Medicare Supplement plans work alongside Original Medicare, which first pays its share of approved costs. Then your Medicare Supplement plan kicks in and pays its share.

While Medicare Supplement plans tend to have higher monthly premiums, they offer more predictability in what you’ll pay (if anything) when you get care, making it easier to manage your health costs and budget. These plans are also guaranteed renewable every year, so if you visit the doctor a lot – or expect to in the future – they may save you money overall. Plus, since you can see any provider in the U.S. who accepts Medicare, you can enjoy the peace of mind of broad access even when you’re away from home.

Both Medicare Supplement plans and Medicare Advantage plans are private Medicare plans. But Medicare Supplement plans work with Original Medicare, while Medicare Advantage plans replace it.

A Medicare Supplement plan may be right for you if:

• You don’t mind higher monthly premiums if they mean lower, more predictable out-of-pocket costs when you get care
• You want broad access to any provider in the U.S. who accepts Medicare
• You don’t mind buying prescription drug coverage (Part D) or comprehensive dental, vision or hearing coverage separately
• You no longer have a Medicare Advantage plan and are interested in a different kind of Medicare plan

A Medicare Advantage plan may be a good fit for you if:

• You’d prefer lower monthly premiums, even if it means higher out-of-pocket costs later
• You don’t mind having a fixed network of doctors and providers for the most favorable coverage
• You want the convenience of all your health care coverage (medical, prescription drugs, dental, vision and hearing) in one place

As with any health plans, there are features and benefits you need, and others that may be less important to you. While low premiums are priority number one for some people, others prefer plans with predictable, comprehensive, year-after-year coverage for out-of-pocket costs.

Keep in mind: You can’t be enrolled in both a Medicare Supplement plan and a Medicare Advantage plan at the same time. And no matter which kind of plan you have, you must continue to pay your Original Medicare Part B premiums and Part A premiums (if you have them), in addition to any premiums charged by your plan.

With Medicare Supplement plans, “benefits and coverage” refers primarily to help paying Original Medicare costs. In other words, with a Medicare Supplement plan:

• Your benefits and coverage for medical care are generally the same as Original Medicare (Parts A and B).
• Your Supplement plan has its own benefits and coverage for medical costs that help make your care through Original Medicare less expensive.

Your Supplement plan may also offer additional perks, like assistance when you’re traveling or a fitness program. Check the details of plans you’re interested in to learn more.

A few additional things to note:

• Medicare Supplement plans don’t cover most prescription drugs. You’ll have to also purchase a stand-alone prescription drug plan, also called a Medicare Part D plan, if you want this coverage.
• Medicare Supplement plans only cover dental care that’s part of a hospital stay, dental surgery to treat fractures, care needed after jaw surgery, and reconstruction needed after certain procedures and select other situations. If you want more dental coverage (like for regular cleanings and checkups), you’ll have to purchase a separate, non-Medicare dental plan.

Medicare Supplement plans typically don’t have networks. You also don’t need any referrals – you can see any doctor in the U.S. who accepts Medicare and is willing to see you. You’ll pay the same for covered services no matter where you are.

In most states, Medicare Supplement plans follow federal standards, called Plans A – N. (These aren’t the same as the parts of Medicare).

But in Minnesota, Medicare Supplement plans are organized a little differently. You can find these kinds of Medigap plans in Minnesota:

• Basic, with or without up to four optional additional coverages (riders)
• Extended Basic
• Medicare SELECT (a Supplement plan that includes a network)
• Plan F, if you became eligible for Medicare before Jan. 1, 2020
• Plans K, L, M and N

At HealthPartners, we offer a Basic plan with four optional riders, an Extended Basic plan and Plan N.

You have a six-month Open Enrollment Period for Medicare Supplement plans. This period starts the month when both of these are true:

• You’re 65 years old or older, and
• You’re enrolled in Medicare Part B

During this period, you can buy any Medicare Supplement policy sold in your state, without restrictions.

If you don’t buy a Medicare Supplement plan during this period but decide you want one later, insurance companies aren’t required to sell you a plan. If they do, your plan may cost more or come with waiting periods for certain coverage. (These restrictions don’t apply if you have guaranteed issue rights.)