b'plans charge a nominal monthly premium,Although the Medigap naming conventions are and many only pay for certain drugs thatsimilar to the names of the various Medicare parts, are on the plans drug list or formularythe standardized Medigap plans and their alpha names list. There are different stages of Medi- (Plans A-N) are entirely distinct and should not be care Part D coverage (some or all of whichconfused. The most basic Medigap plan (Plan A) may apply to your particular plan), andcovers the Medicare Part A coinsurance and hospital coverage varies significantly in each stage:costs (up to an additional 365 days after Medicare (1) the annual deductible during whichbenefits are used). It also covers Medicare Part B time you pay the full cost of the drug; (2)coinsurance or copayment costs, the first three pints the initial coverage stage during whichof blood, and the Part A hospice care coinsurance or you pay a basic copayment or coinsurancecopayment costs. The other Medigap plans all cover amount (e.g., $10 or 25%); (3) the cover- these same benefits (most at 100%), but add varying age gap or donut hole (which is goinglevels of coverage for other things like skilledaway in 2021) during which time you paynursing facility care coinsurance, Part A deductible,a percentage of the cost of the drugs (usu- Part B deductible, Part B excess charges, and foreign ally about 25%); and (4) the catastrophictravel emergency.coverage stage during which time you usu- Federal law requires that all Medigap plans must be ally pay a low copayment or coinsurancestandardized. Since there is no difference in the ben-amount (e.g. 5%) for prescription drugs. efits of the Medigap plans sold by various insurance companies, most people shop for a Medigap plan Whats the Difference Between based on service and price (which can vary widely). Medicare and Medicaid? At WMI, were proud of our Medigap rates, and Medicare is an insurance program thateven more proud of the exceptional and personalized is run by the federal government. Itcustomer service we provide our insureds. We offer provides health insurance coverage forseveral Medigap plans, and I invite you to visit our the people who are at least age 65, andwebsite at www.wmimedigap.com or our Facebook for certain disabled individuals who arepage to see just how affordable our plans are.younger than age 65. In contrast, Medic-aid is an insurance program that is runWhat Medigap Policiesjointly by the federal government andDoes WMI Offer?various state governments. MedicaidWMI offers Medigap Plans A, G and N in Arizona, provides long-term medical and custodialMontana, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah. In some care coverage to low-income individualsstates, WMI also offers Plan C and Plan F to individu-and families. als who were born before January 1, 1955.What are Medicare How Can I Learn More AboutSupplement (aka Medigap) Medicare and Medigap Insurance Policies?Insurance Policies?Medigap policies are health insuranceIf you have questions about Medicare andpolicies that are sold by a private insur- Medigap policies, I would invite you to contact meance company to supplement, or fill in theat davidleo@wmimutual.com. You can also contact gaps of, Original Medicare coverage. Me- our office for your free copy of the referenceddigap policies can help pay the enrolleesCMS publication or visit our website atshare of the costs of Medicare-coveredwww.wmimedigap.com. Of course, the ultimate services (e.g., coinsurance, copayments,authority on all things Medicare is the federal govern- If you have questions or deductibles). In order to purchase a Me- ment, and you can find all sorts of helpful informationabout this article or digap plan, the applicant must be enrolledat the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Serviceswould like to discuss in Medicare Part A and Part B. Insurancewebsite at www.cms.gov. Finally, if youre lookingyour companys health companies are prohibited from selling afor a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, youinsurance progam, feel Medigap plan to an individual who is on acan take advantage of the helpful and user-friendlyfree to contact me at Medicare Advantage plan (unless that indi- Medicare plan finder at https://www.medicare.gov/ (801) 263-8000 or vidual is dropping the Advantage plan). drug-coverage-part-d. info@wmimutual.com. SWPMA News / Autumn 202021'