UniCare of Minnesota: Medicare Supplemental Insurance Plans

A Medicare supplemental insurance plan, also known as Medigap, is a health insurance plan that supplements your Original Medicare Plan (Part A and Part B). Medigap plans are meant to cover the out-of-pocket expenses that Medicare doesn't, such as co-insurance and deductibles.

UniCare offers three plan options for senior residents of Minnesota: The Basic Plan, Optional Benefits Rider, and Extended Basic Plan. Let's take a look at the benefits of each.

Basic Plan

With UniCare of Minnesota's Basic Plan, you have the freedom to use any doctor, hospital, or health care specialist of your choice. This plan may be a good option if you're primarily cost-focused. After Medicare pays its portion of your health care costs, the Basic Plan offers coverage for:

• Medicare Part A (hospital) co-insurance
• 365 additional days of hospital stay coverage after Medicare's coverage ends
• Three pints of blood in each calendar year, as long as the blood is not replaced
• Medicare Part B (medical) co-insurance
• Co-insurance for skilled nursing facilities
• Coverage for emergencies during foreign travel

Optional Benefits Rider

This supplemental plan increases the amount of coverage you receive with the Basic Plan, and is only available if you are already enrolled in the Basic Plan. It offers coverage for:

• Medicare Part A (hospital) deductible
• Medicare Part B (medical) deductible
• 100% coverage of Part B excess charges
• Costs of preventative care therapies

Extended Basic Plan

For maximum Medigap coverage of your health care expenses, look to the Extended Basic Plan. Its coverage benefits are:

• Medicare Part A (hospital) co-insurance
• 365 additional days of hospital stay coverage after Medicare's coverage ends
• Three pints of blood in each calendar year, as long as the blood is not replaced
• Medicare Part B (medical) co-insurance
• Co-insurance for skilled nursing facilities
• Coverage for emergencies during foreign travel
• Medicare Part A (hospital) deductible
• Medicare Part B (medical) deductible
• 100% coverage of Part B excess charges
• Costs of preventative care therapies
• Costs of at-home recovery services

Eligibility factors for Unicare of Minnesota's Medicare supplemental insurance plans include: you must be a resident of Minnesota and a senior age 65 or better, and you must be already enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B.