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Medicare Supplements for Tennessee

Most people who are eligible for Medicare are 65 years or older, and Medicare Part A, also called hospital Medicare or traditional Medicare, is often free. Traditional Medicare does not cover services such as outpatient care or regular doctor's visits, so people purchase Medicare supplemental plans, also referred to as Medigap. Tennessee offers 10 Medigap plans, as well as a special Medigap plan for retired teachers and state and local employees. Tennessee's Medigap plans are mostly referred to by letter, from A to N.

  1. Medigap A and B Plans

    • Medigap A and B are similar. Medigap A includes basic coverage for hospital services and provides benefits to cover Medicare Part A co-insurance payments for those with higher incomes. It also covers the first three pints of blood, preventive care co-insurance and Medicare Part B co-payments or co-insurance. Medigap B also covers these services and adds coverage for the Medicare Part A deductible.

    Medigap Plans C and D

    • Tennessee Medigap Plans C and D are similar to each other. Both offer the same coverage as Plan A and B Medigap. Plan C and D add benefits for skilled nursing facility co-insurance and foreign travel emergencies. Plan C offers benefits for the Medicare Part B deductible, but Plan D does not. Plan D offers benefits for at-home recovery.

    Medigap Plans K and L

    • Tennessee Medigap Plans K and L are unusual compared to the others in that that they have out-of-pocket expenses and limits. Plan K covers 100 percent of hospitalization and preventive care but only 50 percent of the other basic benefits, the Part A Medicare deductible and skilled nursing facility co-insurance. Plan K has a yearly out-of-pocket limit of $4,400; after a person reaches this limit, Plan K benefits are paid at 100 percent. Plan L also pays 100 percent of preventive care and hospitalization and pays 75 percent of other basic benefits, skilled nursing facility co-insurance and the Medicare Part A deductible. Out-of-pocket limit for Plan L is $2,220 per year, after which coverage is paid at 100 percent.

    The Tennessee Plan

    • The Tennessee Plan is a Medicare supplement plan for retired state and local employees and retired teachers. According to the Tennessee State Department of Finance and Administration, the Tennessee Plan is comparable to Medicare Supplemental Standard Plan D. Any retired teacher or state/local employee, as well as their eligible dependents, who qualifies for Medicare Part A can apply for the Tennessee Plan. If a person has more than 15 years of service, the state will pay a portion of the monthly premium.

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