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You might be wondering if a Medigap plan is even necessary for healthy older adults. While you may be in excellent health now (keep up the great work!), your future health care needs must also be considered. This is where Medigap plays an important role, as Medigap plans are meant to fill in the gaps that Medicare Part A and Part B (also known as Original Medicare) doesn’t cover. Essentially, Medigap provides additional coverage for costly medical bills if you become injured or ill. Below, we’ll take a look at our top picks for Medigap plans for healthy seniors.
Top Medicare Supplement Insurance for Healthy People
We completed an in-depth analysis of 12 of the top Medigap providers using the following criteria: Medigap plans offered; value-added benefits, including health and wellness perks; and insurance company reputation. We also evaluated if the provider website offered easy access to plan availability and pricing.
Medicare has a total of 10 Medigap plans. New enrollees can choose from eight of the 10 standardized Medigap plans: A, B, D, G, K, L, M, and N. As of January 1, 2020, Plans C and F are not available to those newly eligible.
Keep in mind, these standardized plans vary in the amount of gap coverage provided, so it’s vital to compare plan benefits. Deductibles, out-of-pocket limits, copayments, and coinsurance are not the same across the board. Below is a look at some of the most popular Medigap plans for healthy older adults and the types of seniors we’d recommend them for.
Healthy older adults without chronic medical conditions or who will rarely use their Medicare benefits may not want to pay for benefits they don’t need. Plans with higher deductibles, such as Plan K and High-Deductible Plan G, offer lower premiums than most other supplement plans. It’s important to remember, should your health condition change and you require services, unexpected out-of-pocket expenses can wreak havoc on your wallet.
Is traveling abroad on your post-retirement bucket list? Without the proper Medigap plan, experiencing a medical emergency while out of the country can be costly. Explore Medigap plans C, D, F, G, M, or N as these six plans include 80 percent coverage of qualifying foreign travel emergency care costs.
From the Pros: Curious about the cost of Medigap insurance? Our guide to Medicare Supplement Insurance has the crucial facts.
Many healthy seniors want the peace of mind that comes from having a comprehensive Medigap plan. Medigap Plan N offers similar coverage to higher-premium Plan G. However, Plan N comes in at a lower cost, as you’ll be responsible for some office and emergency room visits ($20 and $50 copays, respectively).
For close to a century, Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) has supplied health care coverage. With Medigap plans in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and an extensive provider network, Blue Cross Blue Shield stands out as a health insurance provider. BCBS makes it easy for older adults to “live well for less” with the Blue365, Silver & Fit Exercise, and Healthy Aging programs.
*For individuals first eligible for Medicare before 2020, Plan C and Plan F are also available.
Blue Cross Blue Shield is one of the largest health insurance providers in the United States. BCBS has been an integral part of the Medicare program since the launch of Medicare in 1964. Today, over 42 million Medicare participants are enrolled in Blue Cross Blue Shield companies.1
With exclusive Blue Cross Blue Shield member-only savings, Medigap enrollees can take advantage of a range of fitness and wellness tools, from activity trackers and walking shoes to nutrition and weight loss programs. The option to bundle dental, vision, and prescription plans makes BCBS an excellent one-stop shop for insurance coverage.
For a closer look at Blue Cross Blue Shield’s Medicare Supplement plans, check out our latest Blue Cross Blue Shield review.
Cigna has played an important role in the insurance industry for more than 225 years and now serves 180 million customers across the globe.2 Cigna’s commitment to assisting older adults live their healthiest life is impressive. Members enjoy health and wellness savings on gym memberships, vision and hearing care, alternative medicine, and weight management through Cigna’s Healthy Rewards program. Offering competitive pricing, top-notch perks, and enrollment discounts, Cigna remains a front-runner for older adults.
*For individuals first eligible for Medicare before 2020, Plan F and High-Deductible Plan F are also available.
As a leader in the health care industry, Cigna does not disappoint. Their website is stocked with Medigap resources to take the confusion out of shopping for a Medicare Supplement plan. We were impressed with Cigna’s stellar 24/7, 365 customer support and health information line, along with their competitive premium discount. With a robust rewards program, Cigna doesn’t skimp on healthy lifestyle perks.
Ready to learn more about Cigna’s Medigap plans? Head to our Cigna Medigap review for more details on this provider.
For over 60 years, AARP has been committed to educating and empowering adults as they age. Focusing on total body health, AARP offers an impressive range of healthy living programs, discounts, and options to bundle other insurance, such as prescription and dental. With over 4 million insured members nationwide, UnitedHealthcare (and its affiliates’ Medicare Supplement plans) covers more people than any other individual insurance carrier.3 AARP Medigap plans from UnitedHealthcare are a strong contender for healthy older adults looking to embrace their life with vigor.
*For individuals first eligible for Medicare before 2020, Plan C and Plan F are also available.
AARP Medigap plans from UnitedHealthcare offer much more than Medicare Supplement Insurance. The powerhouse combination of AARP and UnitedHealthcare makes it easy for members to take full advantage of quality health care and substantial savings. From health and wellness to travel and banking, enrollees have a wide range of benefits to enhance their golden years.
Visit our UnitedHealthcare Medigap review to learn more about this Medigap provider.
From the Pros: Our experts have researched 16 Medicare Supplement Insurance plans and recommend 10 of the best options for seniors.
Medigap insurance is sold through private insurance companies such as the ones we detailed above, along with numerous others, including Aetna, Colonial Penn, and Humana. Buying Medigap insurance is like purchasing auto or home insurance; you want to shop around and obtain at least three quotes from providers.
Did You Know: If you’re a Massachusetts, Minnesota, or Wisconsin resident, your state offers different standardized Medigap plans. Enter your ZIP code into the Medicare.gov website to explore the policies offered in your state.
While Medigap plan options vary from state to state, the plan coverage is standardized. This means each Medigap plan remains the same no matter which health insurance company you decide to enroll with. For example, Plan N from Blue Cross Blue Shield has exactly the same coverage as Plan N with UnitedHealthcare.
Once you’ve decided on the best Medigap plan for your needs and thoroughly compared quotes, purchasing a plan is fairly simple. You can enroll online with most insurance companies, as well as over the phone or via a mail-in application.
The ideal time to enroll in a Medigap plan is during your six-month open enrollment period. Open enrollment automatically begins the month you turn 65 and have enrolled in Medicare. During this six-month period, health care companies are federally required to provide Medigap plans with “no questions asked.” You cannot be denied a policy or charged a higher rate due to preexisting health conditions.
Plan options and pricing premiums are best during your six-month Medigap open enrollment. Keep in mind, while you can enroll in your state’s Medigap benefits at any time, after this six-month period, you may not be able to buy a policy. If you can buy one, it may cost more due to past or present health problems.4
Choosing the right health insurance is just one part of staying on top of your health as you age. Taking care of our bodies and minds should be a top priority on our to-do list. As we age, maintaining a healthy lifestyle ensures we can fully enjoy our hard-earned years of retirement.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends older adults get moderate-intensity aerobic activity, such as brisk walking, 30 minutes a day, five days a week. They also recommend muscle-strengthening activities on two or more days each week that work your major muscle groups, including your legs, hips, back, and arms.5
Boost your quality of life by including these actions into your daily routine:
Maureen joined SeniorLiving.org with more than 10 years of experience writing in health, lifestyle, and nutrition for premium brands like General Mills, Westinghouse, and Bristol Myers Squibb. Her passion for empowering older adults is evident in coverage of topics like retirement, health… Learn More About Maureen Stanley
Blue Cross Blue Shield. (2012). Health insurance from invention to innovation: A history of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies.
Cigna. (2021). Company Profile.
AARP. (2021). Plan Comparison Guide.
Medicare.gov. (2021). When can I buy Medigap?
Health.gov. (2021). Physical activity is just what the doctor ordered.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Physical Activity Prevents Chronic Disease.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Important Facts about Falls.
