Massachusetts has nearly 1.4 million Medicare beneficiaries
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. Just over 970,000 of those beneficiaries have Original Medicare (Part A and Part B).
Here’s what you need to know about finding the best Medigap policy for you in Massachusetts.
How Medicare Supplement Insurance works in Massachusetts
There are three plan types in Massachusetts. The Core Plan covers the basic benefits included in all Massachusetts Medicare Supplement Insurance plans, and the other two plans offer additional coverage on top of those basic benefits.
Core Plan
Here are the benefits of the Core Plan
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Part A coinsurance and hospital costs up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits are used up.
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Blood transfusion (first three pints).
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Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment.
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State-mandated benefits including yearly Pap tests and mammograms.
Supplement 1A Plan
A higher-coverage option, the Supplement 1A Plan, includes everything in the Core Plan, plus coverage for these additional benefits:
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Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance.
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Medicare-covered services needed while traveling abroad.
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Inpatient days in mental health hospitals up to an additional 120 days per benefit period in addition to Medicare’s coverage (replaces the Core Plan’s 60 additional days per calendar year).
Nerdy tip: A benefit period starts the day you’re admitted for an inpatient hospital stay. It ends when you haven’t received inpatient hospital care for 60 days in a row. If you’re admitted after that, you’ve started a new benefit period.
Supplement 1 Plan
Medicare beneficiaries who became eligible on or before Jan. 1, 2020, can purchase another plan, the Supplement 1 Plan, which includes coverage for the Medicare Part B deductible in addition to everything in the Supplement 1A Plan. However, Medigap plans aren’t allowed to cover the Medicare Part B deductible for beneficiaries who become eligible for Medicare on or after Jan. 1, 2020, so those beneficiaries can only purchase the Core or Supplement 1A plans.
Top Medicare Supplement Insurance companies in MA
Medicare Supplement Insurance prices in Massachusetts
It’s worth comparing companies to find the lowest price for your chosen plan. The benefits of each Medigap plan are standardized, so you get the same Medicare benefits regardless of the company you choose.
Note that Massachusetts state law requires community-rated pricing for Medicare Supplement Insurance, so the prices are the same for all enrollees regardless of age
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Here are the top five companies’ prices for the Core Plan and Supplement 1A Plan, the two plan types available for new Medicare members in Massachusetts. The prices were filed with the Massachusetts Division of Insurance as of Jan. 1, 2022
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Core Plan monthly premiums |
Supplement 1A Plan monthly premiums |
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Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts |
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Harvard Pilgrim Health Care |
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For reference, here are the lowest premiums filed with the Massachusetts Division of Insurance for the two plans:
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Core Plan: $113.58 per month.
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Supplement 1A Plan: $184.73 per month.
Medicare resources in Massachusetts
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State Health Insurance Assistance Program, or SHIP: Massachusetts’ Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone program, or SHINE, is the State Health Insurance Assistance Program. It provides free information and counseling about Medicare options, processes and costs.
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Massachusetts Division of Insurance: Maintains records of Massachusetts Medigap companies and their rates and offers resources for consumers to learn about insurance and file complaints.
Medicare Supplement Insurance Providers
Get more information about some of the major health insurance companies that sell Medigap plans. Use Medicare’s plan finding tool or check the insurance companies’ websites to see plan options in your location.
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Compare Medicare Supplement Insurance providers |
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Complaint rate: 67% worse than the market average. Percent of premiums spent on benefits: 75.6%. |
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Complaint rate: 63% better than the market average. Service area: 50 states and Washington, D.C. Percent of premiums spent on benefits: 71.7%. |
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Complaint rate: 24% worse than the market average. Percent of premiums spent on benefits: 68.6%. |
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Complaint rate: 0.4% better than the market average. Service area: 50 states and Washington, D.C. Percent of premiums spent on benefits: 72.6%. |
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Complaint rate: 40% worse than the market average. Service area: 48 states and Washington, D.C. Percent of premiums spent on benefits: 75%. |
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Complaint rate: 335% worse than the market average. Service area: 49 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. Percent of premiums spent on benefits: 77%. |
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Complaint rate: 62% better than the market average. Service area: 49 states and Washington, D.C. Percent of premiums spent on benefits: 71.4%. |
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Complaint rate: 50% better than the market average. Service area: 45 states and Washington, D.C. Percent of premiums spent on benefits: 71.7%. |
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Find the right Medicare Supplement Insurance plan
Because Medigap plans are standardized, you can get precisely the same Medicare benefits from any company offering the plan. So when you shop, keep these considerations in mind to find the best policy to fit your needs:
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Is your preferred plan available? Health insurance companies don’t always sell every plan, so check who sells the plan you want to buy in your area.
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What are the premiums? Prices for the same plan can vary between companies, so check to find the most competitive rates.
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Will your premiums change over time? Most policies cost more as you age, but some companies offer policies that let you lock in a price when you sign up.
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Are there extras? Medigap plans’ core benefits are standardized, but in certain cases, some companies include such perks as discount programs or gym memberships.
If you have additional questions about Medicare, visit Medicare.gov or call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227, TTY 877-486-2048).
