Last Site Update:
09/21/07 04:38 PM

Medicare supplement insurance is designed to cover the "gaps" in coverage that Medicare, by itself, leaves behind.  Medicare supplement insurance, or Medigap, has become essential to many senior citizens.  The following are gaps in Medicare that without Medigap insurance, you could have to pay large sums of money for health care:

Hospitalization Deductible:

     In 1999, the hospitalization deductible was $768.

Hospitalization co-payments:

     In 1999, the hospitalization co-payment was $184 per day for the 31st

     through the 90th day and $368 per day for the 60 lifetime reserve days.

Additional Hospitalization:

     Even with the 60 lifetime reserve days (which you can only use ONCE), 

     Medicare only pays for 150 days of hospitalization.  The patient is 

     responsible for all additional hospitalization.

Physician Deductible  (Part B Deductible):

     In 1999, the physician deductible was $100 per year.

Physician co-payment:

     Currently, the physician co-payment is 20% of all Medicare approved

     charges.

Physician Excess (Part B Excess):

     If a physician does not accept Medicare-assigned charges for various

     services, the patient must pay the difference between the physician's 

     bill and what Medicare approves.

Prescription Drugs:

     Medicare does not pay for prescription drugs.

Preventive Care:

     Medicare is designed for medical care that is necessary.  It does not pay for 

     routine check-ups unless it is medically-necessary.

Foreign Travel Emergency:

     Medicare pays for health care in the United States, not abroad.

While all of the above are "GAPS" in Medicare, they can be filled with a Medicare Supplement policy AKA "Medigap".  To obtain a quote, click on the link below.  Also, long-term care is another area that Medicare does not cover.  To find out more about long-term care, click on the link below.

   Long Term Care