Medigap May Be Elusive for Medicare Beneficiaries with Pre-Existing Conditions

(By Meredith Freed, Nancy Ochieng, Juliette Cubanski, and Tricia Neuman for The Kaiser Family Foundation Published: Oct 18, 2024)

Medicare supplement insurance, known as Medigap, helps cover Medicare Part A and Part B cost-sharing requirements, including deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance. Medigap policies, which are sold by private insurance companies, are a key source of supplemental coverage for people in traditional Medicare without employer-sponsored retiree benefits or Medicaid (Medigap does not work with Medicare Advantage). In 2022, 12.5 million Medicare beneficiaries, or 42% of all traditional Medicare beneficiaries, had a Medigap policy. However, federal requirements that prohibit the use of medical underwriting by insurers when issuing Medigap policies – known as guaranteed issue protections – are limited, which means it may be hard or impossible for people with pre-existing conditions, like asthma or cancer, to get a Medigap policy, outside of specified time periods. (For more information on the basics of Medigap, see Key Facts About Medigap Enrollment and Premiums for Medicare Beneficiaries). Continue reading here…

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