The Best Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Plans in Tennessee

Medicare Part A and Part B, commonly known as Original Medicare, covers many medical treatment expenses for qualifying individuals in the state of Tennessee. These plans, however, do not always cover all the costs of hospital stays, long-term treatments and deductibles. Tennessee Medicare Supplement plans, also known as Medigap plans, help fill these financial gaps by paying for some of the expenses not covered by Medicare.

In Tennessee, over 316,000 Medicare participants also have Medigap coverage. That's more than 41% of those eligible for this coverage. If you are currently enrolled in Original Medicare in Tennessee and do not have Medigap insurance, you can learn more about this coverage below.

What Are the Best Tennessee Medicare Supplement Plans?

In Tennessee and in most other states, 10 types of Medicare Supplement insurance are available. These plans are designated by a letter and offer standardized coverage for Medicare recipients, which means that Plan A Medigap insurance offers the same coverage regardless of what insurance company offers it. The only difference between plans of the same letter offered by different companies in Tennessee will be the price.

All Medigap plans offer some coverage for Medicare Part A coinsurance. They must also cover an additional year (365 days) of hospitalization coverage beyond what is already covered by Medicare. Medicare Supplement plans in Tennessee cover some portion of copayments required under Medicare Part B. Some plans even offer coverage for the deductible amounts that must be paid before Medicare will cover treatments and hospitalization.

Not all plans may be available to all Medicare participants. Individuals who first became eligible for Medicare coverage on or after January 1, 2020, cannot enroll in Plans C or F. These plans were phased out by Medicare because they provided first-dollar coverage for all medical treatments, which was prohibited by the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015. Individuals who reached the age of 65 before January 1, 2020, however, can still enroll in these plans for as long as they are available from insurance companies in Tennessee.

In Tennessee and in most other areas of the United States, the most popular Medicare plans are Plans F, G and N. These plans balance lower insurance premiums with higher deductibles to help Medicare recipients balance their budgets more effectively. Plan N is especially popular among those worried about copay costs. It covers 100% of Medicare copay requirements and requires only a small copay for visits to the doctor or to the emergency room.

How Do I Enroll in Medicare Supplement Plans in Tennessee?

The easiest way to enroll in Medigap coverage is to do so during the initial six-month period of open enrollment, which begins on the first day of the month in which you turn 65. During these six months, you cannot be turned down for any available Medicare Supplement insurance policy because of pre-existing conditions. Additionally, you will be offered coverage at the same premium rates offered to applicants in perfect health. By taking advantage of this limited-time opportunity, you can obtain Medigap insurance at a far lower cost and with less stress for you and your family.

If you have had Medigap coverage in the past and lost it because the company you chose went bankrupt or through other reasons that were not your fault, you may be entitled to guaranteed issue rights. This status lets you purchase Medigap insurance under the same terms that you would have had under the initial six-month enrollment period.

Guaranteed issue rights may also be available to you if you chose to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan rather than Medigap coverage during your initial enrollment period. If you decide within the first year of coverage that you would prefer to switch to Original Medicare, you can typically access the same low rates and guaranteed approval for coverage from Medigap providers.

If you do not enroll in Medigap in the first six months of your eligibility, insurers can deny your application or charge you much higher rates for your coverage. Medigap providers use underwriting and risk assessment tools to process the applications they receive. Pre-existing conditions could make it much more difficult for you to obtain Medicare Supplement insurance outside the initial six-month window of eligibility.

A six-month waiting period may be required before you can be covered for pre-existing conditions under your Medigap policy. If you have been covered by other insurance for the last six months, however, this provision may be waived to allow your pre-existing medical conditions to be covered by Medigap starting immediately.