The Best Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Plans in Kansas

One of the decisions you need to make when you join Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Part B) is whether to enhance your coverage with Medicare Supplement insurance, commonly called Medigap.

These privately sold plans help pay some of the out-of-pocket costs that you face when you use Medicare, such as the deductibles you owe before Medicare begins paying or the coinsurance left over after Medicare pays its share. 

Medicare Supplement insurance is popular in Kansas compared to the rest of the country. The state has the third highest rate of Medigap enrollment, with over 60% of Original Medicare beneficiaries in the state enrolled in a Medigap plan.¹

What Are the Best Kansas Medicare Supplement Plans?

Medicare determines the benefits private Medigap plans can offer. There are 10 types of plans available in most states, including Kansas. Each plan is designed with set benefits so you can focus on comparing the cost of the plans and the quality of service an insurer provides.

All Kansas Medigap plans, from A to N, pay for:

• Part A coinsurance related to hospital stays and hospice care
• Part B coinsurance for medically necessary services such as doctor visits, outpatient therapy and equipment like a walker or wheelchair 

Some Medigap plans help cover expenses such as the Part A deductible, coinsurance for skilled nursing facility care or emergency care when in a foreign country. Here's a look at the most commonly chosen Medicare Supplement plans in Kansas.

• Plan F offers the most substantial coverage, including excess charges and the Part B deductible. It's only available to Kansas residents eligible for Medicare before 2020. You can also opt for a high-deductible version of Plan F that usually has cheaper premiums, but you must pay some of your out-of-pocket costs before Medigap coverage comes through.
  
  
• Plan G provides the same robust coverage as Plan F but doesn't include the Part B deductible. It's designed for any Kansas resident, regardless of when they became eligible for Medicare.
  
  
• Plan N is an option for those seeking more affordable premiums. It has similar benefits to Plan G but doesn't cover excess fees some health care providers charge. Plan N, however, requires some cost-sharing to help keep premiums low, such as a $20 copay for some doctor office visits. This plan may make sense if you don't see a doctor frequently.  

How Do I Enroll in a Kansas Medigap Plan?

Your Medigap open enrollment period is the best time to apply for a plan, and it begins when you're 65 and first enrolled in Medicare Part B. Insurers can't underwrite your policy during this time, which is important for those who have health problems. Your Medigap open enrollment period lasts for 6 months.

During this 6-month period, insurance companies can't legally:

• Deny you coverage
• Charge additional premiums on top of what those without medical conditions pay
• Refuse to cover pre-existing conditions — although there may be a six-month waiting period where your out-of-pocket costs for the specific health problem aren't covered

You have similar protections if you lose your health insurance in certain situations. Known as guaranteed issue rights, these benefits apply if your workplace coverage is terminated, your insurer leaves Medicare or you no longer live in the area your Medicare Advantage plan serves.

After the end of your Medigap open enrollment period, and outside of any guaranteed issue rights, insurers are free to:

• Evaluate your risk 
• Decide whether to accept you into a plan
• Set conditions on the plan
• Determine how much premiums cost you