The Best Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Plans in West Virginia

If you have Original Medicare, you know that it doesn't cover 100% of your medical costs. You have to pay an annual deductible, Part B premiums, copays and coinsurance. For people living on Social Security or receiving small pension payments each month, these costs can add up quickly.

Medicare Supplement Insurance, also known as Medigap, pays for some of these expenses, making it more affordable to have a Medicare plan. Medigap is designed to work specifically with Original Medicare; if you have a Medicare Advantage Plan — often referred to as Medicare Part C — you don't qualify for Medigap coverage. 

Over a third (35%) of the state's population of Original Medicare enrollees are enrolled in a Medigap plan.¹ If you have Original Medicare and need Medigap coverage to cover more of your costs, use our research to learn more about Medicare Supplement Insurance and find out how to enroll.

What Are the Best West Virginia Medicare Supplement Plans?

Almost every state in the country uses the same guidelines for standardizing Medicare Supplement Insurance coverage, including West Virginia. Therefore, there are 10 standard West Virginia Medigap plans, all of which are displayed in the chart below. 

Some benefits are included in all 10 plans. For example, no matter which Medigap plan you choose, you get 365 days of additional hospital coverage in addition to your standard Medicare Part A benefits. Every plan also covers Medicare Part B copays; however, some plans cover a larger percentage of each copay than others. From there, plan benefits vary based on which plan you choose. Some plans cover your Medicare Part B deductible, but some don't. Other plans may also have additional limitations.

Plans F, G and N are the most popular West Virginia Medigap plans. Plans F and G provide a good balance of benefits and affordability, and Plan N provides extra benefits that can help make your Original Medicare coverage even more affordable. If you weren't eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020, you can't enroll in Plan F, but you can enroll in Plan G if you want low premiums.

One of the main benefits of enrolling in Plan N is that it pays 100% of your Medicare copays. You may have to pay a Medigap copay ranging from $20 to $50 per service, but you won't have to pay the typical Medicare amounts. If you see a doctor regularly, this benefit can help you save a lot of money.

How Do I Enroll in a West Virginia Medigap Plan?

The best time to sign up for West Virginia Medigap coverage is during your initial Medigap enrollment period, which begins during the month you turn 65. This is the best time to sign up because you'll have guaranteed issue rights, meaning insurance companies can't decline your application or charge you a higher premium because you have a chronic health condition. An insurer must charge you the same amount it would charge anyone else for the same Medigap policy.

If you don't sign up during your initial enrollment period, insurers can use a process known as underwriting to determine your risk level. Based on this process, you may be turned down for coverage or an insurance company may charge you a higher premium based on your health history.

There are a few exceptions to these rules:

• If you have a pre-existing condition, your insurance company is allowed to set a six-month waiting period on treatment related to that condition. For example, if you have kidney disease, your insurer may not pay any claims related to your kidney disease for six months after the policy goes into effect.
  
  
• If you kept your group health coverage when you turned 65, your West Virginia Medigap initial enrollment period won't start until you sign up for Medicare Part B.
  
  
• If you've had health insurance for at least six months, and your insurance plan covered your pre-existing conditions, you may be able to get Medigap coverage with no waiting period for those conditions.
  
  
• In some cases, your guaranteed issue rights can be reactivated. This usually involves a loss of Medigap coverage that occurs due to circumstances beyond your control. For example, if your Medigap provider files for bankruptcy, you can look for a different Medigap plan without having to go through the underwriting process.