Medicare Supplement plans in Iowa, also called Medigap policies, are health insurance policies that help you pay your health care expenses. Medigap insurance covers all or part of the out-of-pocket costs beneficiaries face after Medicare pays its part of a claim.
Private health insurance companies sell Medicare Supplement plans in Iowa. To be eligible for a Medigap insurance policy, you must be enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B.
What are the Top 5 Medicare Supplement Plans in Iowa?
Each Medigap policy offers the same set of basic benefits. From there, plan options vary. Here’s an overview of the top five plans in Iowa.
Best for full coverage: Plan F
- Plan F covers everything: Part A deductible, Part A and B coinsurance, Part B deductible, hospice and skilled nursing care, foreign travel emergency, three pints of blood, excess charges
- Only open to Medicare beneficiaries who turned 65 before Jan. 1, 2020
Best comprehensive coverage: Plan G
- Plan G is cheaper than Medicare Plan F
- Covers everything Plan F covers except for Medicare Part B deductible
Best value: Plan N
- Plan N offers lower premiums than Medicare Plan G in return for paying a bit more out-of-pocket
- Has copayments: $20 office, $50 ER
Best deductible based plan: High Deductible Plan F
- Same comprehensive coverage as Plan F
- In 2021, the deductible is $2,370. The plan will cover 100% of the costs after the deductible is met.
- Significantly cheaper than Plan F in return for higher cost-share
Best for lowest premiums: High Deductible Plan G
- Annual deductible
- Same coverage as Plan G
- Very low premiums in return for greater cost-share
- Cheaper than High Deductible Plan F
In 2021, the deductible is $2,370. The plan will cover 100% of the costs after the deductible is met.
What is the Best Supplemental Insurance to go with Medicare?
The best Medigap plan is one that balances coverage and cost specific to your health care needs. Here are a few guidelines to keep in mind as you compare plans.
What is the most popular Medicare Supplement plan in Iowa for 2021?
- Most popular: Plan F, but it’s no longer sold to those whose Medicare eligibility is after Dec. 31, 2019
- Most growth: Medicare Plan N and Plan G account for most of the plans sold after Jan. 1, 2020
Which plan has the best benefits in Iowa?
If your Medicare effective date is before Jan. 1, 2020, Plan F has the best benefits. For those eligible after that date, Medicare Plan G offers the most coverage.
How do I choose the best plan?
You should think about the following as you compare plans:
- How often you go to the doctor
- Whether your health care provider accepts Medicare assignment
- What your budget allows in monthly premiums
- Whether you have pre-existing health conditions
Which Medigap company offers the best rates in Iowa?
Each Medicare insurance company takes into account the following when setting its rates:
- When you apply
- Gender
- Location
How the insurance company handles age also plays a role in what you’ll pay for a Medigap policy. Which pricing method the carrier uses affects your premiums now and in the future:
- Community-rated: Everyone pays the same premium for the plan regardless of age. (A 75- and 65-year-old both pay the same for Plan C.)
- Issue-age: You’ll pay the same as everyone else your age. (At 72, you’ll pay the same premium as all other 72-year-olds.)
- Attained-Age: Premiums will automatically go up as you grow older each year.
Our licensed insurance agents can provide cost comparisons so that you have an idea of what to expect to pay in future years.
What is the Average Cost for a Medicare Supplement Plan in Iowa for 2021?
The cost of a Medicare Supplement plan in Iowa varies based on age, demographics, insurance carrier, and zip code. The average cost of a Medigap policy in Iowa is $137. Here’s what a 65-year-old female, nonsmoker, living in Dubuque (zip code 52001) might pay:
- Plan F: $173 (range $109-$225)
- Plan G: $136 (range $99-$210
- Plan N: $109 (range $73-$160)
Common Iowa Medicare Supplement Plan Questions
What Companies Sell Medigap Plans in Iowa?
Private insurance companies sell Medigap policies. Three consistently rank high in terms of service, pricing, and AM Best financial ratings:
- Best Overall: Mutual of Omaha (A+)
- Best Information: Aetna (A)
- Best Discounts: Cigna (A)
When Can I Apply for a Iowa Medicare Supplement Plan?
The effective date for applying for a Medicare Supplement plan in Iowa is the date that you meet two criteria:
- You’re age 65
- Enrolled in Part B Medicare
You have six months to enroll. During this six-month window, called your Medigap Open Enrollment Period, you have specific rights. The insurer cannot:
- Refuse your application
- Deny coverage for pre-existing health conditions
- Impose waiting periods
You have these guaranteed issue rights in several other situations. Here are just a few:
- When your employer coverage ends
- If your Medigap insurer stops offering Medicare Supplement plans in Iowa
- You lose your insurance policy through no fault of your own
Medicare Part D plans and Medicare Advantage plans have an annual enrollment period. Medicare Supplement insurance plans in Iowa do not. Although you can apply, change carriers, or change plans outside of your OEP, you do not have guaranteed issue rights. The insurance company can enforce waiting periods for pre-existing conditions and even deny coverage altogether.
If you have questions about your eligibility for Medigap insurance, don’t hesitate to call one of our licensed insurance agents.
Which is better, Medigap Plan G or Plan N?
Both Plan G and Plan N offer a good supplement to your Medicare coverage.
Plan G
- Extensive coverage, most popular
- Covers all of the Medicare coverage gap except Part B deductible
- Covers Part B excess charges
- 100% Part B coinsurance
- Foreign travel emergency (up to plan limits)
Plan N
- Good value, growth
- Lower premiums, greater cost-share
- Copayments: $20 office, $50 ER
- Pays Part B coinsurance after copays
- Foreign travel emergency (up to plan limits)
- Doesn’t cover excess charges
What is Medicare Supplement Insurance?
To understand Medicare Supplement insurance plans, you need to know how the federal Medicare program works.
Medicare Basics
- Your effective date for Medicare eligibility is typically when you turn 65.
- You can receive Medicare benefits two ways: Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage.
- Original Medicare has two parts: Medicare Part A (hospital) and Medicare Part B (outpatient/doctor).
- Medicare only pays 80% of approved medical expenses. You’re responsible for the other 20%.
Medicare Supplement plans, also called Medigap insurance because it bridges the gap in health care coverage, helps pay all or some of the out-of-pocket costs you’re responsible for. Out-of-pocket costs include coinsurance and Medicare Part A deductible.
Medigap Insurance
- Medigap policies only work with Original Medicare.
- Ten plans, each designated by a letter, are available.
- Medicare Supplement insurance plans in Iowa don’t include prescription drug coverage (Medicare Part D).
For help with prescription expenses, you need a Prescription Drug Plan. Typically, every Medicare insurance company that sells Medigap plans in Iowa also sells Medicare Part D plans.
Is Plan G the Best Medigap Plan in Iowa?
How Much Does it Cost?
Pricing varies based on several factors, but here’s what a 65-year-old female nonsmoker might pay:
- Sioux City zip code 51101: $132 (range $99-$210)
- Dubuque zip code 52001: $136 (range $99-$210)
What is the Plan G Deductible in 2021?
Plan G does not have a deductible. Your Medicare Part B has a deductible which is $203 for 2021.
What does Medigap Plan G Cover in Iowa?
Related Topics
Ready to learn more?
My Medigap Plans is a rapidly growing resource for Medicare beneficiaries. We specialize in educating consumers on their options and guiding them through the process of plan selection. We work closely with some of the nations top rated carriers such as Aetna, Cigna and Mutual of Omaha. Compare our list of the 10 Best Medicare Supplement Insurance Companies or take a deeper look at the plans by reviewing our Medicare Supplement Plans Comparison Chart. Learn more or about Medicare Part D Prescription Drug plans, or request a Medicare Supplement Plan Quote.
Iowa Medicare Resources
Iowa Enrollment Statistics
It’s natural to wonder what other Medicare beneficiaries in the state do with their Medicare benefits. It might first help to look at some facts about Iowa Medicare and Medigap policies:
- Close to half a million Iowa residents are enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B.
- Just about half of all Medicare beneficiaries buy Medicare Supplement insurance plans in Iowa.
- Traditionally, Plan F has been the most popular of the Medigap plans in Iowa.
- The five largest Iowa counties include Polk, Linn, Scott, Johnson, and Black Hawk.
- There are 10 lettered Iowa Medicare Supplement plans that you can choose from, starting with Plan A.
- In Iowa, Medicare Supplement Plan G is the most popular plan for 2021.
- There are 10 Medicare Supplement Plans in Iowa to choose from.
- Medicare Supplement plans do not use a network, go wherever Original Medicare is excepted.