Medicare Plan A
Medicare Plan A is also known as Medigap Plan A. It is currently the most basic of all the Medigap plans available – which may or may not meet your coverage goals.
Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan A
What does Plan A cover? What are its Pros and Cons? It has less benefits compared to other Medicare supplement plans and is often overlooked by shoppers.
Let’s find out and see if Plan A is the right choice for you. Make sure to check out the other Medicare plans available below when you’re finished reading about Plan A.
Plan A Overview
| Medicare Supplement Benefits | Plan A covers? |
|---|---|
| Medicare Part A Coinsurance & hospital costs (up to additional 365 days after medicare benefits are used | YES |
| Medicare Part B coinsurance or Copayment | YES |
| Blood (first 3 pints) | YES |
| Part A Hospice care coinsurance or copayment | YES |
| Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance | NO |
| Part A Deductible | NO |
| Part B Deductible | NO |
| Part B Excess charges | NO |
| Foreign travel emergency (up to plan limits) | NO |
All insurance companies are required to provide Plan A in most states. In fact, in a few states it’s the only Medigap plan available for anyone who is under age 65 who receives Medicare from a disability. For people over age 65, there are other plans you may want to look at. Medigap Plan G and Medicare Supplement Plan N are often a better value when comparing cost and benefits. Their costs aren’t much more compared to Plan A, but their coverage is much better.
Medicare Plan A Coverage Benefits
Medigap Plan A will provide coverage for the coinsurance that corresponds with any Part A hospital stay. It will cover you an extra 365 days at the hospital during your lifetime, but only while you are on the Medicare policy.
Plan A will provide coverage for the co-pays and your coinsurance that’s connected to your outpatient benefits (Medicare Part B). Medigap Plan A will cover the 1st 3 pints of blood and Original Medicare will cover everything after that. Medicare Supplement Plan A also covers the coinsurance and copays for Part A Hospice.
Covered
- Medicare Part A Coinsurance & Hospital Costs (Covered)
- Part A Hospice Care Coinsurance or Copayment (Covered)
- Medicare Part B Coinsurance and Copayment (Covered)
- Blood (First 3 Pints) (Covered)
Medigap Plan A WON’T Cover
Understanding what Medigap Plan A doesn’t cover is important. Medicare supplement Plan A will not cover your Part A or your Part B deductibles or the Excess Charges. Plan A doesn’t cover the Skilled Nursing Facility coinsurance or Foreign Travel Emergencies. When you add up all of these potential coverage gaps, it can get rather pricey.
Does Not Cover
- Foreign Travel Emergency (up to plan limits) (Not Covered)
- Skilled Nursing Facility Coinsurance (Not Covered)
- Medicare Part B Excess Charges (Not Covered)
- Medicare Part A Deductible (Not Covered)
- Medicare Part B Deductible (Not Covered)
- Like all Medigap plans, it doesn’t cover most dental, vision, & hearing health care costs.
Medicare Plan A is NOT Part A
Shoppers often get confused about Plan A and Part A. This is often one of the more confusing parts about Medicare.
Are they the same? …No!
They aren’t the same, so let’s break it down in simpler terms:
- Medicare Supplement Plan A and Medigap Plan A are insurance plans. They are simply insurance plans that cover the gaps in Original Medicare.
- Part A is your Medicare hospital coverage. Medicare Part A, is different from Medigap Plan A and Medicare Supplement Plan A.
Medigap Plan A for Disability Under Age 65
As we mentioned briefly above, Medicare Supplement Plan A is the only Medigap plan available for shoppers under age 65 in most states. If you’re under age 65 and qualify for Medicare due to your disability, Plan A can be purchased when you enter your Open Enrollment period. You will not have to go through Underwriting at this time.
Over 65?
For anyone over age 65, Medicare Supplement Plan A typically isn’t purchased. Most people opt for a plan that provides more coverage at a similar price like Plan G or Plan N.
REMEDIGAP Is Here to Help
If you find Plan A or Medicare confusing, don’t worry…You’re not alone. REMEDIGAP will help you understand all your options and make sense of it all. We do all the hard work for you!
If you’d like to talk about Medicare Supplement Plan A or any other Medigap plan, please fill out our easy online form to compare Medicare supplement rates, or call us directly at (888) 411-1329 during business hours. We look forward to helping you.
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Written by Michael Quinn
Licensed Broker, REMEDIGAP Founder
Fact Checked by Joann Quinn
Chief Compliance Officer
As a licensed insurance broker, REMEDIGAP upholds the principles of integrity in our editorial standards and ensures transparency in how we receive compensation from our insurance partners.