Understanding Medicare Supplement Plans

Making an informed decision

It's smart to study the basics on Medicare Supplement insurance - also known as "Medigap" plans - before you decide which plan is best for you.

This page provides an overview of how Medicare Supplement insurance works with Original Medicare, including when you can enroll, and who is eligible. Click on the links below to get answers.

What do I need to know about Medicare Supplement plans?

• They're the same as Medigap Plans - The names "Medicare Supplement" and "Medigap" refer to the same kind of policy, so the terms are interchangeable.
• You're still in the Medicare program - When you purchase Medicare Supplement insurance, you don't replace or cancel your Original Medicare membership. You have all your Medicare rights and protections.
• Plans are standardized - By law, the benefits from plan to plan are the same from every insurance company - so a Plan C from one company has the same medical coverage as a Plan C from any other. Some companies may offer additional innovative benefits. The difference is in the extra services and programs a company makes available to its members, the quality of service, and the price. These features are what make Humana stand out from the rest.

Is prescription drug coverage included?

Medicare Supplement insurance plans sold after 2006 don't include coverage for prescription drugs. However, one of the extra services available with Humana's Medicare Supplement plans is a discount program for prescription drugs. And, of course, you can always consider a Humana Medicare Part D prescription drug plan. Explore Humana's prescription drug plans.

When is the best time to buy a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan?

The best time to buy is during your Medigap Open Enrollment Period. Your Medigap Open Enrollment Period lasts for six months. It starts on the first day of the month in which you are:

• Age 65 or older and,
• Enrolled in Medicare Part B

Get more information about when to enroll in Medicare.

Once your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period starts, it can't be changed. However, in some situations, you have the right to buy a Medigap policy outside of your Medigap Open Enrollment Period. In some states these plans may be available to those under age 65.

Note: You can send your application for Medicare Supplement insurance before your Medigap Open Enrollment Period starts. If you have coverage that will end when you turn age 65, sending your application before open enrollment allows you to have continuous coverage without any breaks.

What are the requirements for Medicare Supplement plan eligibility?

You can apply for a Medicare Supplement plan insurance policy if you are:

1. A resident of a state where the policy is offered
2. Enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B
3. Age 65 or over or, in some states, under age 65 with a disability and/or end stage renal disease (plan offerings and eligibility vary by state).

Plus, you may qualify for guaranteed acceptance into a Medicare Supplement plan, regardless of your medical history, if you meet certain enrollment criteria such as enrolling during your Medigap Open Enrollment Period. Rules in some states may vary.

NOTE: While offerings may vary by state, Humana does not offer plans E, H, I or J. Medicare Supplement plans are not managed care.