If you’re a Virginia resident who is enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B, you’ll want to consider enrolling in a Medicare Supplement plan. These insurance policies help to cover some of the out-of-pocket expenses that Original Medicare leaves behind, like copayments for doctor visits and emergency room admissions. Depending on which plan you choose, the policy may also provide coverage for deductibles and other coinsurance, prescription drug cost sharing, and travel coverage abroad.
In addition to offering several different Medicare Supplement plans, many carriers offer dental, vision, and hearing coverage for Virginia Medicare beneficiaries. These ancillary benefits are especially important to consider since Original Medicare Virginia Medicare Gap Coverage and most Medigap plans do not provide coverage for these services. The best way to determine which plan to select is to review ratings and past experience, either through independent reviews or by contacting a representative of the insurance company directly.
Although Medicare Supplement insurance is available nationally, each state’s laws and regulations vary somewhat. Regardless, Virginia Medicare Supplement plans are standardized under federal rules, and the state’s Department of Insurance regulates the private insurance companies that offer them. There are 42 insurers that offer Medigap plans in Virginia, and the most popular Medicare Supplement plans include Plan F, Plan G, and Plan N.
These plans are most popular because they pay the annual Part B deductible for Virginia residents and help to minimize other out-of-pocket costs. However, the monthly premiums for these plans are typically higher than those for Plan A, which does not pay the Part B deductible. Some Medicare Supplement insurers in Virginia use attained-age rating, which increases premiums based on an enrollee’s current age, while others use issue-age or community rating (which don’t change based on age).
Aside from Plan F and Plan N, the other Medicare Supplement plans available in the state of Virginia are Plan H, Plan K, and Plan M. Each of these Medicare Supplement plans in Virginia has its own unique features, but they all help to reduce out-of-pocket costs for Medicare beneficiaries.
Before choosing a Medicare Supplement plan in the state of Virginia, it is important to take into account where you live and which doctors you visit. The plan you select should be in-network with your doctor’s practice and any hospitals you frequently use. In addition, if you have special health care needs that require travel, it’s important to make sure the plan you choose offers adequate travel coverage. The best way to do this is by contacting the Medicare provider in the area where you will be traveling. It is also helpful to find out if the hospital where you will be staying accepts Medicare assignment. In order to do so, you should contact the Medicare beneficiary services department for the specific hospital in question.