Medicare is a great health care coverage option, but for many people it's not enough. Medigap plans offer additional coverage that Original Medicare doesn't provide, such as deductibles and coinsurance. When you purchase a Medigap plan, you'll have more comprehensive health care coverage. Medicare Supplement Insurance (also known as Medigap) helps Utah residents aged 65 and over and those with disabilities pay for certain Medicare copays, deductibles, and other costs.
No matter where you live, the best Medicare supplement plan offers the most value. All Utah Medicare supplement policies offer the same basic benefits, however, some offer additional gap coverage. Once you have passed your initial enrollment period, you will have to wait until the next open enrollment period to make any changes to your plan. During the Medicare Open Enrollment Period, members of Medicare Advantage and Part D plans can switch, change, or cancel a plan they chose during the Annual Election Period.
If you are a Utah beneficiary with Original Medicare (Part A and Part B), you may have noticed that you are not covered for all of your Original Medicare costs. This is because enrollment in Medicare coverage usually occurs when people turn 65, and Utah has a younger population than other states. There are pros and cons to both types of plans, so it's important to understand the difference between Medicare supplements and Medicare Advantage plans so you can choose the plan option that's right for your needs. Original Medicare includes Part A (which helps pay for hospitalizations such as in a hospital, skilled nursing facility, or palliative care facility) and Part B (which helps pay for outpatient care such as a doctor's appointment or preventive care service such as a vaccine).
However, people under 65 who are disabled and have been receiving disability benefits for at least two years can enroll in Medicare but federal regulations don't guarantee access to Medigap plans for people under 65. In Utah, there are 10 different Medicare supplement plans available and each type of plan is labeled with a different letter from A to N (for example, plan F).
