Medigap Plan A
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The way Medicare is structured can leave many people in the dark about what their coverage provides. It can be a confusing health care program and you may not be aware that your Medicare insurance doesn't cover all expenses that you may encounter.
Fortunately, Medigap Plans, as their name suggests, are designed to "bridge the gap" and cover costs not included in Original Medicare Parts A and B. These costs might include deductibles, co-payments and any health care you receive while traveling outside of the U.S. They do not cover dental care, long-term health care, hearing aids, vision care or private nursing. Most plans do not provide cover for the cost of prescription drugs.
In this article, we'll focus on Medigap Plan A, what it is and what it provides cover for.
What is Medigap Plan A?
Medigap Plan A, not to be confused with Medicare Part A, is one of the most basic Medigap plans available that helps to pay for out-of-pocket costs from Medicare Parts A and B. Plan A provides coverage for the following:
Medicare Part A coinsurance payments for inpatient hospital care for up to 365 days since your Medicare benefits have been used
First three pints of blood received as an outpatient or inpatient. Any additional pints you require after the first three will be covered by Original Medicare
Medicare Part B copayment or coinsurance costs
Hospice care copayment and coinsurance (Part A)
Medigap Plan A may have higher out-of-pocket costs and has the fewest benefits out of all of the 10 Medigap plans. However, it typically has lower premiums.