Original Medicare is a great program that is highly effective at keeping seniors healthy and financially secure. However, it does not cover all of your medical expenses. Medicare Part B’s 20% coinsurance and other out-of-pocket expenses can be expensive. So, if you’re having trouble with your medical bills, or even if you just want to save some money, it’s time to look into a New York Medicare Supplement Plan.
The benefits of these plans, which are offered by private insurance companies, are standardized by the government. So, there will be no guesswork when it comes to choosing a plan. In fact, Medicare Supplement Plans are governed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The CMS requires that all plans with the same letter name provide enrollees with the same benefits regardless of where or from whom the plan is purchased.
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With that being said, though, premiums vary from insurer to insurer. So, it’s important to compare a variety of Medicare Supplement Plans and insurance companies to find the best deal.
First, take a look at our guide to New York Medicare Supplement Plans. Then speak to an EZ agent, who can assist you in comparing all of your options.
New York Medicare Supplement Plans
A Medicare Supplement Plan is your best bet if you need additional coverage to fill any gaps in Original Medicare. Especially the 20% coinsurance you pay each time you access Medicare Part B services.
There are ten standard Medicare Supplement Plans in New York. Each labeled with a letter of the alphabet: A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N. Even though not every insurance provider in New York will offer every plan, Plan A must be made accessible to everyone. Plan C and Plan F are only accessible to people who became eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020.
To help you get started, we’ve outlined all ten plans, including their coverage and the average premium price range in New York.
Plan A
Plan A, which is the only plan offered by all insurers, is also the most basic. It’s not completely comprehensive, but it addresses one of the biggest gaps in Medicare coverage: the 20% of outpatient services you are required to pay with Medicare Part B. While all Medicare recipients over age 65 are required to have access to Plan A, some states do not mandate that insurers make this plan available to Medicare disability recipients under age 65.
New York monthly Plan A premiums begin at $177.
Plan B
Medicare Supplement Plan B covers all the basics that Plan A does, including:
- Medicare Part A coinsurance and hospital costs – Medicare Part A only fully covers your first 60 days of inpatient hospital stays in a benefit period; after that, you are required to pay coinsurance for each day after your initial 60 days. Days 61-90 have a coinsurance of $400 a day, days 91-150 (after you use your Lifetime Reserve days) have a coinsurance of $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.
But Plan B is a bit more comprehensive than Plan A, because it includes coverage for the Medicare Part A deductible, which Plan A does not. In 2023, the Medicare Part A deductible is $1,600 per benefit period, and because it is calculated on a 60-day basis rather than annually, you may be required to pay it multiple times per year. Therefore, having a plan that includes this protection could be extremely advantageous if you think you might need hospital care.
In New York, monthly premiums for Plan B can start at $239.
Plan C
Part C is one of the most comprehensive Medicare Supplement Plans, but it is not accessible to all beneficiaries. All out-of-pocket costs are covered with this plan, excluding Medicare Part B excess charges. This means that Plan C will cover your Parts A and B deductibles in addition to your 20% Part B coinsurance.
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 accessible to Medicare beneficiaries who became eligible after January 1, 2020. If you had Plan C prior to that date, you can keep it, and if you were eligible for Medicare prior to January 1, 2020 but have not yet enrolled, you may still be able to buy Plan C.
In New York, Plan C premiums start at $330.
Plan D
Plan D covers the majority of out-of-pocket expenses associated with Original Medicare 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 D covers this coinsurance.
- Part A deductible
- 80% of foreign travel emergency costs (up to plan limits)
The only major expenses Plan D does not cover are the Medicare Part B deductible and Part B excess charges. You will be responsible for Part B excess charges if your doctor refuses to accept Medicare assignment and chooses to bill you for more than Medicare would cover. Excess charges are not covered by Plan D, so if you plan on seeing doctors who do not accept Medicare assignment, you should look for a plan that does cover them.
Monthly Plan D premiums in New York can start at $391.
Plan F
Plan F has been the most popular Medicare Supplement Plan on the market for a long time because of its comprehensive coverage, but it is not available to all beneficiaries. You’ll only pay the monthly premium for Plan F if you have this plan; all other out-of-pocket expenses are covered. Plan F covers all of 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 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
Plan F is not available to anyone who became Medicare-eligible after January 1, 2020. You can purchase one of these plans if you were eligible for Medicare prior to 2020; if you have Plan F and are grandfathered in, you can keep it indefinitely.
In New York, monthly premiums for Plan F can start at $318.
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 Plan G does not cover is the Medicare Part B deductible, so it is a very comprehensive plan that will save you a lot of money.
Plan G premiums typically start at $278 per month in New York, making it more affordable 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 covers half of the following costs:
- Medicare Part B coinsurance – Plan K covers half of these costs, so you will be responsible for 50% of your 20% coinsurance. For example, if your doctor charges $100 for a service, Medicare Part B 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 the Medicare Part B deductible, which is $226 in 2023.
Plan K has higher out-of-pocket costs at the time of service, but it has an out-of-pocket maximum, which other plans (and even Original Medicare) lack. This means that once you’ve paid $6,620 for Plan K (as of 2023), Medicare Supplement Plan K will cover the remainder of the year’s approved costs. Your limit will be reset at the start of each calendar year.
Although Plan K covers only half of many out-of-pocket expenses, it covers the Medicare Part A coinsurance in full, so you won’t have to pay anything out-of-pocket if you have to spend more than 60 days in the hospital
Because of its higher out-of-pocket costs, Plan K premiums in New York begin at $86 per month, which is less than most other plans.
Plan L
Medicare Supplement Plan L covers the majority but not all Original Medicare expenses. However, it covers them at a higher percentage than Plan K does. It, too, has an out-of-pocket maximum ($3,310 in 2023), which is lower than Plan K’s. Once you’ve paid this amount in out-of-pocket expenses, your insurance company will pay for the remainder of the year’s expenses.
Medicare Supplement Plan L covers all coinsurance and hospitalization costs associated with Medicare Part A. In addition, it also covers:
- 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.
Medicare Supplement Plan L premiums start at $181 a month in New York.
Plan M
Plan M covers the majority of your Original Medicare out-of-pocket expenses, but not all. Although it is more comprehensive than either Plan K or Plan L. It 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 hospital expenses and coinsurance
- Part A deductible – While Medicare Supplement Plan M covers most Part A costs, it will only 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.
The cost of Plan M premiums in New York start at $447 per month.
Plan N
Medicare Supplement Plan N is yet another comprehensive Medicare Supplement Plan option. Plan N excludes only two items: the Medicare Part B deductible ($226 in 2023) and any Medicare Part B excess charges. Which is any portion of medical bills that exceed the Medicare-approved amount. But Plan N does have copayments for some Part B services, which other plans do not.
Medicare Supplement Plan N provides nearly complete 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.
The price for Plan N starts at $206 a month in New York.
When to Enroll
New York has among the nation’s strongest Medicare Supplement Plan consumer protections. As long as you are a New York resident and are enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B, you can enroll in a Medicare Supplement Plan at any time. Additionally, your premiums will not be affected by your age or health status. This also applies to enrollees under 65 who qualify for Medicare due to a disability.
With that being said, because of the year-round availability, community rating (meaning prices are not based on age), and lack of medical underwriting, the premiums for Medicare Supplement Plans in New York are generally higher than in the majority of other states.
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 guidance on what you need to do to sign up. EZ can assist you in enrolling in Medicare, looking for a Medicare Supplement Plan, 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.
