Medicare Supplement

Medicare Supplement basics for Morgantown: the letter plans explained

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — If you have Original Medicare (Part A and Part B), you've probably noticed it doesn't pay for everything. There are deductibles, coinsurance, and copays that can add up, especially if you spend time in the hospital or see specialists often.

Medicare Supplement insurance, explained

That's where Medicare Supplement insurance — better known as Medigap — comes in. It's a private policy that works alongside Original Medicare to help pay some of the out-of-pocket costs Medicare leaves behind. For folks here in Morgantown weighing their options, understanding how Medigap works, and what those confusing plan letters mean, is a good first step.

What Medigap actually does

Medigap is designed to fill the "gaps" in Original Medicare. Depending on which plan you pick, it can help cover things like:

• Part A hospital coinsurance and extra hospital days after Medicare benefits are used
• Part B coinsurance or copayments
• The first three pints of blood needed for a medical procedure
• Skilled nursing facility coinsurance
• Part A hospice care coinsurance
• Some foreign travel emergency care (with certain plans)

A Medigap policy only works with Original Medicare — not with a Medicare Advantage plan. And it doesn't include prescription drug coverage. For that, you'd need a separate Part D plan.

How the standardized letters work

Here's the part that trips up a lot of people. In most states, including West Virginia, Medigap plans are sold using standardized letters: A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N. (Plans C and F are only available if you became eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020.)

The key thing to know: a Medigap Plan G from one company covers the exact same benefits as a Plan G from another company. The federal government sets what each letter must cover. What can differ between insurers is the price and the customer service — not the core benefits.

So if you're comparing two Plan N policies, for example, the benefits are identical. It's the premium, the company's reputation, and how they handle claims that vary.

Morgantown and Monongalia County: what's available locally

Morgantown sits in Monongalia County, where a range of Medigap policies are sold by private insurance companies licensed in West Virginia. Unlike Medicare Advantage, Medigap isn't limited by county networks — a Medigap policy generally works with any provider nationwide who accepts Medicare. That's helpful if you split time between Morgantown and, say, family out of state.

The West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner keeps a list of companies approved to sell Medigap in the state, and West Virginia SHIP counselors can walk you through what's offered locally at no cost.

When to enroll — and why timing matters a lot

The best time to buy a Medigap policy is during your Medigap Open Enrollment Period. This is a one-time, six-month window that starts the month you turn 65 and are enrolled in Part B.

During this window, insurance companies can't turn you down or charge you more because of health problems. Miss it, and in most cases, insurers can use "medical underwriting" — reviewing your health history — and either charge more or decline coverage entirely.

This is different from the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15–December 7), which is for Medicare Advantage and Part D — not Medigap. Medigap has its own rules.

What Medigap does not cover

It's just as important to know what Medigap won't do:

• It doesn't cover prescription drugs (you'd add a Part D plan).
• It doesn't cover dental, vision, or hearing.
• It doesn't cover long-term care (like a nursing home stay for non-skilled care).
• It doesn't work with Medicare Advantage.

For 2026, remember that Part D — a separate purchase — has an out-of-pocket cap of $2,100 and a maximum deductible of $615. The coverage gap (the old "donut hole") was eliminated in 2025, leaving three simpler phases. There's also the optional Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, which lets you spread drug costs into monthly payments.