Medicare supplemental insurance is a an added policy which covers the items not covered by regular Medicare. For example, there are programs which will supplement dental coverage for Medicare beneficiaries. There are also Medicare supplemental insurances available which will cover the deductible on Medicare plans, as well as co-payments.
Medicare supplements are sometimes called Medicare gap heal insurance policies, because they pay for the gaps in coverage experienced by many Medicare beneficiaries. Medicare supplement plans may not cover the entire difference between what Medicare pays and what is the beneficiaries responsibility, but those that have medical issues, may greatly benefit from Medicare supplements.
The cost of medicare supplement plans can vary greatly, depending on the gap in coverage left in a Medicare plan. In addition, the cost of medicare supplement plans can depend on any health issues that the individual has, including pre existing medical conditions.
The age of the individual, as well as their medical history, may be taken under advisement when they purchase medicare supplement plans. However, for many individuals, this additional coverage can be extremely beneficial, especially for catastrophic events, such as required surgeries and hospitalization.
There are a number of Medicare supplemental insurances, including those that are offered by private insurance companies. One of the most widely utilized is the Medicare Advantage plan which covers many expenses which would be the responsibility of the Medicare beneficiary.
