Medigap Plan M Supplement Insurance

Medigap Plan M is a Medicare Supplement insurance plan that helps pay out-of-pocket costs that Original Medicare – Medicare Part A and Part B – does not cover. It is similar to Medigap Plan D, except that it only pays half of the Medicare Part A deductible.

Terry Turner, writer and researcher for RetireGuide
  • 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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    Lee Williams, senior editor for RetireGuide.com

    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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    Alex Ponce

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    Alex Ponce is a licensed agent at Insuractive with over 10 years of industry experience. He specializes in Medicare insurance and is licensed to sell in all 50 states.

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  • Published: August 2, 2021
  • Updated: June 23, 2023
  • 4 min read time
  • This page features 9 Cited Research Articles
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A licensed insurance professional reviewed this page for accuracy and compliance with the CMS Medicare Communications and Marketing Guidelines (MCMGs) and Medicare Advantage (MA/MAPD) and/or Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (PDP) carriers’ guidelines.

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APA Turner, T. (2023, June 23). Medigap Plan M Supplement Insurance. RetireGuide.com. Retrieved October 4, 2023, from https://www.retireguide.com/medicare/supplement-insurance/compare/medigap-plan-m/

MLA Turner, Terry. "Medigap Plan M Supplement Insurance." RetireGuide.com, 23 Jun 2023, https://www.retireguide.com/medicare/supplement-insurance/compare/medigap-plan-m/.

Chicago Turner, Terry. "Medigap Plan M Supplement Insurance." RetireGuide.com. Last modified June 23, 2023. https://www.retireguide.com/medicare/supplement-insurance/compare/medigap-plan-m/.

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What Does Medigap Plan M Cover?

Medigap Plan M is one of several plans sold by private insurers that help people cover the “gaps” in their coverage with Original Medicare – Medicare Part A and Part B.

Also called Medicare Supplement Plan M, it covers most typical out-of-pocket costs associated with Original Medicare. But it pays only half of your Medicare Part A deductible if you are hospitalized.

Medigap Plan M Coverage
BENEFITS PLAN M COVERAGE
Medicare Part A deductible – $1,600 in 2023 50%
Medicare Part A coinsurance and hospital costs – up to 365 days after Medicare benefits run out 100%
Medicare Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment 100%
Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance 100%
Medicare Part B coinsurance or copayment 100%
Medicare Part B deductible – $226 in 2023 NO
Medicare Part B excess charges (the amount a doctor or other provider can charge above the Medicare-approved cost) NO
First three pints of blood for medical procedures each calendar year 100%
Foreign travel medical emergency cost (up to plan limits) 80%

Medigap Plan M – like all other Medigap Plans – does not provide dental, vision, hearing or prescription drug coverage. You can purchase a Medicare Advantage plan that will cover these costs.

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Alternatively, you can add a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan to your Original Medicare to cover prescription medicine costs. But it still won’t cover hearing, dental and vision care.

You cannot add any Medigap plan to a Medicare Advantage plan.

How Much Does Medigap Plan M Cost?

Medigap Plan M has a lower monthly premium than comparable Medicare supplement plans. But the trade-off is that you have to pay half of your Medicare Part A hospital insurance deductible.

Where you live, when you purchase your plan and other factors may affect how much your monthly premium will be.

Medigap plans are standardized – meaning that no matter where you buy a Medicare Plan M policy, the benefits will be the same. But Medigap plans are sold by private insurers, and each insurance company uses different measures to set its monthly premium.

Did You Know?
While there are 10 standardized Medigap plans available in most states, three states – Massachusetts, Minnesota and Wisconsin – have their own versions of Medigap. These plans are standardized across each state but may not offer the same benefits as Medigap Plan M.
Source: U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Medigap Plan M vs. Medigap Plan D

The biggest difference between Medigap Plan M and Medigap Plan D is how much each pays toward your Medicare Part A deductible – $1,600 in 2023. Medigap Plan M pays 50% of this deductible, while Medigap Plan D covers the full deductible. 

The trade-off is that monthly premiums for Plan M will likely be less than those for Plan D.

Monthly premiums for Medigap Plan M and Plan D vary depending on where you live and other factors. If you’re considering both Medigap plans, compare costs among different insurance companies selling one or both.

Who Needs Medigap Plan M?

Medigap Plan M is best suited for people who don’t mind paying the Medicare Part A deductible and who live in states that don’t allow Medicare Part B excess charges.

Doctors are allowed to charge up to 15% above the Medicare-approved cost for services. Under Plan M, you have to pay this excess charge out of your pocket.

But if you live in one of the eight states that prohibit excess charges, Plan M may again be worth considering.

States that Prohibit Medicare Part B Excess Charges

Medicare Part A hospital insurance only comes into play if you are admitted as an inpatient to a hospital. If you don’t expect you’ll need to be hospitalized – or can afford half the cost of the deductible – Medigap Plan M may be worth considering.

Last Modified: June 23, 2023

9 Cited Research Articles

  1. U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2022, September). National Medicare Handbook. Retrieved from https://www.medicare.gov/publications/10050-Medicare-and-You.pdf
  2. U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2022). Costs. Retrieved from https://www.medicare.gov/basics/costs/medicare-costs
  3. U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2022, September 27). 2023 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles 2023 Medicare Part D Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amounts. Retrieved from https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2023-medicare-parts-b-premiums-and-deductibles-2023-medicare-part-d-income-related-monthly
  4. Bunis, D. (2022, May 11). Medigap Plans Help Bridge Gap of Original Medicare Costs. Retrieved from https://www.aarp.org/health/medicare-insurance/info-2017/choosing-right-medigap-plan.html
  5. U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicare Services. (2022, March). Choosing a Medigap Policy: A Guide to Health Insurance for People With Medicare. Retrieved from https://web.archive.org/web/20230314223405/https://www.medicare.gov/sites/default/files/2022-03/02110-medigap-guide-health-insurance.pdf
  6. U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicare Services. (2021). Getting Started With Medicare. Download. Retrieved from https://cmsnationaltrainingprogram.cms.gov/
  7. Sherrell, Z. (2020, July 20) What Does Medicare Supplement Plan M Cover? Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/medicare-plan-m-coverage
  8. U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicare Services. (n.d.). How to Compare Medigap Policies. Retrieved from https://www.medicare.gov/supplements-other-insurance/how-to-compare-medigap-policies
  9. U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicare Services. (n.d.). What’s Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap)? Retrieved from https://www.medicare.gov/supplements-other-insurance/whats-medicare-supplement-insurance-medigap