Medicare Supplement Plan E (also known as Medigap) is a legacy Medigap plan that was discontinued on January 1st, 2010. But if you still have Plan E, you can keep it, as long as you continue to pay your premiums. That being said, because the enrollee pool in Plan E is shrinking, Plan E may be more expensive than other available Medigap plans.
It's estimated that 2.40% of all Medigap beneficiaries are on Plan E, H, I, or J, and this number is dropping every year.1 Plan G is now the most popular Medigap Plan with almost 39% of all enrollees being enrolled in Plan G.
Although Medicare Supplement Plan E is not available to new enrollees, we'll be going through the coverage of Plan E, and if a new Medigap plan could save you money if you're currently enrolled in Plan E.
Or call 1-800-995-4219 to speak with a licensed insurance agent.
There are currently 10 available Medicare Supplement Plans (also known as Medigap Plans) that are standardized across the marketplace: A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, N. This means the benefits of each individual plan is the same across different insurance companies, the only difference may be price.
Medicare Supplement Plan E was one of these plans that was introduced in 1992, but is no longer offered to new enrollees starting on June 1st, 2010. If you enrolled in Plan E during it's active window (1992 - 2010) you can continue to keep your coverage.
Because the enrollee pool of Plan E is shrinking, it may be more expensive than the new Medigap plans offered today. The most comparable plan today is Medicare Supplement Plan G.
Medigap Plan E covers all 9 of the available Medicare Supplement Insurance benefits.
| Standard Medicare Supplement Insurance benefits | Plan G |
|---|---|
| Medicare Part A co-insurance and hospital costs | ✓ |
| Medicare Part B co-insurance or co-payment | ✓ |
| First 3 pints of blood | ✓ |
| Part A hospice care co-insurance or co-payment | ✓ |
| Co-insurance for skilled nursing facility | ✓ |
| Medicare Part A deductible | ✓ |
| Medicare Part B deductible | No |
| Medicare Part B excess charges | No |
| Foreign travel emergency | ✓ |
| Preventive care benefit | ✓ |
Since Medigap plans are standardized through the government, if you are enrolled in Medigap Plan E through any insurance carrier, you will receive the above coverage and benefits.
The biggest things to be aware of with this plan is that it does not cover the annual Part B Deductible and it does not cover Part B Excess Charges. This means if your doctor charges more than the Medicare approved amount, you'll be responsible for the difference.
Or call 1-800-995-4219 to speak with a licensed insurance agent.
Medicare Supplement Plan E is no longer offered for sale, which means we don't know exactly how much it might cost per month.
As of 2010, the average Medigap plan premium was around $171 per month.3
Since the enrollee pool for Plan E gets smaller every year, it's likely that the monthly premiums for Plan E have continued to increase. This means it might make more sense to switch to a modern Medigap plan if you're still enrolled in Plan E.
In 2008, the government introduced the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act which reformed the Medicare landscape and discontinued Plan E and other plans, while introducing new standardized plans.
It is worth exploring current Medigap plans, you may find better coverage as well as a lower premium. Plans similar to Plan E would be Plan G, which is now the most popular Medigap plan available.
Because Medigap plan's monthly premiums are influenced by the size and health of the enrollee pool, by switching to a plan with a larger enrollee pool, the monthly plan premium may be lower, or avoid future increases.
Medicare Supplement Plan E was a Medigap plan that was offered from 1992 - 2010. It is no longer avialable to new Medicare beneficiaries but if you enrolled in the plan while it was live, you can continue using the benefits.
Medigap Plan E helps provide coverage for gaps missed by Original Medicare. This includes Part A coinsurance and hospital costs, skilled nursing care, Part A deductible, Part B coinsurance and more.
Or call 1-800-995-4219 to speak with a licensed insurance agent.
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