Medicare Supplement Plan A

Medicare Supplement insurance Plan A is the most basic of the eight standardized Medigap plans currently available. Medigap Plan A is different from Medicare Part A hospital insurance. Medigap Plan A policies are sold by private insurers and help pay your out-of-pocket costs if you are on Medicare.

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Written by
Terry Turner
Terry Turner
Senior Financial Writer and Financial Wellness Facilitator
Terry Turner has more than 35 years of journalism experience, including covering benefits, spending and congressional action on federal programs such as Social Security and Medicare. He is a Certified Financial Wellness Facilitator through the National Wellness Institute and the Foundation for Financial Wellness and a member of the Association for Financial Counseling & Planning Education (AFCPE®).
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Edited By
Lee Williams
Lee Williams
Senior Financial Editor
Lee Williams is a professional writer, editor and content strategist with 10 years of professional experience working for global and nationally recognized brands. He has contributed to Forbes, The Huffington Post, SUCCESS Magazine, AskMen.com, Electric Literature and The Wall Street Journal. His career also includes ghostwriting for Fortune 500 CEOs and published authors.
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Reviewed By
Brian Hickey, CLU®, CLTC®, FLMI
Brian Hickey, CLU®, CLTC®, FLMI
Vice President of Insuractive
Brian Hickey is vice president of Insuractive, an Omaha-based company providing direct-to-consumer Medicare plans, life insurance and wealth protection to individuals. With 24 years’ experiencein Medicare, long-term care, life insurance and wealth protection, Brian leads and develops Insuractive’s strategic initiatives with a focus on direct-to-consumeroptions for insurance information and solutions.
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Published: June 16, 2021
Updated: May 23, 2023
4 min read time
This page features 7 Cited Research Articles

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What Is Medicare Supplement Plan A?

Medicare Supplement Plan A — also called Medigap Plan A — is the most basic Medigap plan. It is one of eight Medigap plans currently available to new Medicare enrollees in most states.

Don’t confuse Medigap Plan A with Medicare Part A hospital insurance. These are two very different things, but they work together.

Medicare Part A vs. Medigap Plan A

Medicare Part A: Medicare Part A hospital insurance is federal health insurance that covers your hospitalization costs. You sign up for it when you become eligible, generally do not pay a premium, and have a deductible as well as potential coinsurance and copayments if you are admitted to a hospital.
Medigap Plan A: Medigap Plan A — and other Medigap plans — are sold by private insurers. You purchase it in addition to your Medicare coverage. Medigap Plan A helps cover any out-of-pocket costs Medicare Part A and Part B does not cover — meaning some, but not all, coinsurance and copayments. Medigap is called Medicare Supplement insurance because it supplements your Medicare coverage.

Available in most states, Medicare Supplement Plan A is the only Medigap plan that does not cover your Medicare Part A hospital insurance deductible, which is $1,600 in 2023.

What Does Medicare Supplement Plan A Cover?

Medicare Supplement Plan A offers only basic coverage of out-of-pocket expenses not covered by Original Medicare — Medicare Part A and Part B.

Out-of-Pocket Costs Covered by Medicare Supplement Plan A

Medicare Part A coinsurance and hospital costs for up to 365 days after Medicare benefits are exhausted
Medicare Part B medical insurance coinsurance and copayment costs
First 3 pints of blood used for a medical procedure in a calendar year
Medicare Part A coinsurance or copayment costs for hospice care

Of all the available supplement insurance plans, Medigap Plan A offers the fewest benefits and covers minimal out-of-pocket costs. If you’re comparing Medigap plans, it’s important to note that Medigap plans typically don’t cover long-term care or dental, hearing and vision services.

Out-of-Pocket Costs that Medicare Supplement Plan A Does Not Cover

Medicare Part A hospital insurance deductible
Medicare Part B medical insurance deductible
Medicare Part B excess charge — the amount over the Medicare-approved cost that a doctor is legally allowed to charge you for an item or service under Part B
Coinsurance for skilled nursing facility care
Foreign travel emergency costs (up to plan limits)

The out-of-pocket limit does not apply to Medicare Supplement Plan A.

All insurance companies that offer a Medigap plan have to offer Medicare Supplement Plan A. Plan A offers the same, standardized benefits in all states except Massachusetts, Minnesota or Wisconsin. Those three states have their own standardized plans.

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How to Find a Medicare Supplement Plan A

Carefully consider your current and future medical conditions and health care needs before selecting a Medicare Supplement plan. You may not be able to switch to a different policy later.

It’s also important that you compare Medigap plans that are available to you before you buy. Each of the eight standardized plans offer different benefits. If you live in Massachusetts, Minnesota or Wisconsin, your plans will be different from those offered in other states.

Even though plans are standardized, prices for Medicare Supplement Plan A vary from company to company. It’s important to compare plans offered by different insurers before selecting a Medigap plan.

Steps to Buy a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Plan

Decide which benefits you want and zero in on the Medigap plan that best meets your needs.
Find out which insurance companies sell Medigap policies in your states.
Contact the insurance companies that sell the Medigap policies you are interested in and compare costs.
Watch out for illegal practices. Remember that you may have a guaranteed issue right to purchase a Medigap policy if you are eligible for Medicare.
Buy your Medigap policy. If you don’t receive the policy within 30 days, call the insurance company. If you don’t receive it within 60 days, call your state insurance department.

Remember: Once you’re enrolled in Medicare, you can buy a Medigap policy any time. But to avoid the medical underwriting requirement, you must buy your policy within the window of time allotted for your specific situation.

You can ask your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) if it has a Medigap rate comparison shopping guide. Many SHIP offices provide these guides to help you compare plans, companies and costs in their state.

Last Modified: May 23, 2023