If you were to look at the Medicare supplement plans right now and examine their coverage you would see the same coverage that these plans will have all through 2018. Medicare made it quite clear that the coverage isn’t changing for now, and all the best Medicare Supplemental Insurance for 2018 will be just as good then as they are now.
The Supplement Plans
In 2018, you will be able to choose the same plans you have access to right now. People will probably still go for the ones that have the most coverage. Those high-coverage plans that most people sign up for are plans F, G and N.
With Plan F, you can receive full coverage. That means that every supplemental expense would be taken care of. You would still have medical expenses to pay every so often, but most of them would be covered. So then, Plan F covers you for the majority of the medical deductibles and copayments, as well as for nursing care coinsurance, much of your hospital expenses, excess charges for Medicare Part B services, some more blood each year and much of your foreign travel exchange costs.
If you decide on Plan G instead, you get coverage for all that stuff except the Part B deductible. Plan N offers a little less coverage, requiring that you pay for the previously mentioned deductible, the Part B excess charges and some copayments here and there.
Which Is Best?
One of the most common questions people ask about these plans is: “Which is the best one?”. They probably don’t understand that there isn’t a catch-all plan that works well for everyone. Some people would be getting too much coverage if they signed up for Plan G while others would have just enough. Now, Plan G is the most popular plan and it is the most economical. In those sense, it is the best. It has the potential to save you the most money out of all the available plans, but it won’t be right for everyone.
Let’s put it this way: if you can actually use all the coverage that Plan G offers you, then it is the best plan for you. The other plans that offer similar coverage are either too expensive or not inclusive enough to qualify as the best plan for your particular needs.
You should examine both your needs and what the same plans have to offer, though, before you make your decision. You don’t want to pick a plan blindly and hope that it satisfies your coverage needs. Too many people just pick the most popular plan or the most affordable plan for their budget and fail to get the best Medicare Supplemental Insurance for 2018.
So, there is a best plan for you, in fact, but it may not be what is best for someone else. Every plan has its merits, and everyone should be able to find a plan that works best for them. There is no way you can know which plan will work best for you, though, until you look at them carefully and compare them to what your needs are for medical coverage.
Your needs are going to change in time, in all likelihood. Your financial situation may change, and you may not be able to afford the same plan anymore. Or your health may change and you may need more coverage than what your current plan provides. When this happens, it is time to reassess your coverage and ensure that you have the best plan to fit your situation. It’s fine to listen to your doctor or insurance agent about what’s best for you, but only you know all the details of your situation. Only you know what you can afford and what you need to have covered.