Medicare: Medigap Specifics
Original Medicare (Parts A and B) doesn’t cover everything - you may still face out-of-pocket costs like deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance. That’s where Medigap comes in. Known as Medicare Supplement policies, Medigap helps cover gaps in coverage related to Original Medicare. Medigap is just one piece of the puzzle: Medicare offers plan options that can include Parts A, B, C, D, and/or Medigap.
Created by DeafHealth with the support of the Patient Advocate Foundation and Pfizer, these videos on Medicare in American Sign Language (ASL) will give you the skills to make informed decisions about your coverage, the benefits offered by Medicare, and how to use your insurance confidently. The videos cover different topics including Medicare Parts A, B, C, D, and Medigap Plans.
- American Sign Language Medicare Guide: https://deafhealthaccess.org/updates/health-insurance/
- English Medicare Guide: https://www.patientadvocate.org/wp-content/uploads/MedicareBenefitsGuide_English-1.pdf
- Medicare Resources Sheet: https://www.patientadvocate.org/wp-content/uploads/Medicare-Resources-Section.pdf
Stay Informed in ASL: We’ve got you covered! Sign up with your email at deafhealthaccess.org/sign-up or follow us on social media for new and current health updates.
Transcript and Video Description
[Video Description: The post has a video thumbnail with blue shading overlaid. The top middle has "Medicare: Medigap Specifics” in white text with light blue background, accompanied by a yellow bubble with “Medicare” in blue. In the video, a nonbinary person with long, curly brown hair tied in a ponytail stands in front of the camera. Behind them is a light brown leather couch and a blue built-in bookshelf wall. They are wearing black pants, a dark purple shirt layered with a black linen button-up, and round gold moon earrings.
Transcript: Original Medicare, or Medicare Parts A and B, covers many services but not everything, which means it can be challenging to afford out-of-pocket expenses like deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance. To help with these costs, you can choose to purchase a Medicare Supplement policy, also called Medigap. If you have Original Medicare, you are eligible to buy a Medigap plan, though it is optional and requires paying a separate premium in addition to your monthly Part B premium. During your Initial Enrollment Period, you are protected by “guaranteed issue rights,” which means insurance companies must sell you a plan without restrictions or higher rates due to pre-existing conditions. These rights apply during certain situations, such as within six months of enrolling in Part B if you’re 65 or older, if your employer group health plan is ending, within 12 months of leaving a Medicare Advantage plan you enrolled in when first eligible, if your Medicare Advantage plan is discontinued, or if you move out of your plan’s service area. After your Medigap Open Enrollment Period ends, it may be harder or more expensive to buy a policy, and if you’re under 65, your options may be limited or more costly. All Medigap policies offer the same basic benefits regardless of the insurer, but the cost can vary, and while some states may have different choices, there are generally ten standard plans labeled A through N. These letters don’t relate to the Medicare program itself. When choosing a plan, consider your current and future health needs and financial situation to find the policy that best fits you. [The screen fades to show a thumbnail of a faded white background of a doctor holding hands with another individual] Deaf. Healthy. DeafHealth. Learn more at www.deafhealthaccess.org. [The screen fades to show a thumbnail of a blue lighthouse] Paf. Patient Advocate Foundation. www.patientadvocate.org.]