Maryland Medigap plans follow many of the same federal rules that take place in other states with one main exception. As of 7/1/2023 Maryland offers the Medigap Birthday rule for easy switching. Medicare Supplemental policies in Maryland can seem confusing at first but can be simpler to understand than you think! Read below to learn how simple Maryland Medigap plans in the Chesapeake state really are.
Enroll in your Maryland Medigap Plan IMMEDIATELY
Our caps lock button didn’t get stuck. We really mean it! There is one Maryland Medigap Open Enrollment Period (OEP, also called your Medigap initial enrollment period). This OEP occurs when you first qualify for Medicare Part B and it is not an annual event. OEP is sometimes called your initial enrollment and generally applies to those turning 65. Click here to learn about initial enrollment in Medigap. If you delay Medicare Part B while you continue working your OEP can begin later.
Maryland Birthday Rule
As of July 1, 2023, Maryland has added the Birthday rule to allow for easy switching of Medigap plans. This is a big deal. Before the birthday rule, those with Medigap plans who wanted to switch to a competitor’s plan often had to answer health questions and could be declined for the new plan. Many people found themselves stuck on an expensive plan with no way of switching due to a pre-existing condition. Now with the birthday rule, those who apply to switch within 30 days of their birthday are guaranteed to be approved on an equal or lessor plan regardless of health condition. Learn more about the Maryland Medigap Birthday Rule here.
Available Medigap Plans in Maryland
As in most states, Maryland Med Supp plans are given standardized letters like Medigap D, Medigap G, or Medigap N. No matter which insurance provider offers a lettered plan, the benefits and access to doctors/facilities are the same. So a Humana Medigap G has the same core benefits and doctor network as Aetna Medigap G. Below is a list of the lettered Medigap plans currently available in Maryland and what they cover.
| Benefits | A | B | D | G | K | L | M | N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medicare Part A Deductible ($1,600) | 100% | 100% | 100% | 50% | 75% | 50% | 100% | |
| Part B Deductible ($226) | ||||||||
| Medicare Part A Hospital Coinsurance and 365 additional hospital days | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Medicare Part B Coinsurance | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 50% | 75% | 100% | 100%* |
| First 3 Pints of Blood for a Transfusion | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 50% | 75% | 100% | 100% |
| Medicare Part A Hospice Coinsurance or Copay | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 50% | 75% | 100% | 100% |
| Skilled Nursing Facility Coinsurance | 100% | 100% | 50% | 75% | 100% | 100% | ||
| Medicare Part B Excess Charges | 100% | |||||||
| Foreign Emergency Healthcare | 80% | 80% | 80% | 80% | ||||
| Max Out-of-Pocket | $6,940 | $3,470 |
Get a Medigap Quote Enroll in Medigap
Medigap Plan C and Plan F are only available to those who were Part B-eligible prior to January 1, 2020.
Choosing your Maryland Medigap policy
If you’ve done your research, you’ll find that after 2020 Medigap Plan G is the most popular plan in Maryland (source AHIP). Plan G covers the majority of Original Medicare Part A & B costs and gives some extra coverage like foreign emergency travel healthcare at a fair price. For those on a budget, is recommended to look at Plan G High Deductible and Medigap Plan N.
Are there Maryland Medigap discounts?
Maryland MedSup plans offer discounts to help you save money on your plan each month (click on each to learn more details):
Maryland Medigap for Under 65
If an MD insurance provider offers Medigap Plans A and D to persons who are at least 65 years old, it must also offer these plans to individuals who are under 65 and eligible for Medicare due to a disability during the first 6 months following the individual’s enrollment in Part B of Medicare or if the applicant is notified by Medicare of retroactive enrollment in Medicare for the 6 months following notice. Plan A and D may not be denied in the state of Maryland based on the health status or claims history of the applicant. Learn more about Under 65 Medigap here.
Can I keep my Maryland Medigap plan if I move?
Most likely you will be able to keep your Maryland Medigap plan if you move out of state. Maryland and the majority of states have the identical standardized plans. However, if you move to one of the following states, you may have to drop your Maryland Medigap plan and join one of theirs (Don’t sweat it! You’ll have a Medigap guaranteed issuance period):
- Massachusetts Medigap plans
- Minnesota Medigap plans
- Wisconsin Medigap plans
Maryland Medicare SHIP
Maryland’s State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) is a free program to help those on Medicare with personalized Medicare counseling, education, and access to financial assistance resources.
Next Steps
Get an instant quote for Maryland Medigap plans. If you have any questions about Maryland Medigap policies, leave a comment below or give one of our licensed agents a call at 800-930-7956.
Our agents can NEVER charge you a fee for a quote or to enroll you in a plan