Plan M Medigap Rates in Washington

By Corin Faye
eMedicareSupplements Senior Writer

Medicare Supplement Plan M was introduced in June 2010 and is not yet widely offered by many insurers in Washington state. It is a plan designed to lower premiums and offer comprehensive health care similar to that of Plan D. The premiums for Plan M amount to only 92 percent of the premiums for Plan D, and are only 85 percent of Plan F premiums, which is the most commonly held Medicare supplement plan on the market. Plan M covers Medicare Part A coinsurance and copays, including 365 days of hospital care extension after Part A benefits have expired. Fifty percent of the Part A deductible is covered, while the remaining 50 percent must be covered out-of-pocket. Part B coinsurance, the first three pints of blood yearly, hospice care and foreign travel emergency care are all covered. The Medicare Part B deductible is not covered, and excess charges are not covered.

Medigap Plan M Rates in Washington

There are currently no major health providers offering Plan M in Washington. The plan was offered by Mutual of Omaha last year, but the company has dropped the plan. If you are interested in Plan M, check back next year to see if any of the health providers have decided to offer the plan again.

Plan M is an excellent plan for Washington state seniors who are not often in the hospital and who do not foresee extensive hospitalization in the near future. It is also an excellent plan for those who depend more on coverage for doctor’s visits. In considering Plan M, it is advisable to ensure that paying 50 percent of the Part A deductible saves you money against the combined annual cost of your premiums. As always, please remember that if your physician prescribes services or treatments that are not covered by Medicare, or which exceed Medicare-approved limits, you will be responsible for the cost out-of-pocket. Plan M, with its lower premiums and cost-sharing design, might help you in your search for lower costs and quality coverage offered in the same package.