Plan B Medicare Supplement Rates in Washington

By Corin Faye
eMedicareSupplements Senior Writer

Medicare Supplement Plan B is an ideal plan for Washington seniors who want the benefits of Plan A with the addition of full coverage for the Medicare Part A deductible. While Plan A covers only coinsurance for Part A hospitalization costs, Plan B covers the Part A deductible as well as providing 365 days of hospital coverage after the expiration of Part A benefits. Other benefits of Plan B include coinsurance coverage for Medicare parts A and B as well as the first three pints of blood each year. Plan B will also cover hospice care as of 2010, but the plan does not cover coinsurance for skilled nursing care, foreign travel emergency care, the Part B deductible or Part B excess charges. All expenses covered by Medigap Plan B must be Medicare-approved or the cost must be covered by the beneficiary.

Medigap Plan B Rates in Washington

Plan B is rarer to come by than many of the other plans in Washington state, and it is slightly more expensive than Plan A. UnitedHealthcare offers Plan B for the monthly premium of $140.25, while Humana offers the plan for $171.91 per month. Sentinel Life offers Plan B for the monthly rate of $163.43 and Woodmen of the World for a Monthly Bank Rate of $159.63.

Though Plan B is rarer and more expensive than Plan A, it is an excellent choice for Washington residents who desire the additional hospital coverage without worrying about the Part A deductible. It covers more of the costs than Plan A and leaves you with less to worry about in terms of copays and coinsurance for Medicare parts A and B. All health services that are covered must be Medicare-approved. If your physician prescribes treatment or service that is not approved by Medicare, you may need to cover the cost yourself.