Medicare Supplement
Medicare Supplement Insurance, Explained
Also called Medigap, this coverage works alongside Original Medicare to help pay costs Medicare leaves behind.
To speak with a licensed insurance agent, call (662) 210-2200. TTY: 711.
The basics
How a Medicare Supplement works
Original Medicare pays its share of a covered service first. A Medicare Supplement then pays toward the deductibles, copays, and coinsurance that would otherwise be left to you, depending on which standardized plan you have.
Because a supplement follows Original Medicare rather than replacing it, there are no provider networks to manage. You can generally use any doctor, hospital, or specialist nationwide that accepts Medicare, without a referral requirement from the supplement itself.
Standardized by law
Plans are standardized by letter
Medigap plans are standardized by letter, generally A through N. That means the basic benefits of a given letter are set by law and are the same from one carrier to the next — one company's Plan G covers the same core benefits as another company's Plan G.
What can differ between companies is the premium, how rates change over time, service, and any optional extras a company chooses to attach. We review the letters available to you and explain what each one does, without steering you toward a particular letter.
Timing
The Medigap Open Enrollment Period
There is a one-time six-month window that begins when you are 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. During that window you generally cannot be turned down or charged more because of your health.
Outside of that window, medical underwriting may apply, and an application can be declined or rated differently. If you are past your six months, call to see if you qualify to apply. To speak with a licensed insurance agent, call (662) 210-2200. TTY: 711.
Comparison
How it differs from Medicare Advantage
Medicare Advantage replaces the way you receive Parts A and B through a private plan, usually with a network and copays as you use care. A Medicare Supplement leaves you on Original Medicare and helps with its cost sharing, typically with a higher monthly premium and fewer bills to sort out afterward.
Neither approach is better in the abstract — it depends on your providers, medications, travel habits, and budget.
Questions
Medicare Supplement questions
To speak with a licensed insurance agent, call (662) 210-2200. TTY: 711.
This page is general education and does not describe any specific plan, letter, or carrier.
Want to see how a supplement would fit? Let's talk.
No pressure, no obligation — just a conversation with a licensed insurance agent about the options available to you.
To speak with a licensed insurance agent, call (662) 210-2200. TTY: 711.
Medicare Compliance Statement
This website represents no obligation to enroll. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the government or Federal Medicare program. Magnolia Family Insurance is an independent insurance agency. We represent multiple insurance carriers to help you find the plan that best fits your needs.
Medicare has neither reviewed nor endorsed this information. As an independent agency, Magnolia Family Insurance offers comparison services to find the best plan for your needs from multiple carriers. For a complete list of available plans please contact 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day/7 days a week, or consult www.medicare.gov.