West Virginia Medicare Supplemental Insurance (Medigap)

Many senior citizens in West Virginia think that because they are automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A they are covered for all of their health care needs. This is not the case. Just like in every other state individuals are enrolled in the free Medicare plan automatically but Part A Medicare only pays for a limited amount of services and there are a lot of out of pocket expenses. Deductibles and co-payments can actually make the cost of health care impossible to pay for on a fixed income.

Medicare Part B is a secondary Medicare supplement that seniors can enroll in at the age of 65. This plan covers many more areas of health care including extra things like medical transport, home health care and accessories such as oxygen, wheel chairs, and extended stays in health care facilities. However this supplemental health care is not free and deductions are made from social security income. The deductibles and co-payments are still an issue for those enrolled in Medicare Part B as well.

Other Medicare supplemental insurance is provided by private health insurance companies. They provide health insurance for seniors such as Medigap that covers the existing holes in Medicare policies as well as deductibles and co-payments. Medigap also covers the gap in Medicare Part D which is the prescription drug plan. Even though Part D is the only Medicare supplement that provides coverage for medicines it has a very limited payment between basic and catastrophic illness medicines that Medigap picks up.

Some health insurance for seniors helps by combining all of the Medicare supplemental insurance into one bulk policy. Before picking Medicare Advantage policies or other combination insurance make sure you fully understand what is offered in the plan so you are not left without necessary insurance.