Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) Plans

If you elect original Medicare, it is basically an 80/20 health plan.  When you turn 65 and first enroll in Medicare Part B you have an opportunity (open enrollment) to purchase any of the 12 plans (A through L) offered in your state.  Each plan has different benefits and different prices.  Here is what the Texas Department of Insurance says about Medigap coverage:

Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people 65 or older, some people under 65 with disabilities, and people with end-stage renal disease or Lou Gehrig’s disease. If you are on Medicare, it will pay for much – but not all – of your health care.
Medicare supplement insurance can help you fill in some of the “gaps” that Medicare won’t pay. There are 12 standardized Medicare supplement insurance plans, labeled “A” through “L.” Each plan offers a different combination of benefits. Plans F, J, K, and L offer a high-deductible option.
Not everyone needs a Medicare supplement policy. If you have certain other types of health coverage, the gaps in your Medicare coverage may already be covered. You probably don’t need Medicare supplement insurance if
• you have group health insurance through an employer or former employer, including government or military retiree plans
• you belong to a Medicare Advantage plan
• Medicaid or the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) Program pays your Medicare premiums and other out-of-pocket costs