Three key findings from the March 10 study:
- Medicare enrollees with Medicare Supplement coverage, or Medigap, were three times less likely to face issues paying their medical bills compared to enrollees without Medigap policies. Only 4 percent of enrollees with Medigap had issues paying their medical bills over the last year, compared to 12 percent of fee-for-service Medicare enrollees that do not have Medicap.
- Among Medicare enrollees without additional insurance coverage, 53 percent had Medigap coverage in 2020.
- From December 2017 to December 2020, the percentage of Medicare recipients who enrolled in Medigap increased from 35 percent to 39 percent.
“Medigap protects the health and financial well-being of millions of seniors,” said Jeanette Thornton, AHIP senior vice president of product, employer and commercial policy. “Because it covers out-of-pocket costs that original Medicare doesn’t, it’s an important resource that helps enrollees budget for medical expenses. As a result, more seniors are choosing these plans — and they are benefiting from the additional protection they offer.”
