Medicare Supplement, which is also called “Medigap” is a health insurance policy that you purchase from a private insurance company (like Blue Cross Blue Shield) to pay the healthcare costs that are not covered by Original Medicare.

To provide yourself financial protection, you can choose to enroll in a Medicare Supplement policy.

How does Medicare supplement work?

Purchasing a Medicare Supplement plan does not replace your Original Medicare coverage – it simply serves as a supplement to help cover all or some of the costs that Original Medicare doesn’t cover.

If you opt into a Medigap plan, you won’t have to stick to certain networks or get referrals for care as you might with Medicare Part C. All providers who accept Medicare will also accept your Medicare Supplement plan – the good news is that more than 90 percent of physicians nationally accept Medicare.

So, the combination of Original Medicare and Medigap Insurance means that you get help making up for that 20 percent that’s not paid by Original Medicare. Depending on the plan you select (there are many types of Medigap plans available), you may be responsible for no or very little out-of-pocket cost, although each plan comes with a monthly premium that must be paid to retain the coverage.

What you need to know about Original Medicare and Medicare Supplement