As a recipient of a Medicare program, you might feel confused when you hear mention of various supplements out there. These supplements, also called supplemental plans or Medigap insurance, are meant to provide more benefits to you that your primary Medicare plan does not cover adequately. This can mean more out-of-pockets costs for you, but immeasurable perks and benefits if you need them. The decision to get a supplement should consider these questions:

1. Do You Travel?

If you visit grandkids several states away frequently or take cruises throughout the year, it's possible that you may have a medical situation that can't wait until you're home to receive care. Out-of-network costs on your Medicare plan could be rather expensive. With a supplemental plan, it's likely that those costs could be covered in full or in part.

2. Do You Prefer a Specific Physician?

When you first signed up for Medicare, you may have wanted to keep a particular physician but soon realized that they weren't in the network of the plan you wanted and you'd have to pay high costs to stay with them. With a supplement, however, that doctor can still be seen for less money overall. If you are seeing someone that you'd prefer to stick with now, picking up a supplement to your Medicare plan soon can allow you to keep seeing them for your care.

3. Are You Healthy?

Healthier people tend to visit doctors and specialists less often than others. If you're someone with no ongoing issues,  you might not even use all the benefits provided by your primary Medicare plan; there's not a critical need to choose a supplemental plan.

However, if you're currently dealing with a serious disease or a condition that is unlikely to go away, you could use the help a supplement provides. More co-pays from more visits to specialists and the cost of medical equipment you might require means that you need supplemental help to cover all those expenses. In that case, a supplemental plan is smart for you.

4. Do You Take Medication?

In the past, various Medicare plan benefits might include medication costs. However, that isn't the case any longer. If you do have prescription medicine that you take regularly, if you need help affording them, only a supplemental plan can help.

These issues should help you come to a conclusion about supplemental plans you're eligible for. Work with doctors and insurance agents to decide for sure

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