The 10 Best Medicare Supplement Plans
Which Medicare Supplement Plan is the Best?
If you or a family member is approaching the age of 65, or if you are soon eligible for Medicare Parts A and B due to other qualifying reasons, now is the perfect time to start looking at additional coverage options for your Medicare. While Medicare insurance covers many of your medical expenses, it doesn't cover everything. To help pick up the extra slack, you can dive into a Medicare Supplement plan, often referred to as "Medigap”.
These plans work to address the gap between the 80% of medical concerns covered by Medicare and the remaining 20% that isn't covered. This way, you can reduce your out-of-pocket medical expenses and feel safer and more comfortable with your coverage.
Tuesday, January 21st
2025 Medicare Supplement Plan Reviews
United Medicare Advisors
United Medicare Advisors, established in 2009, stands out as a top choice for Medicare Supplement Plans. With resources including detailed guides and informative blogs, the website educates users about various Medicare options. The company simplifies the plan selection process through a user-friendly online form or direct phone calls, and their representatives provide personalized attention to connect you with low-cost plans, earning United Medicare Advisors an "A+" rating from the BBB and over 20,000 5-star reviews. With ongoing support and competitive pricing, it's recognized as the best overall service for Medicare Supplement Plans.
Go Medigap (eHealth)
Operating since 2005, the company known as GoMedigap (now part of eHealth) w orks under the name eHealth, though it is the same site. The company offers a comprehensive range of Medicare Supplement Plans, serving over 35,000 seniors nationwide. While the slower quote process and potential hidden fees are concerns, the impressive user reviews and reputation of the company make up for those concerns completely. eHealth's Rate Watch feature, proactive monitoring of premiums, and ethical practices contribute to its "A+" rating from the BBB and numerous 5-star reviews, earning it a trustworthy rating.
Medicare Plans
Medicare Plans, operating under the LendingTree financial company, offers Medicare Supplement Plans through a well-designed website. The quoting process was simple and quick. We got a call within seconds of submitting our details. While the rates are about average and we only got one insurance company's quote, the "A+” rating and positive experience make up for mid-tier pricing. With these factors in mind, Medicare Plans receives a strong rating in this review.
Aetna
Aetna, with over 160 years of insurance experience, is a reliable choice for Medicare Supplement Plans. The company offers next-day coverage initiation for Plan G, stands out for transparent online quotes, and provides competitive premiums. However, detailed plan information is lacking online, requiring a call for accurate pricing information. Aetna serves 21 states, and its customer service is available 7 days a week. While the pricing is competitive, some transparency issues and customer complaints impact the overall rating. Still, they remain a competitive option overall.
SelectQuote Senior
SelectQuote Senior provides access to over 20 insurance providers for Medicare Supplement Plans. With partnerships with reputable insurers and about 8 plans in most states, SelectQuote Senior offers a user-friendly website with helpful tips and resources. But, the quote process can be very time-consuming, especially if you wait for a call. So with that and the higher than average prices in mind, SelectQuote Senior earns a good-but-not-great rating from us.
Humana
Humana, a dedicated Medicare coverage provider, offers a user-friendly online enrollment process with various plan options for customers across 49 states. However, the online application can be confusing, and the website's busy interface may overwhelm users with unnecessary information. While the quoting process is generally straightforward, the premiums are higher than average and we have some concerns from industry feedback and customer complaints.
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) offers Medicare Supplement Plans through a dedicated website. While the website is informative, obtaining an accurate quote is faster by calling a representative. BCBS has mid-tier pricing options, quoting around $137.66/month for Plan G coverage in WI as an example. The site addresses customer concerns with helpful blogs, but BBB ratings vary by state, with some locations receiving low scores (like an "F” rating - Yikes!). BCBS is a reliable company in general with detailed information, but with some cons like slow quotes, it earns a below-average rating as a Medicare Supplement Plan provider.
Cigna
Cigna, with over 30 years of experience, may not live up to expectations for Medicare Supplement Plans. The website lacks detailed information, and coverage is limited with sometimes only 1 plan available in a state. The online quote process is challenging, with frustrating forms, and the quotes lack important details. Cigna's poor ratings, dropping from an "A+" to an "NR," and customer complaints about reaching representatives and technical issues, position it as a company you might want to avoid. Only its online quote program keeps it from being at the bottom of the pack.
GoHealth
GoHealth has been a Medicare marketplace since 2016. While the website provides helpful resources, the experience with representatives is unsettling, resembling an AI interaction. Even phone calls feel robotic, and representatives wouldn't go off the "script” for even a few sentences to answer our questions. This made it challenging to obtain a quote. Despite an "A+" BBB rating and positive reviews, the communication hurdles and disconnected calls result in a disappointing rating, making GoHealth a service we'd avoid when shopping for Medicare Supplement Plans.
HealthCare
HealthCare is one of the worst options we've seen for Medicare Supplement Plans. Functioning as a comparison service, they don't offer post-purchase support, making it impossible to get solid pricing. The process involves sharing your details, granting permission for contact not just from partner companies but also seemingly unrelated businesses, and raising concerns about unwanted communication. With no transparency on who handles your coverage and an alarming "F" rating on the BBB, coupled with privacy issues and a low average rating, HealthCare is not a trustworthy choice. We recommend exploring other Medicare Supplement Plan providers for a more reassuring experience.
Continued from above...
The Medicare Supplement Plans are assigned letter names to differentiate them, which can sometimes lead to confusion. With an ever-evolving landscape of plans and their coverage, keeping up with changes like swapping Plan F (once a popular choice but was discontinued for new enrollees after January 1, 2020) with its successor, Plan G, (which offers similar benefits but introduced an annual deductible) can be extremely confusing. Paying attention to the changes in the market will help you make a more informed decision about your healthcare coverage and help you recognize what coverage you need and what you don't.
One thing to keep in mind as you plan for your Medicare journey is the "guaranteed issue period”. This is a period that spans the six months following your 65th birthday. During this period, you can get a Medicare Supplement Plan without any prerequisites beyond paying your premiums.
For example, this means that while health conditions won't disqualify you, being a smoker might result in higher premiums. However, once this six-month grace period concludes, insurers may request more detailed health information, such as your history of diabetes or heart conditions that may potentially impact your premiums and change what plans are available to you.
When it comes to purchasing a Medicare Supplement Plan, you have two primary options: buying directly from an insurance company or getting your plan through the services of a broker. Going with an insurance company means you might be able to continue using a company you already trust, which may be appealing due to lower rates or trustworthy insurance adjusters. On the other hand, if you choose to go with a broker, the company gives you access to a range of insurance providers, so you can compare rates and plans side by side, including the rates offered by your preferred insurance company.
Regardless of whether you choose to work with a broker or purchase directly from an insurance company, the most important thing about choosing a Medicare Supplement Plan is that you need to do your research. While you can initially explore various providers' websites, keep in mind that Medicare rules dictate plans must be sold either in person or over the phone, so you should be prepared to talk with a representative to finalize your Medicare Supplement Plan.
If you're not sure where to start with your Medicare Supplement Plan, we've put together a few things that might help you narrow down your options:
- Cost. When it comes to the cost of Medicare Supplement Plans, your health and your pre-existing conditions may change the costs depending on which company you choose. To manage costs effectively, you'll want to compare companies to find the most budget-friendly options. However, keep in mind rates can also change over time.
- Coverage. There are tons of different plans and different names to choose from. As you look through Medicare Supplement Plans, make sure that you spend your time researching providers that offer coverage in your state. Given the time-consuming nature of this process, you may not want to have a phone call with a company that turns out not to have competitive plans or prices in your state.
- Reputation. To get a smooth and stress-free experience, it is recommended to select a reputable company. Whether you go through an insurance company directly or a broker, checking reviews and the Better Business Bureau ratings can provide valuable insights into the company's track record so you can pick one that really cares about its clients.
To help you stress less about your Medicare plans, Top Consumer Reviews has reviewed and ranked the best Medicare Supplement Plans available today. This way, you can save both time and money in your search. All you need to worry about is finding the best provider using our handy list and detailed reviews and getting back to enjoying your golden years stress-free!
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