Last updated on: November 10, 2022
Medicare Supplements are standardized plans that provide the same coverage regardless of which insurance company in Kansas you purchase it from. This means that, for example, Plan G with Company X is the same as plan G with company Z. However, in Kansas, there are differences in benefits between all of the Medicare supplement plans, A through N.
Kansas Plan F
Plan F is the most popular Medicare supplement in Kansas and offers the most comprehensive coverage out of all of the supplement plans. Plan F is a really great option for seniors in Kansas, especially if you’ve had health problems in the past, or you are currently having health problems.
This plan covers Medicare deductibles, and all coinsurance and copays. This means that once Medicare and your Medicare supplement plan pays their portion, you will be left with nothing to pay! Plan F, however, is only available to people who became eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020.
Example: Dustin is turning 65 and has some friends on Plan F who have told him how great the coverage is. Upon inquiring about Plan F, he finds out that he is not eligible for Plan F. This is correct. Plan F is no longer an option for those turning 65 in the year 2020 or later. Fortunately, Dustin did his research and ended up choosing plan G, as it was almost identical to Plan F and for a fair price!
Kansas Plan G
Plan G is the second most popular supplement plan. It’s becoming especially popular because many people will no longer qualify for Plan F. So for many people, Plan G will end up offering the most comprehensive coverage. Plan G covers the Part A hospital deductible, copays, and coinsurance. This plan also covers the twenty percent of extra charges that Original Medicare Part B doesn’t cover.
Plan G will help pay for many other services, such as blood transfusions, skilled nursing, and hospice care. It also covers many different types of outpatient services, such as doctor visits, diabetes supplies, durable medical equipment, lab work, x-rays, ambulance rides, outpatient procedures, Part B excess charges, foreign travel emergency healthcare, and more.
The one thing Plan G does not cover is the Medicare Part B deductible. This means you will have to pay your Medicare Part B deductible before your supplemental plan kicks in and pays the rest. Even though it doesn’t cover this deductible, it’s still a great option with tons of coverage.
Example: Tom is turning 65 and trying to decide which plan is right for him. He has COPD and frequently visits his doctor. Tom decides on choosing the most comprehensive policy that will cover 100% of his medical needs. He chooses Plan G. The only cost Tom will be responsible for is the Part B deductible of $203 in 2021. After the deductible is met, 100% of his medical services are covered at $0 out of pocket. This is assuming he continues to pay the premiums.
Kansas Plan N
Plan N is another popular Medicare supplement Plan in KS. This plan generally has lower premiums, so for people who don’t have as much money to spend monthly, this can be a good option. Plan N covers the twenty percent that the Original Medicare Part B doesn’t cover. It also provides coverage for the Part A hospital deductibles, copays, and coinsurance.
Additionally, Plan N covers all of your standard preventative care, such as cancer screenings and annual visits to your doctor. Additionally, Plan N covers visits to the doctor for injury and illness, ambulance rides, surgical procedures, durable medical equipment, home health care, blood work, imaging, diabetes supplies, foreign travel emergency healthcare, and more.
Plan N does not cover the Medicare Part B deductible or Medicare Part B excess charges. An excess charge is when the doctor you visit, charges more than the government approved Medicare amount. You will then be responsible for those charges. While this can put a lot of people in a really difficult situation, the good news is that the doctors are not allowed to charge more than fifteen percent more than the Medicare approved amount.
More Kansas Medigap Plans
The three plans discussed above are the most popular and the most comprehensive Medigap plans. There are others, though, and it’s important that you have all of the information so you can make an informed decision about which plan to purchase.
Kansas Plan A
Medicare supplement Plan A is the most basic one you can purchase, but it still covers a lot of significant costs. Most importantly, it will cover the twenty percent of outpatient medical care that your Original Medicare plan doesn’t cover. Additionally, it covers the first 3 pints of blood that you need during a transfusion, and Part A hospice care coinsurance and copayments.
Plan A is the one that is most often available to people under 65 who qualify due to a disability. It is available during the open enrollment window without any questions about your health.
Keep in mind, this is the Medicare supplement Plan A, not Medicare Part A – they are different things!
Kansas Plan B
This plan offers the same benefits as Plan A. Additionally, it covers the costs of your Medicare Part A hospital deductible. The Part A deductible is more than $1,400, so this is a pretty significant benefit. The cost of Plan B will vary depending on which company you purchase it from. It will depend on your age, gender, zip code, and tobacco usage.
Kansas Plan C
Plan C is also a good option. It covers all of the gaps except for Part B excess charges. This plan is very popular in states that do not permit excess charges. To be eligible for Plan C, you must have been eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020.
Kansas Plan D
Plan D covers all of the gaps, with the exception of Part B excess charges and Medicare Part B deductibles.
Kansas Plan K
Plan K has a bit less coverage than some of the other plans. It covers the Medicare Part A hospital deductibles, but only offers 50% coverage in most of the other areas. For example, it pays 50 percent of your 20 percent coinsurance instead of 100 percent. So if the twenty percent you are responsible for after Original Medicare pays is $50, Plan K will pay $25. For this reason, Plan K has lower premiums than many of the other plans. This plan also puts a cap on your out of pocket expenses. The cap is $6,220, so you should never pay more than that amount in a calendar year.
Plan K does not provide coverage for your Medicare Part B deductible, Medicare Part B excess charges, or foreign travel emergency healthcare.
Kansas Plan L
Similar to Plan K, Plan L does not cover one hundred percent of the gaps. It covers seventy-five percent and you will be responsible for the other twenty-five percent. For example, it pays 75 percent of your 20 percent coinsurance instead of 100 percent. So if the twenty percent you are responsible for after Original Medicare pays is $100, Plan K will pay $75. This is also in exchange for lower premiums. The maximum out of pocket amount for Plan L is $3,110.
Kansas Plan M
Plan M is one of the newest supplements, hitting the market in 2010. If you enroll in Plan M, you will be responsible to pay fifty percent of your hospital deductible, as well as one-hundred percent of your annual outpatient deductible.
Kansas So Which Plan Should You Choose?
The 3 most popular plans in Kansas, F, G, and N, are good and offer quality coverage. If you have plan F, your best bet is to stay on Plan F. Going forward, people will not qualify for plan F, so plan G is often the next best option. Plan G offers very comprehensive coverage at a reasonable price.
One of the main reasons people choose Medicare Supplements is so they know each month exactly what their Medical expenses will be. You can have peace of mind knowing what your monthly premium is while not being surprised with any unexpected Medical expenses/bills.
You can calculate your yearly maximum out of pocket expenses by taking your monthly premium for your Medicare Supplement + adding your Part B deductible and multiplying it by 12 (12 months in a year).
Example: Julie chooses a Plan G and is paying $135/month. The following month she is diagnosed with cancer. Her total out of pocket on a Medicare Supplement is $1,620
In Kansas, Your Plan Will Cover You!
One of the great aspects of any Medicare supplement plan is that it covers you anywhere in the United States. Whether it be a planned 3 month trip, or the brief visit to family, you are covered anywhere you go. You do not have a network and you do not need to go through any hassle in notifying your insurance company.
Example: Let’s say you develop a serious heart condition that requires a unique type of specialist to treat your illness. On a Medicare Supplement, you will have the option to see a world renowned cardiologist on the other side of the country if you think that’s the best doctor to see. There are no referrals necessary and no “out of network” charges. A Medicare Supplement also allows you to get a 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and as many additional opinions as you need.
The flexibility to choose any provider that is local in Kansas or nationwide allows you to always put your health first without having to compromise on care based on which medical professional is “in network.” Instead, just pick up the phone and call. It’s that easy with a Medicare Supplement!
Categories: Medicare Articles, Medicare Coverage
