Medigap Plan A is the most basic of the 10 standardized Medicare Supplement Insurance plans. It helps cover some out-of-pocket costs from Original Medicare, but it includes fewer benefits compared to other plans like Plan G or Plan F.
What Is Medigap Plan A?
Plan A is available in most states and sold by private insurance companies. It works alongside your Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance) to help pay for certain coinsurance and copayment costs that Medicare doesn’t fully cover.
Every insurer that sells Medigap policies in a state is required to offer Plan A. This makes it the “baseline” Medigap option, though it also offers the fewest benefits.
Plan A vs. Part A
Plan A is not the same as Medicare Part A. Medicare Part A is part of federally funded Medicare and covers inpatient hospital stays and certain skilled nursing care. Medigap Plan A, on the other hand, is a supplemental policy that helps you pay for some of the costs left over after Medicare Part A and Part B pay their share.
What Does Plan A Cover?
Medigap Plan A covers only the core set of benefits required in all Medigap policies:
- Medicare Part A coinsurance and hospital costs (up to 365 additional days after Medicare benefits end)
- Medicare Part B coinsurance or copayment
- First 3 pints of blood
- Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment
What Plan A does not cover: Unlike other plans, it does not pay for the Medicare Part A deductible, the Part B deductible, Part B excess charges, skilled nursing facility coinsurance, or foreign travel emergency care.
Is Plan A Right for You?
Plan A can work well if you want the lowest-cost entry into Medigap coverage and expect limited healthcare needs. However, if you anticipate frequent services or want broader coverage, other options such as Plan G or Plan N may be a better fit.
Since Medigap benefits are standardized, Plan A will cover the same benefits no matter which insurance company sells it. What varies is the monthly premium. That’s why it’s important to compare rates in your state.
Compare Plan A to Other Medigap Plans
Use the grid below to see how Plan A stacks up against all other standardized Medigap options. Reviewing the chart will help you understand the tradeoffs between lower premiums and more comprehensive coverage.
Benefits offered by each Medigap plan
Compare the benefits of each lettered plan to help you find one that meets your needs now and in the future. You might not be able to switch Medigap policies later.
✔ = Plan covers 100% ✘ = Plan doesn’t cover % = Amount the plan covers
| Benefits | A | B | C | D | F | G | K | L | M | N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part A coinsurance & hospital costs | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Part B copays/coinsurance | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 50% | 75% | ✔ | ✔ |
| Blood (first 3 pints) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 50% | 75% | ✔ | ✔ |
| Part A hospice | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 50% | 75% | ✔ | ✔ |
| Skilled nursing facility | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 50% | 75% | ✔ | ✔ |
| Part A deductible | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 50% | 75% | 50% | ✔ |
| Part B deductible | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Part B excess charges | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ |
| Foreign travel emergency | ✘ | ✘ | 80% | 80% | 80% | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | 80% | 80% |
| $7,220 | $3,610 | |||||||||
Next Steps
Want to see if Plan A is available in your state? Browse Medigap plans by state or use our Compare Rates tool to get personalized premium quotes. You can also talk to a licensed insurance agent for guidance on choosing the best plan for your needs.