Medicare supplement insurance, also called Medigap, is a form of insurance that helps cover gaps in Original Medicare (parts A and B).
Residents of Idaho can choose from a range of Medicare supplement plans.
What is Medicare supplement insurance?
Here is a quick overview of Medicare supplement insurance:
- Plans are sold by Medicare-approved private insurance companies.
- You must have Medicare Part A and Part B to buy a Medicare supplement plan.
- They help cover the out-of-pocket costs of Original Medicare; after Part A and Part B pay for a service, Medicare supplement plans cover the remaining costs.
- You cannot have a Medicare supplement plan if you have a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan.
- There are 10 plan types, labeled A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N. The benefits of each plan are standardized across the country, except in Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, which have unique standardization rules.
- Plans C and F aren’t available if you turned 65 years old on or after January 1, 2020.
- If you sign up for a Medicare supplement plan during the first 6 months that you have Part B, companies can’t deny you based on your health.
Since the benefits of Medicare supplement plans are standardized, plans in Idaho will have the same base benefits as similar plans elsewhere.
The main difference between plans offered by different insurers is the cost of the monthly premium, though some plans may offer additional benefits.
In Idaho, 29 companies currently offer Medicare supplement policies. The majority of companies offer plans A, F, G, and N. But all 10 Medicare supplement plans — as well as high deductible versions of plans F and G — are available to residents of Idaho.
Some of the companies selling Medicare supplement plans in Idaho include:
In Idaho, Medicare supplement plans are priced based on community rating for individuals ages 65 years and over. This means the premium cost stays the same for all enrollees. In other states, rates may vary based on the age of the enrollees.
According to an analysis by health policy research group KFF, the average premium cost for a Medicare supplement plan in Idaho was $204 in 2023.
The Idaho Department of Insurance offers the following documents, which provide cost estimates for different plans based on your age and smoking status:
- nonsmokers under 65 years old
- smokers under 65 years old
- nonsmokers ages 65 years and over
- smokers ages 65 years and over
However, the Department of Insurance recommends reaching out to companies directly for personalized quotes, as the costs listed above are only estimates.
Alternatively, you can search for a Medigap plan in Idaho using Medicare’s coverage finder tool.
According to the health policy nonprofit KFF, 45% of Idaho residents who were enrolled in Original Medicare also had a Medicare supplement plan in 2023.
Nationally, the most popular plans are Plan G and Plan F. Together, these plans accounted for roughly 75% of all Medicare supplement plans sold.
For further information about Medicare supplement plans in Idaho and personalized health insurance counseling, consider contacting Idaho’s Senior Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA). You can do so by phone at 800-247-4422 or online.