Medicare Supplemental Insurance (Medigap) policies help pay some of the health care costs (“gaps”) that original Medicare doesn’t cover (like co-payments, coinsurance, and deductibles). If you have original Medicare and a Medigap policy, Medicare will pay its share of the Medicare-approved amounts for covered health care costs. Then your Medigap policy pays its share.
Medicare Advantage, “Part C” plans are offered by private insurance companies. Some plans have a zero $0 premium, some of them have a small premium. If you enroll into a Medicare Advantage Plan (during an enrollment period) you still have Medicare, it’s just that your medical claims will be paid by the private insurance company instead of Medicare.
Medicare is a federal health insurance program for Americans 65 or older. Most U.S. citizens earn the right to enroll in Medicare by working and paying their taxes for a minimum required period. Even if you didn’t work long enough to be entitled to Medicare benefits, you may still be eligible to enroll, but you might have to pay more.
