly as vast as hospital stays or skilled nursing facilities. Nurses or home health aids are often needed in assisting the patient with exercise, medicine and other needs. Additional equipment may also be required. Prosthetics and crutches are commonly used devices by patients recovering from their home. A Medigap Plan D policy also covers Medicare Part A deductible payments. It also covers some costs associated with Foreign Travel medical emergency care, up to plan limits.
Medigap Plan D Considerations
While a Medigap Plan D policy does cover costs associated with deductible payments for Medicare Part A, it does not cover Medicare Part B deductible payments. It also does not cover any Medicare Part B excess charges or other additional preventative care. If a doctor doesn't accept assignment and charges for a bill that is over the limit of what Medicare will pay, then it's considered an excess charge. Medigap Plan D policies will not cover the charge so you must pay it yourself.
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Choosing a Medigap Policy: A Guide to Health Insurance for People With Medicare (2009).
These may or may not be important expenses and limitations, depending on your situation. If a Medigap Plan D policy doesn't meet your needs, consider Medigap Plan E policies.