Medicare Supplement Plan D: Who’s It For?
Plan D is one of ten supplemental insurance plans you can purchase while on Medicare. (Note that it is different from Medicare Part D, the portion of Medicare that provides prescription drug coverage.)
Supplemental insurance policies are sometimes called “Medigap” plans. These plans help cover certain Medicare costs, such as deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. Without a supplemental plan, you would be responsible for paying those costs in full.
The ten Medigap plans are categorized by letter, from A to N. For a complete overview of Medicare supplement plans and how they work, check out our Medicare Supplement Plans Guide.
When compared to the other plans, Plan D falls somewhere in the middle. It covers most, but not all, of the gaps in Medicare coverage. Accordingly, it is less expensive than some plans and more expensive than others.
Plan D: Who is it for?
- People who dislike paying copays. Plan D covers all your Part B coinsurance and copayments for office visits and emergency room visits.
- People who want to keep costs down without sacrificing everything. Plan D is a midpoint plan, in terms of both price and coverage. Plan D provides more coverage than bare-bones plans (Plans A and B) and less coverage than comprehensive plans (such as Plans C and F). You will pay more in premiums for plans that provide more coverage.
- People who plan to travel abroad. Plan D covers 80% of emergency costs while you are in a foreign country, after you pay a $250 deductible.1
Carol is 65, a homemaker, and recently signed up for Medicare Part A and Part B. Carol has diabetes and needs to check in with a doctor frequently. She also lives within a tight budget and doesn’t want to spend too much on premiums. After doing some research, Carol decided to purchase Medigap Plan D, as it will cover any copays at her doctor and any emergency care she might need while visiting her granddaughter, who is studying abroad in London.
What Plan D covers
Table created using information available at medicare.gov as of 11/18/19.
Part B coinsurance and copayments
Plan D covers all coinsurance and copayments for Medicare Part B services. Some other plans only partially cover them or require you to make some copayments during doctor office visits and emergency room visits.
Part B deductible
The Part B deductible is not covered by Plan D. In fact, starting in 2020, no Medigap plan that covers the Part B deductible may be sold to people who become eligible for Medicare after January 1, 2020.
Part B excess charges
Part B excess charges are not covered by Plan D. Excess charges are additional costs you pay when a provider doesn’t participate in Medicare (also known as “not accepting Medicare assignment”). The excess charges can be up to 15% higher than standard Medicare rates. To avoid paying the excess charge while on Plan D, choose your providers carefully and always ask if they accept Medicare assignment.
Emergency health care costs while traveling abroad
Plan D is one of the Medigap plans that covers health emergencies while traveling internationally. Plan D pays for 80% of your emergency health care costs abroad, after a $250 deductible.2 (No Medigap plan covers 100% of those costs.)
Medicare Supplement Plan D: What you need to know before enrolling
Plan D policies effective on or after June 1, 2010, have different benefits than Plan D policies bought before that date. So if you’re comparing notes with a friend or family member who’s been on Plan D for a while, his or her benefits may not be the same as those available to you now.
To sign up for Plan D, first enroll in both Medicare Part A and Part B (traditional Medicare). It is best to enroll in Plan D during your Medigap open enrollment period (within six months after you sign up for Part B, for those 65 and over). During that period, you are guaranteed access to Medicare Supplement plans by law. You can enroll in or switch Medicare Supplement plans at other times, but you may be denied or charged more based on your health status.
Most Medigap plans are standardized nationwide. However, three states—Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin—have different plans for their residents.
Get Medigap Plan D
Medicare Supplement Plan D provides almost-comprehensive coverage with relatively low premiums. If you think Plan D may be the right choice for you, get a quote or speak with a licensed agent.
Content on this site has not been reviewed or endorsed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the United States Government, any state Medicare agency, or any private insurance agency (collectively "Medicare System Providers"). Eligibility.com is a DBA of Clear Link Technologies, LLC and is not affiliated with any Medicare System Providers.
Sources
- Medicare, "Medigap and Travel"
- Medicare, "Medigap and Travel"
