During the Medicare Annual Election Period (AEP), which is from October 15th through December 7th each year, many people may ask the question, “Do I want a Medicare Advantage Plan or a Medicare Supplement Plan (Medigap)?”
Medicare Supplemental Insurance (Medigap) policies help pay some of the health care costs (“gaps”) that original Medicare doesn’t cover (like co-payments, coinsurance, and deductibles). If you have original Medicare and a Medigap policy, Medicare will pay its share of the Medicare-approved amounts for covered health care costs. Then your Medigap policy pays its share.
Medicare is a federal health insurance program for Americans 65 or older. Most U.S. citizens earn the right to enroll in Medicare by working and paying their taxes for a minimum required period. Even if you didn’t work long enough to be entitled to Medicare benefits, you may still be eligible to enroll, but you might have to pay more.