One great thing about Medicare is that you have options. You can go with Original Medicare or you can go with Medicare Advantage. If you go the route of Original Medicare, you can keep your out of pocket costs down by enrolling in a Medicare Supplement plan too. These plans, also known as Medigap, may cost you in the short-term (monthly premiums are not always cheap) but they could really pay off in the case of an unexpected diagnosis or medical emergency.

You cannot be on a Medicare Advantage plan and a Medigap plan at the same time. You will need to decide which type of plan works best for your situation.

1 – Go to Medicare.gov/medigap-supplemental-insurance-plans/

The most important thing is to check out on this screen is the link for SEE BENEFITS OF EACH PLAN. A pop up window will appear that outlines the different options from Plan A to Plan N. You will get more information on what this actually means for your out of pocket costs as you follow these steps.

Remember that every lettered plan is the same no matter what insurance company you get it from. If you live in Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, however, you will have different standardized options. On the pop up window, there is a link that outlines those for you too.

2 – Enter your zip code

Although the federal government sets the standard for what these plans cover, every state manages them in a different way. That is why the site asks you to enter your zip code. Click START.

3 – Enter your personal info

If you sign up for Medigap within SIX MONTHS of signing up for Medicare Part B or during a period of guaranteed issue rights (some states offer more than others – check here), the insurance company cannot increase your rates based on preexisting conditions. However, they still need information to set your base rate.

Age

Depending on the plan, age may be used to decide how much you will pay in premiums. Medigap plans fall into three different categories. As you go through these steps, you will find out where each plan falls.

• Attained-Age: Rates are based on age and increase the older you get
• Community-Rated: Rates are not based on age
• Issue-Age: Rates are based on the age when you sign up and do not increase based on age

Rates may not go up based on age but they can go up for other reasons, like inflation. Do not be surprised if your rates go up next year. Actually, you should expect it.

Insurance companies only have to offer Medigap plans to people 65 and older. If you are younger and qualify for Medicare based on a disability, be sure to check the box that reads SHOW ONLY PLANS FOR PEOPLE UNDER 65. You do not want to waste time looking into plans that are not going to serve you in the end.

Sex

Statistically, women live longer than men in the United States. While the reasons are often debated, this affects the bottom line for insurance companies. For this reason, you can expect rates to be slightly higher for women than men.

The options for sex here are male or female. Unfortunately, there is no category for transgender individuals, not even if they are on hormone therapy. If this applies to you, I recommend including your biologic gender at birth to start your search. I would then encourage you to address this with each plan when you request a quote.

If you are curious about life expectancy, you can visit the Retirement & Survivors Benefits: Life Expectancy Calculator on the Social Security site.

Do you Use Tobacco?

While insurance companies cannot increase rates for preexisting conditions during a period of guaranteed issue rights, they can still ask about smoking. It’s the biggest risk factor in health out there! Click here if you need help quitting. Rates will clearly increase if you are a smoker.

Once you’ve entered your information, click UPDATE PRICES.

4 — Look into the different policies in your area

Select the lettered plan you are interested in. There is a range of premiums listed here that will depend on what insurance carrier you choose. On its own, this screen gives you a good sense of the high ticket items on each plan; i.e., how much you can expect to pay for Medicare copays, coinsurance, and deductibles after you sign up.

If you need more information about what each lettered plan entails, click on PLAN DETAILS. This gives a more detailed outline of your expected out of pocket costs on that type of plan, more details than what you saw on the previous pop up window. If you want to see that pop up window to compare plans side by side again, you do not have to go back. Simply click COMPARE TO OTHER PLANS on this screen.

When you are ready to look at your options, click VIEW POLICIES. A list of all insurance carriers in your area that offer the specific plan will pop up.

You will not be able to pick a Plan F or Plan G if you were turned 65 on or after January 1, 2020. If you were under 65 and on one of those plans before then, you may be grandfathered in.

Monthly Cost

This is a rough estimate at best so do not get too excited. The link for GET A MORE ACCURATE PRICE just brings you to the top of the screen to adjust your age, sex, and smoking status.

You will see a link that reads: CAN I GET A HOUSEHOLD DISCOUNT ON MY MONTHLY PREMIUM? Sorry to say, you will never get that level of info here. This link is just a prompt to ask the insurance company about any potential discounts. Some companies may also offer discounts if you set up your payments for automatic bank withdrawals or if you pay for the year up front.

Contact Company

No matter what, you will need to ask for a quote. This is the information you will need to ask for one. There are direct links to websites but you can also choose to reach out by phone.

Pricing

This lets you know how the insurer prices its policies, i.e., attained-age, community-rate, or issue-age.

• States that require attained-age policies: None
• States that require community-rate policies: Arkansas, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, Washington
• States that require issue-age policies: Arizona, Idaho, Florida, Georgia

All other states can offer a mix of options. If you live in one of those states, you may want to make your selection based on what type of plan will save you the most money over time.

5 — Request a quote

Unlike Medicare Advantage and Part D plans, you cannot purchase them directly through the Medicare Plan Compare site. You will need to enroll directly through the company. Request a quote, compare offerings between insurers, and choose the one that works for you.