If it is most important to you to have the widest range of choice in where you receive health care, then the right solution is probably a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan and a Part D Prescription Drug Plan.

It’s called “Medigap” because it covers the gaps in coverage from Original Medicare (Part A and Part B). Through Original Medicare, about 80% of health care costs are covered. Medigap policies generally cover the remaining 20% of out-of-pocket costs including co-pays and deductibles. So you pay higher monthly premiums, but less in out-of-pocket costs.

The benefits offered in a Medigap plan will be the same no matter what insurance company provides your policy. The plans are differentiated by letters – A through K – and there are set benefits for each plan. The plans are standardized by the Federal government. So it’s easy to compare plans across different insurers.

Costs, however, are not the same between companies. So get quotes from at least two companies for the same letter plan. That way you are comparing apples to apples.

• You want the widest choice of doctors and hospitals.
• You want the most coverage for out-of-pocket expenses.
• In many cases there is no need to change plans if you move.

LAI Tip: Plan F is the most popular plan – coverage ~/Affinity basic benefits including Part A and Part B co-insurance and deductibles, skilled nursing facility co-payments, and coverage for foreign travel emergencies. Other popular plans are the basic Plan A and Plan C.