Original Medicare, which is available to anyone over the age of 65 and those with certain disabilities and health conditions, provides excellent healthcare coverage. But it’s not perfect. It has a lot of gaps, and that means many Medicare beneficiaries look for help with filling these gaps. Mississippi Medicare Supplement Plans are the best way to do this. So, if you need a way to offset the 20% Medicare Part B coinsurance and other out-of-pocket costs associated with Medicare, you should consider one of these plans.
Private insurance companies sell Medicare Supplement Plans. Which cover many of the out-of-pocket medical expenses that you are responsible for with Original Medicare. But, while these plans are sold by private companies, the government has standardized Medicare Supplement Plans so that all plans with the same letter name cover the same list of medical expenses everywhere in the country.
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The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regulates what these plans cover. But private insurance companies set the premiums. So, because premiums vary from insurer to insurer, it’s essential that you shop around. Compare Mississippi Medicare Supplement Plans as well as insurance carriers to find the best plan for you. You can use an EZ agent to compare both. But before you do, read our breakdown of Medicare Supplement Plans in Mississippi.
Mississippi Medicare Supplement Plans
When it comes to covering the out-of-pocket expenses that come with Original Medicare, a Medicare Supplement Plan is your best bet.
If you’re looking for a Medicare Supplement Plan in Mississippi, you should be aware that there are ten different plans. Each beginning with a different letter of the alphabet (A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N). Additionally, every insurance company has a legal obligation to offer Plan A to customers. Those who became eligible for Medicare prior to January 1, 2020 are the only ones who can buy Plans C and F.
You’ll have to pay monthly premiums to your private insurance company for these plans. But for this one payment, you’ll get most of your out-of-pocket Original Medicare expenses covered. Premiums in Mississippi range from $49 to $445 per month, depending on the type of coverage you choose and your location.
With so many options available, making a decision can be challenging. We’ve broken down the basics of each plan and how they work in Mississippi to help you in your search.
Plan A
Of the ten Medicare Supplement Plans, Plan A provides the least amount of coverage. It’s not as comprehensive as some other plans, but it will pay for the 20% of outpatient care that isn’t covered by Original Medicare, as well as some other basic expenses, as discussed below.
Plan A premiums in the state of Mississippi range from $85 to $358 per month.
Plan B
Medicare Supplement Plan B covers all the basics 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. But, 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. So, 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.
Plan B is a step up from Plan A in terms of coverage, since it covers the Medicare Part A hospital deductible. Which Plan A does not. In 2023, the Medicare Part A deductible is $1,600 per benefit period. This deductible is charged not once per year but rather per 60-day benefit period. So, you may be required to pay it more than once in a single year if you do not have a plan that covers it. That means Plan B might be preferable to Plan A for your needs.
Monthly Plan B premiums in Mississippi can range from $106 to $397.
Plan C
This plan stands out as superior to its competitors because of its comprehensive coverage, but it is not available to all beneficiaries. Plan C will pay for your Parts A and B deductibles and your 20% Part B outpatient coinsurance, as well as almost every other Medicare-associated out-of-pocket expense, except for Part B excess charges.
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
Unfortunately, Plan C is no longer available to Medicare patients who became eligible for Medicare after January 1, 2020. You can keep your current Plan C coverage if you had it prior to January 1, 2020, and you might be able to enroll in this plan if you became eligible for Medicare before that date but haven’t yet enrolled.
Premiums for Plan C in Mississippi range from $125 to $442 per month.
Plan D
Plan D covers the majority of 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)
Additionally, Medicare Part B deductibles and excess charges are not covered by Plan D. If your doctor refuses to accept Medicare assignment, they can charge you more than Medicare will pay for the service, and you will be responsible for paying the difference, known as excess charges. A few Medicare Supplement Plans cover these excess charges, but Plan D is not one of them.
In Mississippi, monthly premiums for Plan D range from $103 to $386.
Plan F
Medicare Supplement Plan F has long been the best-selling plan on the market, but like Plan C, not everyone can 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, like Plan C, is unavailable to people who first qualified for Medicare after January 1, 2020. You can enroll in one of these plans if you became Medicare-eligible before 2020, and you can keep your current Plan F coverage indefinitely if you’re grandfathered in.
Monthly premiums for Plan F can cost anywhere from $108 to $445 in Mississippi.
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. The good news is that premiums for Plan G are frequently very competitive, ranging from $95 to $316 per month in Mississippi, making these plans a better value than Plan F.
Plan K
Medicare Supplement Plan K cuts down Original Medicare out-of-pocket expenses, but does not fill all the gaps. Until you reach your out-of-pocket maximum, Plan K only covers 50% of certain expenses. The costs that have partial coverage are:
- 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 cover 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.
Although Plan K has higher costs, it has lower overall costs because of its out-of-pocket maximum, a benefit that most other plans do not have. The annual maximum amount you’ll have to spend with Plan K is $6,620 (as of 2023). Once you have reached your annual maximum, Medicare Supplement Plan K will pay 100% of your eligible medical costs for the rest of the year. Your annual maximum will be reset each year.
While the majority of costs are covered by Plan K at a rate of 50%, the Medicare Part A coinsurance is covered in its entirety, so you will not have to pay anything out-of-pocket if you stay in the hospital for longer than 60 days. This is the only basic benefit that Plan K fully covers.
Because of its higher out-of-pocket costs, Plan K premiums in Mississippi are in the lower range, costing anywhere from $49 to $165 per month.
Plan L
Medicare Supplement Plan L also covers a lot, but not all, of Original Medicare-related expenses. But it covers them at a higher percentage than does Plan K. It also has an out-of-pocket maximum, which is higher than Plan K’s ($3,310 in 2023), so once you’ve paid this amount in covered expenses for the year, your insurer will pay the rest of your medical bills.
Plan L provides coverage for all Medicare Part A coinsurance and hospital costs. It also covers 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 $62 and $248 a month in Mississippi.
Plan M
Medicare Supplement Plan M covers the majority, but not all, costs associated with Original Medicare. But this plan covers even more than those two plans.
Medicare Supplement Plan M covers all coinsurance and hospital costs associated with Medicare Part A. 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 $78 to $288 a month in Mississippi.
Plan N
The majority of Original Medicare coverage gaps are filled by Medicare Supplement Plan N. But it does have copayments that other plans do not have. So, the only other exceptions to coverage are the Medicare Part B deductible ($226 in 2023) and any Medicare Part B excess charges. Which are portions of doctor bills that exceed the Medicare-approved amount.
Medicare Supplement Plan N includes coverage for the following:
- 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 $71 to $342 a month in Mississippi.
When To Enroll
Individuals who are at least 65 and enrolled in Medicare Part B are eligible for a one-off six-month guaranteed-issue window. Having guaranteed-issue rights means that insurance companies cannot deny you or charge you more for coverage. So, you should take advantage of this six-month window if you can.
It’s important to note that federal regulations do not guarantee access to Medicare Supplement Plans for Medicare beneficiaries under 65 with a disability. However, Mississippi is among the majority of states that have implemented regulations to guarantee at least some access to Medicare Supplement coverage.
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 help you to sign up. EZ can assist you in enrolling in Medicare, comparing Mississippi Medicare Supplement Plans, or simply weighing your options. Additionally, our agents work with the best insurance companies in the country. So, 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. So, 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.
