Medicare gap insurance, Medicare supplement insurance, Medigap . . . all the same. Like Kleenex and tissue, the terms are interchangeable.
Medigap plan F is the easiest to explain. It covers everything approved by Medicare Part A and Part B but not paid by Medicare. Plan F covers deductibles, copay's, coinsurance.
Other plans (A - N) cover something less than F but most are comprehensive.
Plan F is the most popular, purchased by about half of those who buy Medicare supplement plans.
In addition to what Bob has said, I would recommend picking up the excellent government booklet named Choosing a Medgap Policy. You can download it free from the Medicare website or order a paper copy free. Your Medicare Insurance broker can supply you with free copies of these as well.
The chart on page 11 (of the 2012 version) makes it easier to understand what each Medicare Supplement Plan covers.
The hardest thing for most people to accept at first is that the Lettered Plan is what makes the difference in your coverage NOT the brand of the insurance company you buy it from. People start out thinking that AARP's plan is different from Gerber's plan or Aetna's plan. It's hard for them to accept that the brand makes no difference. It's the lettered plan that makes the difference.
Once you choose which lettered plan you want, then you shop the different companies prices on the plan you choose. Your insurance broker should be able to show you the rates for all the companies that you want to consider.
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Medigap plan F is the easiest to explain. It covers everything approved by Medicare Part A and Part B but not paid by Medicare. Plan F covers deductibles, copay's, coinsurance.
Other plans (A - N) cover something less than F but most are comprehensive.
Plan F is the most popular, purchased by about half of those who buy Medicare supplement plans.
Plan G is next followed by plan N.
The other plans are considerably less popular.
The chart on page 11 (of the 2012 version) makes it easier to understand what each Medicare Supplement Plan covers.
The hardest thing for most people to accept at first is that the Lettered Plan is what makes the difference in your coverage NOT the brand of the insurance company you buy it from. People start out thinking that AARP's plan is different from Gerber's plan or Aetna's plan. It's hard for them to accept that the brand makes no difference. It's the lettered plan that makes the difference.
Once you choose which lettered plan you want, then you shop the different companies prices on the plan you choose. Your insurance broker should be able to show you the rates for all the companies that you want to consider.