The Best Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Plans in Rhode Island
- Rhode Island Medicare Supplement (Medigap) insurance helps cover Medicare-related expenses such as copays and deductibles. Learn more about Medicare Supplement plans in Rhode Island, including what they might cover and when the best times are to enroll.
A Medicare Supplement insurance (also called Medigap) plan pairs with Original Medicare (Medicare Parts A and B) to help pay for certain out of pocket costs, such as Part A and B coinsurance and deductibles.
More than 43% of Rhode Island Original Medicare beneficiaries are also enrolled in a Medicare Supplement plan.
Have Medicare questions?
Talk to a licensed agent today to find a Medicare Supplement plan.
What Are the Best Rhode Island Medicare Supplement Plans?
Seniors have 10 types of Medigap plans to choose from in Rhode Island, sold by different carriers. If you travel frequently overseas, for example, a plan that pays for emergency health care outside of the country may be most cost-effective.
| Medicare Supplement Benefits | A | B | C1 | D | F1 | G | K | L | M | N |
| Part A coinsurance and hospital costs | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Part B coinsurance or copayment | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 50% | 75% | ✓ | ✓ |
| First 3 pints of blood | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 50% | 75% | ✓ | ✓ |
| Part A hospice care co-insurance or co-payment | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 50% | 75% | ✓ | ✓ |
| Co-insurance for skilled nursing facility | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 50% | 75% | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Medicare Part A deductible | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 50% | 75% | 50% | ✓ | |
| Medicare Part B deductible | ✓ | ✓ | ||||||||
| Medicare Part B excess charges | ✓ | ✓ | ||||||||
| Foreign travel emergency | 80% | 80% | 80% | 80% | 80% | 80% | ||||
| 1. Plans C and F are not available to new beneficiaries who became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. 2. Plans F and G also offer a high deductible plan which has an annual deductible of $2,870 in 2025. Once the annual deductible is met, the plan pays 100% of covered services for the rest of the year. The high deductible Plan F is not available to new beneficiaries who became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. 3. Plan K has an out-of-pocket yearly limit of $7,220 in 2025. Plan L has an out-of-pocket yearly limit of $3,610 in 2025. 4. Plan N pays 100% of the Part B coinsurance, except for a copayment of up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for emergency room visits that don’t result in an inpatient admission. View an image version of this table. |
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Medigap plans are standardized with names from A to N. People who are new to Medicare as of January 1, 2020, can't purchase Plan C or Plan F.
Plan F is a popular choice for Rhode Island residents because it provides the greatest Medigap coverage. It pays 100% of Part A and B deductibles and coinsurance and 80% of foreign travel emergencies. With Plan F, you have few, if any, out-of-pocket Medicare costs.
Again, Plan F is only available to Rhode Island seniors who qualified for Medicare before January 1, 2020. New beneficiaries can enroll in other plans like Plan G. It offers the same coverage, except Plan G doesn't pay for the annual Medicare Part B deductible.
Some Rhode Island residents opt for Plan N, which requires a minimal copay when you use certain Part B medical services. A visit to the doctor may cost up to $20, and emergency room care can cost up to $50 if a physician decides you don't need to be admitted as a hospital inpatient. Otherwise, Plan N provides the same 100% coverage of Part B coinsurance as most other Medigap plans, covering expenses such as outpatient therapy and durable medical equipment.
Have Medicare questions?
Talk to a licensed agent today to find a Medicare Supplement plan.
How Do I Enroll in a Rhode Island Medigap Plan?
Rhode Island residents enjoy excellent protection when buying Medigap but must join a plan when first eligible to make the most of this insurance.
You have a six-month Medigap open enrollment period that kicks in once you're 65 or over and signed up with Medicare Part B. You only get this window once, unlike other Medicare enrollment periods.
During this time, Rhode Island insurance companies must follow certain rules for Medigap coverage, so it's important to take full advantage.
- You can purchase any Medigap plan sold in Rhode Island (except Plans C and F, if you're newly eligible).
- You can only be charged standard premiums. Insurers can't impose higher premiums based on a health screening.
- You may have a six-month waiting period for out-of-pocket costs related to treatment of a pre-existing condition, but after six months, insurance companies must cover all costs.
- Your Medigap plan is guaranteed renewable as long as you keep your coverage active.
There's a significant downside to missing your Medigap open enrollment period: insurance companies are free to underwrite your policy. They can require a health screening, weigh the risks of providing you with coverage, place limitations on your policy and charge you more than a person in good health if you have a medical condition. They may also refuse to issue you a policy.
Medicare does provide some protection if you find yourself without a health plan in unusual situations. Guaranteed issue rights similar to those described above may apply if:
- Your current Medigap coverage is terminated because your insurer goes out of business or is no longer participating in Medicare.
- Your Medicare Part C plan no longer applies because you've moved out of the insurance company's service area.
- You decide, after trying Medicare Advantage, to return to Original Medicare while your trial right period is still in effect.
Helpadvisor.com is owned and operated by Tranzact, the parent company of TZ Insurance Solutions LLC, which is the owner/operator of MedicareSupplement.com and other websites mentioned on HelpAdvisor and which has a financial relationship with some of the carriers listed on HelpAdvisor.
