A Medigap policy, sold by private insurance companies, can help pay some of the health care costs ("gaps") that Original Medicare doesn't cover, like copayments, coinsurance and deductibles. Some Medigap policies also offer coverage for services that Original Medicare doesn't cover, like medical care when you travel outside the U.S.. If you have Medicare Parts A and B and you buy a Medigap policy, Medicare will pay its share of the Medicare-approved amount for covered health care costs; then your Medigap policy pays its share. Medicare doesn't pay any of the premiums for a Medigap policy. For more information on what companies sell Medigaps and the benefits for each of the ten plans available, call HICAP at 1-800-434-0222 and ask for the Medicare Supplement (Medigap) packet.

For Medigap companies and plans