Overview & Coverage
Medigap Plan C offers a comprehensive range of coverage to fill the gaps left by your Medicare plan. While Medigap Plan F may be the most popular option available, Plan C offers a similar set of coverage with a few exceptions. Learn more about this plan below, or schedule an agent call for assistance.
Free Price Report
Get a free price report to compare insurance companies and premiums for Medigap Plan C in your area. It’s important to note that coverages between companies for the same plans remain the same, but premiums can vary significantly. We make it easy to find the best rate for your preferred plan through a quick and easy survey.
Medigap Plan C Coverage
If you are still deciding between plans, you can easily scan differences in coverage with our Medigap Plans Comparison. Below is a quick summary of what Medigap Plan C does and does not cover:
Medigap Plan C Covers….
- Medicare Part A coinsurance and hospital costs (up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits are used up)
- Medicare Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment
- Medicare Part A deductible
- Medicare Part B coinsurance or copayment
- Medicare Part B deductible
- First 3 pints of blood (Medicare pays the rest after that)
- Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance
- Foreign emergency care (80%)
Medigap Plan C Does NOT Cover…
- Part B excess charges
- Anything that Medicare doesn’t insure to begin with, including:
- Homeopathic treatments (e.g. acupuncture)
- Routine vision care/eyeglasses
- Routine dental care/dentures
- Foot care not related to medical conditions
- Hearing aids/routine hearing tests
- Cosmetic surgery
- Custodial care
- Prescription drugs (No Medigap plans include meds. Consider Plan D for your prescriptions)
Cost & Benefits
Medigap Plan C covers more gaps than plans A or B do, but it still leaves a few uncovered. For instance, Plan C does not cover plan B excess charges, the charges a doctor adds beyond the Medicare-approved amount. In most states, doctors can bill 15 percent above the approved amount for medical procedures, so not having this covered through Medigap plan C means you’d need to pay that potential 15 percent difference out of pocket.
One of the most significant and cost-saving benefits of Plan C is its coverage of Part A hospital coinsurance and costs for an additional 365 days after your Medicare coverage has been exhausted. This is important, because spending time in the hospital can add up significantly. Just a few nights can turn into thousands of dollars and a major hit to your wallet. It’s good to have the protection Plan C offers if you know you’re prone to more frequent hospital visits.
Additionally, Medicare provides no support for foreign hospital fees—so Medigap Plan C’s coverage of 80% of foreign travel emergency care is also a key advantage. This is especially beneficial if you plan to travel frequently in retirement.
Changes to Plan C
In 2015, a new law went into effect that will directly impact the availability of Medigap plans F and C after December 31, 2019. Starting January 1, 2020, no Medigap policies covering the Medicare Part B deductible (Plan C or Plan F) may be sold or issued to Medicare beneficiaries. If you’re already enrolled in plans C or F, you can keep your plan. However, everyone eligible and enrolled in Medicare PRIOR to 1/1/2020 will still have the right to switch from a Plan F or Plan C with one carrier to another OR purchase a new Plan F or C for the first time.
Medicare Part B Deductible
The Medicare Part B deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket for general medical and outpatient care. It is, however, one of the lower-cost expenses associated with Medicare. In 2021, the deductible is $203 annually—compared with a Medicare Part A deductible of more than seven times that amount. This is good news, especially if you will be affected by the 2020 law change.
Should I Purchase Plan C?
If you’re looking for comprehensive coverage and are eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020, Plan C is a good option to consider. However, if you weren’t eligible for Medicare to 1/1/2020 but are interested in the Plan C’s coverage, consider Medigap Plan G. Plan G offers a similar range of benefits without the Medicare Part B deductible coverage, which as mentioned, is a relatively low cost.
We make it easy to compare prices for Plan C or any other Medigap plan of your choosing. Simply complete a brief survey to view a free report of prices in your area:
Final Notes
Remember, Medigap plans are government standardized. Regardless of where and from which private insurance company you buy your plan, you will get the same set of coverage. When weighing insurance company options then, you’ll want to mostly consider companies’ rates and rate history increases—as well as which plans they carry to begin with. Not all Medigap insurance companies carry every plan option. If you live in Massachusetts, Minnesota or Wisconsin, an entirely different set of plans may be available to you.
Medigap plans provide coverage for more than 800,000 providers nationwide—that’s any doctor in-network for Medicare. With a Medigap plan, you’re able to see any Medicare-covered specialist, with no primary doctor referral required. Your coverage is also guaranteed renewable, meaning it can never be canceled due to health conditions from the claims you file.
If you’re unsure what plan you need, see our Medigap Plans Comparison, orschedule an agent call for assistance.
If you’ve decided on a plan and are ready to compare premiums, get your free price report today: