Supplemental Plans and Programs for Medicare Enrollees
Supplemental plans and savings programs are designed to help you save money. One of the following may fit your individual situation.
3 Ways to Help You Save Money with Medicare
Everyone likes to save money. You may be able to get help paying for your health and prescription drug costs.
SHIP counselors can help you figure out which plans or programs are best for your situation, if you are eligible, and review what you will need to apply.
- Medigap: If you have original Medicare, Medicare only pays 80% of covered services. You are responsible for the rest, plus deductibles, co-pays, and co-insurance. Medigap or Medicare Supplement plans are designed to cover these gaps.
- Savings Programs: If you have limited income or resources, there are 3 federal or state programs that can help you save money on your premiums and other healthcare costs.
- Qualified Medicare Beneficiary or Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (QMB/SLMB) programs help with Part B premiums, deductible, coinsurance, and co-payments.
- Federal Extra Help helps pay for Part D premiums and co-pays and Maryland SPDAP helps pay for Part D premiums.
- Medicaid: If you have limited income and resources, you may qualify for Medicaid—a joint federal and state program that:
- Helps with medical costs
- Offers benefits not normally covered by Medicare, like nursing home care and personal care services
Contact our certified Medicare counselors for more information.
Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap)
Medigap is Medicare Supplement Insurance that helps fill “gaps” in Original Medicare and is sold by private companies. All Medigap plans cover the same standardized benefits determined by federal and state laws. Medicare has Parts and Medigap has Plans. There are 10 Medigap plans labeled by alphabet letters: Plans A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M and N. Our Medigap page has more information.
Savings Programs
Savings Programs help Medicare enrollees pay for Part B or Part D premiums and some other health care costs. Eligibility is based on income and asset limits.