Question: Do you have any advice to help me choose which type of Medicare supplement plan to buy? - M.R., Folsom, Calif.
Answer: Medicare supplement policies (medigap plans), which pay out-of-pocket costs not covered by Medicare, come in 10 letter designations (A through D; F; G; and K through N). All plans with the same letter have the same coverage, but prices can vary by company. Plan F has been the most popular. It covers the Medicare Part A hospital deductible and co-payments, the Part B deductible, and some emergency care outside the U.S. Plan F will be discontinued for new Medicare enrollees in 2020 (but people who already have Plan F can keep it). Plan G provides the same coverage except for the $185 Part B deductible. If you don’t anticipate having many doctors’ visits, consider Plan N, which usually has lower premiums in return for some cost sharing.
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