Ohio Medicare Supplemental Insurance (Medigap)

Medicare supplemental insurance, also known as 'Medigap', is available to Ohio residents as a means of filling in the cost 'gaps' in Medicare coverage. There are twelve Medigap policies available to Ohio seniors, including high-deductible options, to suit various budget and health care needs.

Medicare supplemental insurance plans in Ohio are standardized, meaning that Medigap Plan A from one private insurance company consists of identical benefits as Plan A from any other insurance company throughout the state. Medigap policies are referred to by letters A through L, with Plan A consisting of the most basic benefits, and each subsequent plan offering all the benefits of Plan A, and at least one more in addition.

The following basic benefits must be offered in all Medigap policies A-J in Ohio:

• The first three pints of blood in each calendar year, unless that blood is replaced.
• The total cost of in-hospital care beyond the standard 150 days covered by Medicare, until a maximum of 365 lifetime days.
• Co-insurance for days 61-90 in the hospital ($265 per day in 2008), as well as co-insurance for your 60 lifetime reserve days.
• Co-insurance benefits of 20% for charged approved by Medicare after Medicare's Part B annual deductible of $135 has been reached.

Your eligibility for a Medicare supplemental insurance policy is determined by several factors. You must be a senior (at least age 65), and be enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B. Ohio residents with end-stage renal disease, and those under the age of 65 with certain disabilities, are also eligible for Medigap.

If you are at least 65 and apply for a Medigap policy within six months after enrolling in Medicare Part B, your application is guaranteed acceptance, and the insurance company may not use medical underwriting. This six-month period is referred to as your 'open enrollment period', and is the best time to enroll in a Medicare supplemental insurance policy.

While Medigap policies are government regulated on the federal and state levels, they are available exclusively through private insurance companies. The Ohio Department of Insurance is not permitted to rate Medicare supplemental insurance policies based on its own rating scale; however, there are various reliable outlets for researching financial rating information and policy holder reviews, including: A.M. Best Company, Fitch Investors' Service, Standard & Poor, Moody's Investor Service, and Consumer Reports Magazine.