Medicare Supplements are an additional coverage option to add to your Original Medicare plan, and they cover the various out-of-pocket costs of Medicare. Under Original Medicare alone, you will have to pay for things such as your monthly premiums, many copayment/coinsurance fees, blood transfusions, and more. With a supplement plan, these fees are covered.
There are 10 distinct supplement plans, each offering a variety of cost-coverage, including plans A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N. The plans that offer the most coverage, however, are plans F, G, and N, which we will be comparing for you today.
Medicare Supplement Plan F
Plan F offers the most comprehensive coverage option of the supplement plans. It covers:
- Part A Coinsurance & Hospital Costs
- Part B Coinsurance or Copayment
- First 3 Pints of Blood for Transfusions
- Part A Hospice Care Coinsurance or Copayment
- Skilled Nursing Care Facility Coinsurance
- Part A Deductible
- Part B Deductible
- Part B Excess Charges
- 80% Foreign Travel Emergency Care
Under Original Medicare.
Although Original Medicare alone, you would have to pay either a flat rate or 20% fee for all care, including all hospital care and medical services. You would also have to pay the full daily cost of staying in a skilled nursing care facility or hospital for any care lasting longer than 60 days, which is not the case under Plan F. You will also be free from your Part A and B deductible, as well as any additional excess charges.
Medicare Supplement Plan G
Medicare Supplement Plan G offers almost the exact same coverage as Plan F, including coinsurance/copayment fees, blood transfusions, your Part A deductible, and Part B excess charges. The only difference is that Plan G does not cover your Part B deductible. Despite this, Plan G is a far better option than Plan F, which we will review more in-depth in the following section.
Medicare Supplement Plan N
Supplement Plan N is very similar to Plan F and G. It offers all of the same coverage as Plan F except the Part B deductible and excess charges. The overall cost is also lower than both plans, and you have the option to change plans later on.
The Cadillac Comparison of Supplement Plans F, G, and N
In our video comparing Supplement Plans F, G, and N, Keith explains the Cadillac comparison. Let’s say that Plan F is a new Cadillac you are considering purchasing, and it comes with roadside assistance valued at $198.
It’s a great car, but it is very pricey compared to other cars. Then you find another Cadillac identical to the first, but it does not come with roadside assistance. This option, however, costs $300 less than the first car. So, even though this car does not come with the $198 roadside assistance, it costs far less than the first, making it far more of a deal than the first. This car is equivalent to Plan G—always opt for Plan G over Plan F, it is far more valuable in the long run.
You also find a third Cadillac. This Cadillac, unlike the first two, does not come with roadside assistance or the convenience package, which is valued at $300. It also, however, costs much less than the first two cars, i.e. Plans F and G. If this car is Plan N, you will have to decide if this cost difference is worth it to lose Part B excess charge coverage. To help you better visualize the subtle differences between these plans, here is a comparison:
Part A Coinsurance & Hospital Costs
- Plan F: 100%
- Plan G: 100%
- Plan N: 100%
Part B Coinsurance or Copayment
- Plan F: 100%
- Plan G: 100%
- Plan N: 100%
First 3 Pints of Blood for Transfusions
- Plan F: 100%
- Plan G: 100%
- Plan N: 100%
Part A Hospice Care Coinsurance or Copayment
- Plan F: 100%
- Plan G: 100%
- Plan N: 100%
Skilled Nursing Care Facility Coinsurance
- Plan F: 100%
- Plan G: 100%
- Plan N: 100%
Part A Deductible
- Plan F: 100%
- Plan G: 100%
- Plan N: 100%
Part B Deductible
- Plan F: 100%
- Plan G: 0%
- Plan N: 0%
Part B Excess Charges
- Plan F: 100%
- Plan G: 100%
- Plan N: 0%
Foreign Travel Emergency Care
- Plan F: 80%
- Plan G: 80%
- Plan N: 80%
Apart from the car analogy, here are a few tips for choosing a Medicare Supplement plan. Firstly, we recommend never choosing Plan F. Medicare is working to remove this plan, and it is simply not worth the considerable additional costs.
Then, in terms of the 9 other plans, we also recommend choosing either Plan G or N. The longer you wait to apply for a Supplement plan, the less likely you will be eligible for enrollment, but you can never be denied once enrolled. So, if you apply for the highest possible coverage plan as soon as you are eligible, you cannot be denied said coverage later on when you really need it.
Between Plans G and N, most of the time we would recommend opting for Plan G. It offers the best coverage at a reasonable cost. If you want to pay less for very similar coverage, you may choose Plan N instead—it costs about $25 less a month than Plan G. Your final choice on a plan, however, depends on your personal choice.
We’re Dedicated to Our Customers—Contact Medicare on Video for a Free Consultation
We hope that this information has given you a better idea of the Supplement plan you’re looking for—our goal is to ensure that you have the best coverage for your health and peace of mind. If you have any additional questions or need help with all things Medicare, give us a call at 877-88KEITH (53584), or email Keith@MedicareOnVideo.com.
