North Carolina Medicare Supplemental Insurance (Medigap)

There are twelve federally-legislated Medicare supplemental insurance plans available in North Carolina and throughout most US states. These plans, also called Medigap plans, are labeled with letters A through L, with each plan offering at least the benefits of Plan A plus other, different benefits. If you enrolled in a Medigap plan before 1992, you are not required to switch to one of the twelve standardized plans, however. Once you enroll in a plan, you’ll have no claim forms to file, as they’re filed electronically by your health care provider.

Medicare supplemental insurance plans in North Carolina are standardized to prevent confusion and protect you from buying more coverage than you need. Thanks to standardization, you can be confident that any Medigap insurance company who sells the plan you need will offer the same plan benefits as any other insurance company in North Carolina.

Policy pricing varies from company to company. Plans are partially priced according to how much and what type of coverage they provide, and partially according to the whims of any individual insurer, due to Medicare supplemental insurance being provided by private insurance companies with the ability to set their own prices. However, most companies will price their plans competitively and in accordance with any additional benefits they provide, such as dental benefits or superior customer service schemes. It’s worth looking at several North Carolina insurance companies to determine who offers the plan you need at the price you can afford as well as  high-quality customer service.

There’s a possibility that when you enroll in a Medicare supplemental insurance plan in North Carolina, you will have a waiting period of up to six months before receiving coverage for pre-existing conditions. However, the waiting period may under no circumstances extend longer than six months from the day you are granted coverage.

You can learn more about Medicare, Medicaid, and other senior health issues through SHIIP, the Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program in North Carolina.