Having North Carolina Medigap coverage means that the "gaps" in your Original Medicare policy will be covered entirely or at least partially. Such coverage includes paying for your Medicare deductibles and your coinsurance payments and prescription drugs. There are 10 standardized North Carolina Medigap plans that you can get. These 10 standard Medigap plans are labeled Plans A through J, and each of them offers a different set of benefits.

Deciding what North Carolina Medigap coverage you should have, can be an overwhelming task. Each of the plans provide a variety of different benefits. Some plans include coverage for Medicare deductibles and coinsurance for skilled nursing facilities, while others provide limited home care and prescription drug coverage. It is important to note that none of the Medigap plans cover long-term custodial care, vision and dental care, hearing aids, nor unlimited prescription drugs.

Basic Benefits Of North Carolina Medigap Coverage

All of the 10 standardized Medigap plans will have these basic benefits:

Hospitalization: Part A coinsurance, plus coverage for 365 additional days after Medicare benefits end. Medicare will pay for the first 60 days of hospitalization in full, except for the initial deductible per benefit period.

Medical Expenses: Part B coinsurance (generally 20% of Medicare-approved expenses) Medigap picks up the remaining 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for physician services and 50% for mental health services.

Blood: The first three pints of blood you need each year: Medicare will cover your remaining blood needs in full afterwards.

Medigap Plan A has only these benefits and for some individuals this may be enough. For others, you may need extended coverages and should review all of the plans to see which will meet your individual needs. Your insurance representative can provide you with information on what each plan covers and help you select the one that will suit you best.