What Are Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts is one of four US states that is a commonwealth, a politically organized body under one government. While being a commonwealth is a formal distinction, Massachusetts is one of three waivered states when it comes to Medicare Supplement Insurance for residents age 65 and older. In Massachusetts, a Medicare Supplement Insurance plan, also called Medigap, is designed to work with Medicare Parts A and B (Original Medicare) and provides coverage for things like copayments, coinsurance and deductibles that are not covered by Original Medicare.
In Massachusetts, Medigap policies are standardized in a different way as compared to most of the other states. For most states, there are 8 Medigap plans available to those eligible for Medicare and the Plan names are labeled A-N. However, in Massachusetts, a Medicare Supplement Insurance plans is limited to one of two available plans: The Supplement Core Plan and the Supplement 1 Plan. The Core Plan offers fewer benefits but at the same time is likely to cost less than the Supplement 1 plan.
Massachusetts residents looking for a Medicare Supplement Insurance plan need to first look at their specific coverage needs to determine what Medigap plan they might want to consider.
What Are the Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan Choices in Massachusetts?
As mentioned above, residents of Massachusetts can choose from a Supplement Core Plan or Supplement 1 Plan. Below is a description of Medicare’s basic benefit as well as the benefits included in the Core Plan and Supplement 1 Plan in Massachusetts:
Basic Benefits
- Inpatient hospital care: covers the Part A coinsurance plus coverage for 365 additional days after Medicare coverage ends
- Medical costs: covers the Part B coinsurance (generally 20% of the Medicare-approved amount)
- Blood: covers the first 3 pints of blood each year
- Part A hospice coinsurance or copayment
Core Plan
- Basic benefits
- 60 days per calendar year of inpatient days in mental health hospitals.
- State-mandated benefits (yearly Pap tests and mammograms. Check your plan for other state-mandated benefits)
Supplement 1 Plan
- Basic benefits
- Part A: inpatient hospital deductible
- Part A: skilled nursing facility coinsurance
- Part B: deductible
- Foreign travel emergency
- 120 days per calendar year of inpatient days in mental health hospitals
- State-mandated benefits including yearly Pap tests and mammograms. Check your plan for other state-mandated benefits
| Plan | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment # | 113 | 68 | 548 | 52 | 81 | 2,521 | 109 | 26 | 147 | 744 | 69 | 34 | 2,903 | 671 |
Source: AHIP. Reflects data through December, 2019.
| Plan | Enrollment # |
|---|---|
| A | 113 |
| B | 68 |
| C | 548 |
| D | 52 |
| E | 81 |
| F | 2,521 |
| G | 109 |
| H | 26 |
| I | 147 |
| J | 744 |
| K | 69 |
| L | 34 |
| M | 2,903 |
| N | 671 |
Source: AHIP. Reflects data through December, 2019.
While a Medigap plan will help pay for things like copayments, coinsurance and deductibles not covered by Medicare Parts A and B, it is important to note that your Massachusetts Medicare Supplement Insurance plan does not cover benefits for prescription drugs. However, you can buy an additional Medicare Prescription Drug plan to help with prescription drug costs. Or you may want to consider a Medicare Advantage plan, which typically includes coverage for prescription drugs and may also include other benefits, such as dental, vision, hearing and gym memberships.
To learn more about the available Medicare Supplement Insurance plan options in Massachusetts, you can work with a SelectQuote licensed sales agent. Acting as your advocate, our licensed sales agents can guide you through the Medicare maze to better understand Medigap plan options and answer any questions you may have throughout the process. SelectQuote individually shops more than 20 national insurance companies to help you compare Medicare plans in Massachusetts.
Massachusetts residents cannot be enrolled in a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Insurance plan and a Medicare Advantage plan at the same time. A Medigap plan can also not be used to pay for any expenses for a Medicare Advantage plan.
When is the Massachusetts Medicare Supplement Plan Enrollment Period?
Initial enrollment timeframes are very important. Enrollment for Massachusetts Medicare Supplement Insurance plans begins the first day of the month you turn t 65 years old. You also must be enrolled in both Medicare Parts A and B in order to enroll in a Medigap plan.
Massachusetts residents have a six-month period surrounding their birth month to buy a Medicare Supplement Insurance plan. Those under the age of 65 can check with the Social Security Administration office for additional enrollment periods.
The best time to enroll in a Medicare Supplement Insurance plan is during the initial 6 months you are eligible for Medicare. You might be surprised to hear that enrollment can begin as early as 64 and 6 months. During this important six-month period, companies that offer Medicare Supplement Insurance plans cannot use underwriting. If you apply for Medicare Supplement Insurance outside of this window of time, you will be subject to a physical exam. If you apply for Medigap coverage after the first six months of eligibility, a company can refuse to sell you a plan or premiums may also adjust depending on current health status and pre-existing health conditions.
How Do I Find the Right Massachusetts Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan?
Don’t leave your healthcare choices to chance. Talk to a Medicare Insurance specialist at SelectQuote. We can help you stay up to date on annual updates made to Medicare plans by insurance companies and we can also help to ensure you are receiving all the available Medicare benefits. As a trusted independent third-party company helping consumers understand the ins and outs of Medicare, SelectQuote is here to help you find the right Massachusetts Medicare Supplement plan to meet your needs and budget.
To ensure you are getting all the benefits you are entitled to receive, call or complete your online form today. Let SelectQuote’s personal licensed sales agents simplify the Medicare maze by comparing rates and independently shopping insurance companies to help you find an affordable option that meets your unique needs.
