• Medicare Supplement plans are optional plans offered through private insurance carriers. They help pay for expenses that are not covered by Original Medicare.
• There are several plans available and they are all known by a single letter of the alphabet such as Plan A or Plan G.
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  The basic benefits for each plan are exactly the same for all insurance companies.If you enroll in Medicare Supplement Plan you will need to pay a monthly premium based on your age and sex.

• Medicare Supplement Plans do not include prescription drug coverage. Most people who enroll in these plans, also enroll in a separate Part D plan so they have medical and hospital coverage though the Supplement and drug coverage through the Part D plan.
  If you do this, you will likely have to pay two separate monthly premiums unless you qualify for help from the government through the Extra Help program or Medicaid.

Original Medicare Plans do not include prescription drug coverage unless you are hospitalized.

Many people ask us, “How am I going to pay for my daily medications?” There are a few ways to get help paying for your prescription drugs including Part D plans, a Medicare Advantage Plan that includes drugs (MAPD) or through a government assistance plan such as Extra Help or Medicaid.

Part D plans involve paying a monthly premium (unless you receive help from the government) and offer limited assistance in paying for your prescription drugs.

There may be an annual deductible and there are several phases of coverage throughout the year wherein the percentage of the cost of your prescription drugs changes between you and insurance company.

Part D plans do not pay for all your prescription drug costs. It is a shared cost plan between you and the insurance company.

Depending on what county you live in, you may qualify for a chronic special needs plan that is specifically designed to cater to those who have a specific condition such as diabetes, chronic heart disease, chronic pulmonary disease or renal disease.

Your treating physician would need to cooperate by completing the necessary paperwork documenting your specific chronic condition to the insurance company that is offering the plan.
There may or may not be a monthly premium for this plan.
These plans include prescription drug coverage.

If you are a Medicare beneficiary and also on Medicaid, you may want to look into a Dual Special Needs Plan (DSNP). This is called dual, because this type of plan is only for those who are considered “dual beneficiaries.”

These types of plans offer additional benefits and services beyond what is offered by Medicare or Medicaid such as transportation, dental, hearing, vision, gym membership and other services.