The Best Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Plans in New Jersey

When you enroll in Original Medicare, you have access to services covered by Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B. Part A covers the services you receive when you're admitted to a hospital or some other type of medical facility, such as nursing care or treatment for an acute illness. Part B covers doctor visits, immunizations and other outpatient services, including durable medical equipment.

Original Medicare provides coverage for many of the services you need, but it also comes with some out-of-pocket costs that may not fit your budget. New Jersey Medicare Supplement Insurance, also known as Medigap, covers some of these costs so that you can continue getting the care you need without breaking the bank.

In New Jersey, roughly 47% of Original Medicare beneficiaries are enrolled in a Medigap plan.

What Are the Best New Jersey Medicare Supplement Plans?

Medicare Supplement Insurance plans are standardized, meaning they're the same in almost every state. Only Massachusetts, Minnesota and Wisconsin use different standardization rules.

In New Jersey, Original Medicare beneficiaries have 10 options for Medigap coverage, but your preferred insurer may not offer every one. The chart below provides details about the plans and what they cover.

All 10 plans give you 365 of additional hospital coverage beyond what you'd normally receive with Original Medicare. Every plan also provides some level of coverage for Part B copays, but plans K and L don't cover copays completely. For example, plan K only covers Part B copays at 50%. Limitations and coverage levels vary based on the New Jersey Medigap plan you select. While some plans cover foreign travel, others don't. Some plans even have an out-of-pocket limit.

Plans F, G and N typically have the most enrollees, but Plan F isn't available to anyone whose Medicare eligibility started after January 1, 2020. The right plan for you depends on whether you want the lowest premium or the highest level of coverage. Plans F and G don't cost a lot, but they do have high deductibles; if you're concerned about paying the deductible, plan N might be a better choice. Plan N has higher premiums, but it also has lower out-of-pocket costs. For example, it pays 100% of the Part A deductible if you need inpatient care.

How Do I Enroll in a New Jersey Medigap Plan?

To enroll in a New Jersey Medigap plan, you must be enrolled in Original Medicare. It's best to enroll during your Medigap open enrollment period, which starts as soon as you turn 65 and sign up for Medicare Part B. The reason it's so important to sign up during Medigap open enrollment is because there are certain protections that only apply during this six-month period. These protections are known as guaranteed issue rights.

If you have guaranteed issue rights, an insurance company can't deny your application for coverage based on your current or past health history. Insurance companies are also prohibited from charging you a higher premium for Medigap coverage based on your pre-existing conditions.

Once your Medigap open enrollment period expires, these protections generally go away, meaning an insurer can reject your application or charge you a much higher premium based on your medical history. There are some exceptions, however. You'll continue to have guaranteed issue rights if you lose your health coverage or if your coverage changes in some way.

For example, if you're enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan and your insurance company decides to stop offering the plan, you can switch to Original Medicare and sign up for Medicare Supplement Insurance. You'll also have guaranteed issue rights if you lose health coverage provided by an employer.

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