• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
California Health Advocates

California Health Advocates

  • Contact
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Contact
    • Our Team
    • Mission
    • Education Services
    • About HICAP
    • Press
    • Testimonials
  • MEDICARE COUNSELING
  • Fact Sheets
  • Topics
    • The Basics
    • Prescription Drugs
    • Low-Income Help
    • Medigap
    • Medicare Advantage
    • Other Health Insurance
    • Appeals
    • Billing & Claims
    • Disabilities
    • Long-Term Care
    • Tribal Nations & Medicare
    • Health Care Reform
    • Advocacy & Policy
    • Glossary
  • Fraud & Abuse
  • Blog
  • Donate

Questions to Consider Before Choosing a Medigap Policy

California Health Advocates > Medigap > Questions to Consider Before Choosing a Medigap Policy

If you are considering a Medigap policy, find out the answers to these questions before you purchase a policy:

  • Do you need a Medigap policy or are you eligible for a program that helps cover costs for people with low income?
  • Do you have a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan? If so, you can’t use a Medigap policy while you are in an MA plan.
  • Do you want to see any doctor or specialist who accepts Medicare or are you willing to be restricted to a network of doctors, hospitals and other providers in certain MA and Medicare SELECT plans?
  • How much can you afford to spend on monthly Medigap premiums? How does that compare to the premiums and copayments you might have in an HMO, PPO, PFFS, MSA or Medicare SELECT plan?
  • What is the premium for the plan? Note: While their premiums may vary, all policies with the same letter (all plans A or L) cover identical benefits, no matter which insurance company sells them.
  • How might your costs change in the future?
  • What benefits do you need? Note: If you can pay some predictable costs yourself, such as the Part B deductible, you most likely won’t need a plan that covers those costs.
  • Is there a waiting period to cover pre-existing conditions? If so, how long is it? Do you have any previous coverage that may reduce or eliminate the waiting period?
  • Does the insurer file claims electronically? Insurers that accept electronic claims directly from Medicare make it easier and often faster for you and your doctors to receive payment. Note: Doctors who do not accept assignment are not required to file Medigap claims for you. Learn more about Medicare assignment.

For information on choosing between a Medicare Advantage plan and a Medigap policy, see Differences Between Medicare Advantage (MA) Plans & Medigap Policies.

Primary Sidebar

Change Text Size

  • 100%  110%  120%  130%  

Newsletter

Choose the news you'd like to receive
Privacy Policy Agreement(Required)
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Medicare Topics

  • The Basics
  • Prescription Drugs
  • Low-Income Help
  • Medigap
  • Medicare Advantage
  • Other Health Insurance
  • Appeals
  • Billing & Claims
  • Disabilities
  • Long-Term Care
  • Tribal Nations & Medicare
  • Health Care Reform
  • Fraud & Abuse
  • Glossary

About Us

  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Our Team
  • Mission
  • Education Services
  • About HICAP
  • Press

Recent News

  • Medicare Basics
  • Prescription Drugs
  • Low-Income Help
  • Medicare Advantage
  • Medicare & Other Health Insurance
  • Billing, Claims & Appeals
  • Long-Term Care
  • Health Care Reform
  • Fraud & Abuse
  • Health Care Disparities
  • CHA News

CHA News Editor/Writer:

Karen Fletcher MPH, Publications Consultant
Email: kfletcher@cahealthadvocates.org

Check out the E-Newsletter Archive

What’s New

  • Tell Congress to Keep Our Medicare Counseling Programs! Save Our SHIPs!
  • Superheros Address Medicare Part D Fraud
    Our Senior Medicare Patrol Superhero team meets in Los Angeles, and through good humor, this skit educates people on 4 main types of Part D fraud, how to detect and report it.
  • CHA on CBSNews
    CHA Urges Congress to Save our SHIPs & Keep One-on-One Medicare Counseling!

What’s New!

  • Save Our SHIPs! Tell Congress to Keep Our Medicare Counseling Programs!
  • Super Heroes of Medicare Fraud
    Our Senior Medicare Patrol Superhero team meets in Los Angeles, and through good humor, this skit educates people on 4 main types of Part D fraud, how to detect and report it.
  • CHA on CBS/NBC News Urging Congress to Save our SHIPs!

Latest News

  • CHA Applauds New Proposed Rule Making Medicare Enrollment Easier
  • SMP Partner Spotlight ~ Meet Carla Diaz!
  • Genetic Testing Scams Are Rising – Protect Your Medicare
  • Free Medi-Cal is Available for Eligible Californians 50+
  • Need Help with Medicare Costs? Medicare Savings Programs May Help
Donate Today

Footer

Sign up for our newsletter

Choose the news you'd like to receive

Important Links

  • About Us
  • Fact Sheets
  • Blog
  • Donate
  • Contact
  • Privacy Notice
  • Cookie Policy
  • Accessibility Statement

Follow Us

Copyright © 2022 · California Health Advocates · Web Design by TWK Web and Print Design · Log in