What is a common characteristic of Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans?

Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans are designed to fill in the gaps in coverage that Original Medicare does not fully address. One of the most significant characteristics of these plans is their ability to help cover costs such as deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments that beneficiaries may incur when using Medicare-covered services. For instance, while Medicare Part A and Part B provide crucial health coverage, they still leave patients responsible for certain cost-sharing expenses. Medigap plans assist with these out-of-pocket costs, making healthcare more affordable for individuals who are enrolled in Medicare.

Other characteristics of Medigap plans include standardized benefits across different plans, which are labeled with letters indicating the plan type (such as Plan A, Plan G, etc.). However, options like built-in prescription drug coverage are not part of Medigap plans; such coverage would typically be accessed through Medicare Part D. Additionally, while some Medigap policies may have deductibles, this is not universally the case. Finally, the free look period can vary by state, but a standard long duration like 45 days is generally not characteristic of Medigap plans. Thus, the ability of Medigap plans to cover deductibles and copayments is a defining feature that helps