Medicare Supplement Plans – Overview

Why You Need Medicare Supplement Insurance

Medicare is a federal program to help older Americans and some disabled Americans pay for the high cost of health care. However, Medicare was never intended to cover all your health care costs. So even if you’re covered by Medicare, you are still responsible for a large portion of your health care costs. Without Medicare Supplement insurance, your out-of-pocket costs could add up to more than $51,700 this year alone.

What Medicare Doesn’t Cover

Medicare does not cover all health care costs. Medicare coverage consists of Part A (which covers hospital and skilled nursing facility care), and Part B (which covers doctor bills and other medical expenses).

Even with Medicare Part A and Part B coverage, you’re responsible for some out-of-pocket expenses including:

• Part A hospital deductible ($1,632)
• Part B deductible ($240)
• Copayments for hospital stays over 60 days
• Care in a skilled nursing facility after 20 days
• Twenty percent coinsurance for doctor bills and other medical expenses

By law, Medicare Supplement insurance is standardized into twelve plans (Plans A through L). That means Plan F from one company must include the same benefits as plan F from another company. While the benefits must be the same, each company’s rates, reputation, membership features and quality of service can vary. You don’t have to sacrifice comprehensive benefits or freedom-of-choice for affordability. Their Medicare Supplement plans provide substantial benefits at rates that can save you money over other plans.

Member Benefits

All Medicare Supplement plans give you:

• Guaranteed Acceptance with no health questions asked
• Freedom to choose any doctors or specialists (unless a Med-Select plan is chosen)
• Coverage with domestic travel (Plans G, F, and N cover foreign travel)
• Guaranteed renewability regardless of changes in your health
• Coverage guaranteed to match Medicare’s cost increases year after year
• Value Added Services that include discounts on wellness products and services including vision, fitness clubs, weight management, complementary alternative medicine, hearing and more
• No claim forms, in most cases

Medicare Supplement Basic Benefits

Basic benefits included in all plans include:

• Hospitalization – Part A coinsurance plus coverage for 365 additional days after Medicare benefits end.
• Medical Expenses – Part B coinsurance (generally 20% of Medicare-approved expenses), or in the case of hospital outpatient department services under a prospective payment system, applicable copayments.
• Blood – First three pints of blood each year.

*Plans K and L include benefits at different levels of cost sharing (see outline of coverage).

Premier Plans

• Of all available standardized plans, Plan F offers the most complete protection for uncovered Medicare Part B excess charges. These are the most popular plans because they also pay the Medicare Part A hospital deductible and copayments, skilled nursing facility copayment and foreign travel emergency care.
• Plan F also covers the Medicare Part B deductible.

Budget-Conscious Plans

Plan K, Plan L and Plan N include cost-sharing features that allow you to save on premiums while still receiving dependable coverage.

• Plan N features an office visit and emergency room copayment applicable to each visit
• Plans K and L feature cost sharing for covered services under Medicare Part A and Part B. Once your annual out-of-pocket expenses reach the required limit, the plan pays 100% of covered expenses for the remainder of the calendar year.

If you are seeking the most basic benefit plan with the lowest cost, they offer Medicare Supplement Plan A. For more detailed explanations on all the available Medicare Supplement plans and benefits, you can Compare Medicare Supplement Plans.

 Medicare Supplement Plans – Quick Comparison Table

*Plan F has a Med-Select plan option that offer you the same solid benefits as the “standard” plans, but cost less. You save on premiums simply by agreeing to use any of the Med-Select participating hospitals for non-emergency elective admissions. If you do not use one of these hospitals for your non-emergency admissions, you pay the $1,632 Part A deductible. Med-Select is not an HMO. With Med-Select, you are fully covered for emergency care at any hospital, and you can choose your own doctors and specialists.

**Plans K and L provide for different cost-sharing than plans A-F. Once you reach the annual limit, the plan pays 100% of the Medicare copayments, coinsurance and deductibles for the rest of the calendar year. The out-of-pocket annual limit does NOT include charges from your provider that exceed Medicare-approved amounts, called “excess charges.” You will be responsible for paying excess charges.

Tivity Health SilverSneakers® Fitness program

Medicare Supplement Insurance members in some states can now take advantage of the SilverSneakers Fitness program as a value-added service at no additional cost. With SilverSneakers, members have free access to fitness center amenities such as treadmills, weights, heated pools and group exercise classes that are included with a basic membership. (Amenities and classes vary by location.) Members can take signature SilverSneakers classes designed specifically for older adults and taught by certified instructors. SilverSneakers members have access to more than 13,000 participating fitness center locations (gyms, community centers, Curves, etc.). Log on to silversneakers.com to find the nearest location. SilverSneakers Steps® is available to members living 15 miles or more from a participating SilverSneakers fitness center location. Members can select one of four fitness kits each year (general fitness, walking, strength or yoga) that they can use at home or on the go.

Steps kits can be ordered online at silversneakers.com or by calling SilverSneakers Customer Service at 1-888-423-4632 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST. The SilverSneakers Fitness Program is currently available in the state of Illinois.

MyVision Care provided through EyeMed*

Medicare Supplement Insurance members can save up to 30% on prescription glasses and up to 20% on contact lenses at participating stores, including LensCrafters, Pearle Vision, Sears Optical, Target Optical and JCPenney Optical stores.

Also, Medicare Supplement members pay only $50 for routine eye exams. Members can find a participating provider in the EyeMed Network by calling 1-800-872-2295 or visiting their website.

Reduced Premium Medicare Select Option

Med-Select Options

The Plan F Med-Select option offers you the same solid benefits as the “standard” plans, but cost less. You save on premiums simply by agreeing to use any of the Med-Select participating hospitals for non-emergency elective admissions. If you do not use one of these hospitals for your non-emergency admissions, you pay the $1,632 Part A deductible. Med-Select is not an HMO. With Med-Select, you are fully covered for emergency care at any hospital, and you can choose your own doctors and specialists.

Med-Select is available in specific geographic areas only. You must live within a 30 mile radius of a Med-Select participating hospital.

Medicare Supplement Plans

Plan F

Our Rating:

Plan F is the most comprehensive Illinois Medicare Supplement plan. No other standardized Medicare Supplement plan offered in Illinois offers more complete protection for your uncovered Part B medical expenses than Plan F. It covers:

• Your Part A deductible and coinsurance
• The cost of 365 extra days of hospital care during your lifetime after Medicare coverage ends
• Your Part B coinsurance and the cost of the first three pints of blood
• Medicare Part A hospital deductible and copayments
• Skilled nursing facility copayment
• Foreign travel emergency care
• $240 Part B Medicare deductible
• Part B doctor charges that are in excess of Medicare-approved amounts

There is also a Medicare-Select Plan F that offers the same benefits as Standard Plan F but provides costs savings by agreeing to use a Medicare Select participating hospital for non-emergencies. You may still see any doctor you choose with Medicare-Select plans. If your hospital is part of the Medicare Select network, the Med-Select plan is a good option to consider.

Plan G

Our Rating:

Plan G is the most popular Illinois Medicare Supplement plan. No other standardized Medicare Supplement plan offered in Illinois offers more complete protection for your uncovered Part B medical expenses than Plan F. It covers:

• Your Part A deductible and coinsurance
• The cost of 365 extra days of hospital care during your lifetime after Medicare coverage ends
• Your Part B coinsurance and the cost of the first three pints of blood
• Medicare Part A hospital deductible and copayments
• Skilled nursing facility copayment
• Foreign travel emergency care
• Part B doctor charges that are in excess of Medicare-approved amounts

Plan G does NOT cover

• Your $240 Part B annual deductible

There is also a Medicare-Select Plan G that offers the same benefits as Standard Plan F but provides costs savings by agreeing to use a Medicare Select participating hospital for non-emergencies. You may still see any doctor you choose with Medicare-Select plans. If your hospital is part of the Medicare Select network, the Med-Select plan is a good option to consider.

Plan K

Our Rating:

Plan K covers:

• Fifty percent of your Part A deductible and coinsurance
• The cost of 365 extra days of hospital care during your lifetime after Medicare coverage ends
• Preventive benefits for Medicare-covered services usually leave you with 25% to pay — plan K pays that 25%
• 50% of the cost of the first three pints of blood
• Fifty percent of the skilled nursing facility copayment
• Once you’ve reached your $6,620 annual out-of-pocket limit, the plan pays 100% of the Medicare copayments, coinsurance and deductibles for the rest of the calendar year.

There is also a Medicare-Select Plan K that offers the same benefits as Standard Plan K but provides costs savings by agreeing to use a Medicare Select particpating hospital for non-emergencies. You may still see any doctor you choose with Medicare-Select plans. If your hospital is part of the Medicare Select network, the Med-Select plan is a good option to consider.

Plan L

Our Rating:

Plan L covers:

• Seventy-five percent of your Part A deductible and coinsurance
• The cost of 365 extra days of hospital care during your lifetime after Medicare coverage ends
• Preventive benefits for Medicare-covered services usually leave you with 25% to pay — plan L pays that 25%
• Fifteen percent of your 20% Part B coinsurance and the 75% of the cost of the first three pints of blood
• Seventy-five percent of the skilled nursing facility copayment
• Once you’ve reached your $3,310 annual out-of-pocket limit, the plan pays 100% of the Medicare copayments, coinsurance and deductibles for the rest of the calendar year.

There is also a Medicare-Select Plan L that offers the same benefits as Standard Plan L but provides costs savings by agreeing to use a Medicare Select participating hospital for non-emergencies. You may still see any doctor you choose with Medicare-Select plans. If your hospital is part of the Medicare Select network, the Med-Select plan is a good option to consider.

Plan N

Our Rating:

Plan N is identical to Plan G except there is a $20 copay for office visits and a $50 copay for emergency room visits. Like Plan G, Plan N does not cover the $240 Medicare Part B deductible.

Plan N covers:

• Your $1,632 Part A deductible and coinsurance
• The cost of 365 extra days of hospital care during your lifetime after Medicare coverage ends
• Your Part B coinsurance and the cost of the first three pints of blood
• 80% of Part B physician charges that are in excess of the Medicare-approved amount (By law no physician may charge more than 115% of Medicare-approved amounts).
• Skilled nursing facility copayment
• Emergency care for foreign travel

Plan N does NOT cover:

• Your $240 Medicare Part B deductible

There is also a Medicare-Select Plan N that offers the same benefits as Standard Plan N but provides costs savings by agreeing to use a Medicare Select participating hospital for non-emergencies. You may still see any doctor you choose with Medicare-Select plans. If your hospital is part of the Medicare Select network, the Med-Select plan is a good option to consider.

Basic Plan A

Our Rating:

Basic Plan A covers:

• Your Part A coinsurance
• The cost of 365 extra days of hospital care during your lifetime after Medicare coverage ends
• Your Part B coinsurance and the cost of the first three pints of blood

Medicare Select Plans

• View list of Medicare Select Hospitals

Medicare Select Plan options offer you the same solid benefits as the standard Medicare Standard Supplement Plans, but cost less. You save on premiums simply by agreeing to use any of the Medicare Select participating hospitals for non-emergency elective admissions as defined by the admitting hospital.

If you do not use one of these hospitals for your non-emergency admissions, you pay the full Part A deductible. Medicare Select is not an HMO. With Medicare Select, you are fully covered for emergency care at any hospital, and you can choose your own doctors and specialists.

Medicare Select Plan options include Plan F and are available in specific geographic areas only. You must live within a 30 mile radius of a Medicare Select participating hospital.

Medicare Select Plan F

Our Rating:

Plan F is the most popular Medicare Supplement plan. No other standardized Medicare Supplement plan offered in Illinois offers more complete protection for your uncovered Part B medical expenses than Plan F. It covers:

• Your Part A deductible and coinsurance
• The cost of 365 extra days of hospital care during your lifetime after Medicare coverage ends
• Your Part B coinsurance and the cost of the first three pints of blood
• Medicare Part A hospital deductible and copayments
• Skilled nursing facility copayment
• Foreign travel emergency care
• $240Part B Medicare deductible
• Part B doctor charges that are in excess of Medicare-approved amounts

MedicareRx Plans

• MedicareRx Application

MedicareRx offers 3 plan designs, the Saver Plan, Preferred Plan, and Enhanced Plan. Below is an overview of each plan.

2019 MedicareRx Plans