Medicare Supplement Plans for New Mexico
Medigap Plans, a.k.a. Medicare Supplement Plans
Original Medicare coupled with a Medigap Plan, also known as a Medicare Supplement, is the traditional and most popular option when it comes to your New Mexico Medicare health coverage. Medigap policies are standardized by the federal government so that you can compare “apples to apples” between insurance companies. In other words, Plan F is Plan F no matter who you buy it from. Plan G is Plan G no matter who you buy it from.
Since the coverage is identical, the cost is the only difference when deciding which insurance company to choose. The price spread is so large that premiums can be double for the exact same coverage. Also, it is important to consider how stable the rates will be in the future. That’s why it’s important to buy from an independent broker who represents various companies.
Compare Medicare Supplement plans side-by-side
The chart below shows basic information about the different benefits Medigap policies cover.
Yes = the plan covers 100% of this benefit
No = the policy doesn't cover that benefit
% = the plan covers that percentage of this benefit
N/A = not applicable
| Medigap Benefits | Medigap Plans | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | B | C | D | F* | G* | K | L | M | N | |
| Part A coinsurance and hospital costs up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits are used up | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Part B coinsurance or copayment | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 50% | 75% | Yes | Yes*** |
| Blood (first 3 pints) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 50% | 75% | Yes | Yes |
| Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 50% | 75% | Yes | Yes |
| Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 50% | 75% | Yes | Yes |
| Part A deductible | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 50% | 75% | 50% | Yes |
| Part B deductible | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Part B | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Foreign travel exchange (up to plan limits) | No | No | 80% | 80% | 80% | 80% | No | No | 80% | 80% |
| Out-of-pocket limit** | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
$5,880 in 2020 ($6,220 in 2021) |
$2,940 in 2020 ($3,110 in 2021) |
N/A | N/A |
* Plans F and G also offer a high-deductible plan in some states. With this option, you must pay for Medicare-covered costs (coinsurance, copayments, and deductibles) up to the deductible amount of $2,340 in 2020 ($2,370 in 2021) before your policy pays anything. (Plans C and F aren't available to people who were newly eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020.)
** For Plans K and L, after you meet your out-of-pocket yearly limit and your yearly Part B deductible, the Medigap plan pays 100% of covered services for the rest of the calendar year.
*** Plan N pays 100% of the Part B coinsurance, except for a copayment of up to $20 for some office visits and up to a $50 copayment for emergency room visits that don't result in inpatient admission.
Source: www.medicare.gov
Medigap Description and Coverage:
Medigap Plans are named with a letter and go from A to N. Although there are several good options, the most comprehensive Medigap policy is called “Plan F”. Plan F covers 100% of Medicare deductibles, coinsurances, and excess charges, meaning you have zero out of pocket costs on all Medicare eligible expenses. You could think of it as the “peace of mind plan.”
Plan G is now becoming another very popular plan for several reasons. It is identical in coverage to Plan F except it does not pay for the small Part B calendar year deductible of $183 in 2018. In return, the premiums are less. So if you can purchase a Plan G that saves you more than $183/year, you are money ahead. In addition, if you are one of those fortunate people who rarely sees a doctor, you may get away with not needing to pay the $183 deductible either.
Several Medicare Supplement plan designs even pays up to $50,000 for emergencies if you travel outside of the USA, which is important since Medicare does not cover you outside of the country. For a full description, on a specific plan me.
To view or download a 52-page booklet published by Medicare called “Choosing a Medigap Policy 2018”, Click Here
To view or download the “Medicare and You 2022” 160-pagebook published by Medicare, Click Here
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Positives of a New Mexico Medigap Plan: Best coverage: Medigap plans vary in levels of coverage. The best Medicare supplements are Plan F and Plan G, because they give you the most comprehensive coverage. With Plan F you don’t have to worry about paying for any deductibles, copays or coinsurances at all. With Plan G you only have a small $183 deductible per year.
No Network Worries: No worries about being “in” or “out” of a New Mexico network, because there are no networks! Medigap policies are especially well suited for those who do a lot of RV travel, for “snow-birds,” or those living in rural areas.
Nationwide coverage: Want the ability to see the best doctor or the finest hospital anywhere in the United States? Medigap Plans give you the ultimate in freedom of choice as you can see any provider who has not opted out of Medicare.
Cannot be cancelled: So long as premiums are paid, New Mexico Medigap Plans cannot be cancelled, nor can benefits be lessened.
Portable: Think you might move to another state? Your Medigap Plan will move right along with you. No fuss. No muss. No need to re-apply simply because you left New Mexico – but why would you? |
Negatives of a New Mexico Medigap Plan: Higher price tag compared to a Medicare Advantage plan.
Premiums go up as you get older.
Either Medicare nor Medigap policies cover prescription drugs, so you will need to get a separate Part D drug plan.
Let’s work together to find the plan that fits your life now and in the future.
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Get the best Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan (aka: Medigap) for your unique situation. Only when you have all the necessary information to make an educated decision will you feel the total piece of mind that these plans are supposed to offer! Call me at or 505-350-5859 or email me at kathi@medicarenewmexico.com