To speak with a licensed agent, call (805) 548-8672 (TTY 711 M-SU, 8am-8pm) or email kip@meredithinsurancecenter.com

Medicare Supplement Plans: The Basics

Posted by Kip Meredith
Estimated Reading Time 1 minute 30 seconds

Medicare Supplement Plans:  The Basics

You first become eligible for Medicare when you reach age 65. Your enrollment window will begin three months before your 65th birthday, last throughout your birthday month, and extend for three months afterward. During this time, you will enroll in Medicare for the first time, or be automatically enrolled if you’ve already claimed your Social Security benefits.

You might think enrollment consists of simply choosing between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans, but that’s not the only decision you will face. In fact, one more decision is perhaps even more important at this time, because it’s the optimal time to enroll in a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan.

A Medicare Supplement plan works alongside Original Medicare (Parts A and B) to fill “gaps” in your coverage. Since Original Medicare doesn’t provide 100 percent coverage, many people opt for a Supplement plan to cover expenses such as their copayments, deductibles, and coinsurance. These plans can also provide for the cost of medical care when you travel outside of the United States, making these plans an important consideration for those who plan to travel frequently in retirement.

But here’s the catch: You’re only guaranteed eligibility for a Medicare Supplement plan during your original six-month enrollment window. During that time, you can enroll in a policy without a required health screening to pass underwriting.

Yes, you can always attempt to enroll in a Medicare Supplement plan later, but you will be required to pass underwriting in order to access a plan. Some people will pass, and some won’t. Therefore, if you enroll in Original Medicare and think you might want a Supplement plan to go along with it, the best time to consider this option is during your original six-month enrollment window.

Supplement plans are not available to those who enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, however.

As you can see, Medicare enrollment consists of a number of complex decisions, each influencing the next. As you approach Medicare availability, remember to consult with a qualified Medicare professional who can guide you through these decisions. Then, we can help you each year thereafter, during Medicare’s Annual Election Period each fall.

Kip Meredith
Meredith Insurance Center // kip@meredithinsurancecenter.com

I am a local, licensed and trained independent insurance agent. I am certified with many top Medicare Advantage, Prescription Drug and Medicare Supplement insurance plan carriers. I represent most major companies with a Medicare contract and am qualified to answer any questions you may have.

Get Free Medicare Assistance

Friendly, licensed professionals are available to answer all of your questions. Call (805) 548-8672 or complete the form below and we’d be happy to reach out to you.







      By submitting this information, you acknowledge a licensed insurance agent may contact you by phone, email, or mail to discuss Medicare Advantage Plans, Medicare Supplement Insurance, or Prescription Drug Plans.

      Close Accessibility Tools
      Accessibility Controls Reset
      Content Adjustments
      Font Size

      Default

      Line Height

      Default

      Content Scaling

      Default

      Highlight Titles
      Highlight Links
      Highlight Forms
      Align Left
      Align Center
      Align Right
      Focus Mode
      Color Adjustments
      Desaturate
      Monochrome
      Contrast

      Default

      Saturation

      Default

      Accessibility Statement

      Despite our attempts to make this website accessible for everyone, there may still be some pages or sections that are not completely accessible, are in the process of becoming accessible, or do not have a suitable technological solution to make them accessible. Nevertheless, we are always striving to enhance our accessibility by adding, updating, improving its options and features, and incorporating new technologies.

      We want to provide our users with the best experience possible, so we strive to support as many browsers and assistive technologies as possible.

      If you wish to contact this website's owner, please use the contact form on the website.

      Our User Interface Adjustment Options

      Font adjustments - With this tool, users can modify font size, style, letter spacing, and line height for improved alignment and readability.

      Color adjustments - Users can customize their color contrast profiles to light, dark, desaturated, and monochrome.

      Content highlighting - Users can prioritize key elements such as links, forms, and titles.

      Content focus - Users can enable focus mode to highlight the current page information based on their mouse movement.

      Close