Original Medicare provides comprehensive coverage, and allows you to see any doctor in the country who accepts Medicare. Making it a great program that keeps older adults like you healthy both physically and financially. However, you might find the 20% Medicare Part B coinsurance, in addition to other out-of-pocket expenses, difficult to afford. If this is the case for you, or if you’re just looking to save some money on your medical expenses, you shouldn’t hesitate to look into a Maryland Medicare Supplement Plan.
Maryland Medicare Supplement Plans are sold by private insurance companies. However, while they are sold by private companies, Medicare Supplement Plans are regulated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Which mandates that all plans with the same letter name provide the same benefit coverage nationwide. That means there’s very little guesswork when it comes to these plans. And you’ll always know what you’re getting.
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Although, premiums for these plans can vary depending on the insurance company you select. So, it is important to look at both Medicare Supplement Plans and insurers to find the best plan for you. EZ can assist you with comparing both. But first review our guide to how Medicare Supplement Plans in Maryland operate.
Maryland Medicare Supplement Plans
A Medicare Supplement Plan is your best option if you need more coverage to fill the gaps in Original Medicare. Such as the 20% coinsurance you have to pay each time you use Medicare Part B services.
The first thing you should know if you’re looking for a Medicare Supplement Plan in Maryland is that there are ten standardized plans. Each labeled with a different letter of the alphabet (A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N). It’s important to note that not every insurer will offer all 10 plans. But Plan A must be made available by all insurance companies. And Plans C and F are only available to those who became Medicare eligible prior to January 1, 2020.
You’ll pay a monthly premium to your insurance company for your Medicare Supplement Plan. But for this price, you will get most, or in some cases, almost all, of your other out-of-pocket medical expenses covered. Monthly premiums in Maryland range from $61 to $1,632, depending on the plan and location.
With so many options available, it can be difficult to keep track of everything. To help you get started, we’ve outlined what each plan covers and what you can expect to pay in Maryland.
Plan A
Plan A provides the least comprehensive coverage among the ten Medicare Supplement policies. Despite its simplicity, though, it will cover the very important 20% of outpatient treatments not covered by Original Medicare. By law, all Medicare-approved health insurance providers must offer Plan A, but in certain states, insurers are not required to offer it to individuals under the age of 65.
Premiums for Plan A in Maryland range from $108 to $1,631 per month.
Plan B
Medicare Supplement Plan B is slightly less basic than Plan A. It covers everything that Plan A does, including:
- Medicare Part A coinsurance and hospital costs – Part A only fully covers your first 60 days of inpatient hospital stays in a benefit period, after that you are required to pay a portion of your bills for each day after your initial 60 days. Days 61-90 have a coinsurance of $400 a day. If your stay is between 91 and 150 days, and you use your Lifetime Reserve days, your coinsurance will be $800 a day. Plan B covers 100% of these costs.
- Medicare Part B coinsurance or copay – You’ll typically have to pay Medicare Part B coinsurance for doctor visits and other outpatient care. That means Medicare Part B pays 80% of the Medicare-approved amount for covered services, leaving you to pay the remaining 20%. Plan B covers 100% of this.
- First 3 pints of blood – Original Medicare only pays for the fourth and subsequent pints of blood if you need blood during treatment. Plan B will pay for the first three pints.
- Part A hospice care and coinsurance – Hospice care is for patients who are nearing the end of their lives. These services are covered by Medicare, but copayments are required. These copayments include $5 for each symptom and pain relief medication prescription, as well as 5% of the Medicare-approved amount for inpatient assisted living. Plan B covers all expenses related to hospice care.
What makes Plan B a little more comprehensive than Plan A is that it covers Medicare Part A hospital deductibles, which Plan A does not. In 2023, Medicare Part A hospital deductibles are $1,600 per benefit period. And since this deductible is not charged annually but per 60-day benefit period, you may be required to pay it more than once in a single year if you do not have coverage. That means Plan B might be a better deal for you than Plan A.
Plan B premiums in Maryland range from $137 to $451 per month.
Plan C
This is one of the most comprehensive Medicare Supplement Plans on the market, but it is not available to everyone. Plan C covers everything except for Medicare Part B excess charges. This means Plan C covers both your Parts A and B deductibles, as well as the 20% coinsurance you’d normally have to pay for all outpatient care.
Coverage includes the following:
- Part A hospital deductible and coinsurance
- Hospital costs up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits are exhausted
- Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment
- Blood (the first 3 pints)
- Other Medicare-approved expenses associated with Part A hospitalization
- Medicare Part B coinsurance and copayments
- Part B deductible
- Other Medicare-approved expenses associated with Part B coverage
Plan C is no longer available to Medicare recipients who became eligible for Medicare after January 1, 2020. If you had Plan C prior to that date, you can keep it, and if you were Medicare-eligible prior to January 1, 2020 but have not yet enrolled, you may still be able to purchase it.
In Maryland, Plan C premiums cost between $166 to $631 a month.
Plan D
Plan D covers the majority of out-of-pocket medical expenses including :
- Part A hospital coinsurance and hospital costs up to an extra 365 days after Original Medicare benefits are exhausted
- Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment
- Part B coinsurance
- First 3 pints of blood
- Skilled nursing facility (SNF) care coinsurance – After the 20th day of your stay as an inpatient in a skilled nursing facility, Medicare Part A requires you to pay coinsurance. Part A coinsurance for skilled nursing facility care is $200 per day in 2023.
- Part A deductible
- 80% of foreign travel emergency costs (up to plan limits)
Medicare Part B deductibles and excess charges are not covered by Plan D. If your doctor doesn’t accept Medicare assignment, they can charge you more than Medicare will pay for the service, and you will be responsible for paying the difference – this difference are your excess charges. A few plans cover these excess charges, but Plan D does not.
Plan D premiums can cost between $150 and $268 a month in Maryland.
Plan F
Medicare Supplement Plan F has long been the best-selling plan on the market, but as with Plan C, not everyone is eligible to purchase it. It covers all of your out-of-pocket expenses, meaning you’ll only pay your monthly Plan F premium if you have this plan. The covered expenses include:
- Part A hospital deductible and coinsurance
- Hospital costs up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits are exhausted
- Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment
- Blood (the first 3 pints)
- Other Medicare-approved expenses associated with Part A hospitalization
- Medicare Part B 20% coinsurance and copayments
- Medicare-approved doctor’s office fees
- Part B deductible
- Medicare Part B excess charges
- Other Medicare-approved expenses associated with Part B coverage
Again, Plan F is not available to all Medicare-eligible individuals: to purchase it, you had to have been eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020. In that case, you may purchase one of these plans; if you already have Plan F you can keep your coverage indefinitely.
In Maryland, premiums for Plan F cost between $135 and $505 per month.
Plan G
If you like the sound of Plan F, but are not eligible to purchase one of these plans, look into Plan G. This plan covers almost everything that Plan F does, including:
- Part A coinsurance and hospital costs up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits are used up
- Part A deductible
- Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment
- Part B coinsurance or copayment
- Part B excess charges (if a provider is permitted to charge more than Medicare’s approved amount and does so)
- Blood transfusion (first 3 pints)
The only thing not covered by Plan G is the Medicare Part B deductible. On the bright side, Plan G premiums are frequently very affordable, ranging from $115 to $452 in Maryland, making these plans a better deal than Plan F.
Plan K
Medicare Supplement Plan K reduces your Original Medicare out-of-pocket expenses, but it does not completely fill the gaps. Plan K only pays 50% of some expenses until you reach your out-of-pocket maximum. These expenses include:
- Medicare Part B coinsurance – Plan K covers half of these costs, so you will be responsible for 50% of your 20% Part B coinsurance. For example, if your doctor charges $100 for a service, Medicare will cover $80, Plan K will cover $10, and you will pay the remaining $10.
- First 3 pints of blood
- Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment – Plan K will pay for half of these costs.
- Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance – Plan K pays half of the coinsurance for medical care in skilled nursing care facilities.
- Medicare Part A deductible – Medicare Supplement Plan K will pay half of these deductibles, or $800.
Plan K requires you to pay more out-of-pocket, but it has an out-of-pocket maximum. which most other plans don’t. This means the most you will have to pay out-of-pocket for your medical expenses with Plan K in a given year is $6,620 (as of 2023). When you reach this limit, Medicare Supplement Plan K will cover the remainder of the year’s approved costs. Your maximum will be reset at the beginning of every year.
In addition, while Plan K covers the majority of expenses at a rate of 50%, it covers 100% of your Medicare Part A coinsurance, so you won’t have to pay anything out-of-pocket if your hospital stay lasts longer than 60 days. This is the only benefit Medicare Supplement Plan K fully covers.
Plan K’s premiums in Maryland are in the lower range, ranging from $61 to $173 per month.
Plan L
Medicare Supplement Plan L also pays for most of the costs of Original Medicare, but not all of them. It does, though, cover them at a higher rate than does Plan K, and it also has a lower maximum out-of-pocket ($3,310 in 2023) than Plan K. As with Plan K, once you’ve paid that much in covered costs for the year, your insurance company will pay the rest.
Medicare Supplement Plan L pays for all of the coinsurance and hospital costs associated with Medicare Part A. It also pays for a portion of:
- Medicare Part B coinsurance – Plan L covers 75% of your Part B coinsurance.
- Blood – If you require blood while in the hospital, Plan L will cover 75% of the cost of the first three pints.
- Part A hospice care copayments – Plan L pays 75% of your Part A copays for hospice care.
- Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance – Plan L pays 75% of the $200 per day (after the 20th day of your stay) coinsurance for medical care in skilled nursing care facilities.
- Part A deductible – Medicare Supplement Plan L will cover 75% of your Part A deductibles for each 60-day benefit period . You must still meet your Medicare Part B deductible, which is $226 per year in 2023, if you choose Plan L.
Plan L premiums cost between $80 and $324 a month in Maryland.
Plan M
Medicare Supplement Plan M, like Plans K and L, pays for most of the costs that come with Original Medicare, but not all of them.
Medicare Supplement Plan M pays for all of your Medicare Part A coinsurance and hospital costs. It also covers:
- Medicare Part B coinsurance – Plan M pays your Part B coinsurance and/or copayments in full.
- Blood – If you require blood while in the hospital, Medicare Supplement Plan M will cover the first three pints of blood in full.
- Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment – Plan M will cover all of your hospice care coinsurance and copays in full.
- Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance – Plan M covers the entire cost of Part A skilled nursing facility coinsurance.
- Part A deductible – Medicare Supplement Plan M will cover half of your Medicare Part A deductible. If you have Plan M, you will have to pay half of the $1,600 (or $800) deductible rather than the full $1,600.
Prices for Plan M premiums range from $94 to $493 a month in Maryland.
Plan N
Most of the coverage gaps left by Original Medicare are filled by Medicare Supplement Plan N. The only exceptions are the Medicare Part B deductible ($226 in 2023) and any Medicare Part B excess charges. Which are parts of doctor bills that are more than the Medicare-approved amount. But unlike with other plans, you might have to pay a copayment for some Medicare Part B services with Plan N.
All of the following are covered by Medicare Supplement Plan N:
- Medicare Part B coinsurance – Plan N will cover your Part B coinsurance costs in full, with the exception of a copayment of up to $20 for some office visits. For emergency room visits that do not result in an inpatient admission, a second copayment of up to $50 may be required.
- Blood – If you require blood while in the hospital, Medicare Supplement Plan N will cover the first three pints.
- Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment – Plan N pays your hospice care coinsurance and copayments in full.
- Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance – Your skilled nursing facility coinsurance will be fully covered by Medicare Supplement Plan N.
- Part A deductible – Medicare Supplement Plan N pays your $1,600 deductible in full for each 60-day benefit period.
- Foreign travel emergency care – Original Medicare typically does not cover medical care received outside of the United States. If you need emergency care while traveling outside of the United States, Medicare Supplement Plan N will cover 80% of the costs of qualified emergency medical care.
Prices for Plan N can range from $96 to $431 a month in Maryland.
When To Enroll
Is there a specific time when you need to enroll in a Medicare Supplement Plan? Well, while you can technically enroll in one of these plans at any time, you should do so during your Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment Period. Which is the six-month window after you turn 65 and enroll in Medicare Part B. During this time, coverage is guaranteed issue. Meaning insurance companies cannot deny you or charge you more for coverage.
However, federal regulations do not guarantee access to a Medicare Supplement Plan if you are under 65 and eligible for Medicare due to a disability. Fortunately, though, Maryland is among the states that provide at least some access to Medicare Supplement Plans for enrollees under 65. In Maryland, Medicare Supplement insurers are required to offer Plan A on a guaranteed-issue basis to enrollees under the age of 65 who apply for the Medicare Supplement Plan within six months of enrolling in Medicare Part B.
If you are under the age of 65, you will most likely pay higher premiums. But the state does put a limit on how much insurance companies can charge for Plan A enrollees under 65. It cannot be more than the average price of premiums paid for Plan A by enrollees 65 and older. In addition, you will have another enrollment window when you reach 65. At this time, you will be able to switch to a lower-cost Medicare Supplement Plan or choose a plan other than Plan A
How To Choose
When it comes to Medicare coverage, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Speak to an EZ agent who can explain everything to you and give you all the guidance you need. EZ can assist you in enrolling in Medicare, comparing Maryland Medicare Supplement Plans, or simply weighing your options. Our agents work with the best insurance companies in the country. They can provide you with a free comparison of all available plans in your area. We will go over your medical and financial needs with you and help you find a plan that works for you. To get started, simply enter your zip code in the bar below or give one of our licensed agents a call at 877-670-3602.
