Take the worry out of unpredictable medical bills. We provide honest, independent advice to help you find a Medicare Supplement plan that lets you keep your favorite doctors and protects you from unexpected out-of-pocket costs.
Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) pays for a large chunk of your hospital and doctor visits, but it doesn’t pay for everything.
For example, Original Medicare usually requires you to pay 20% of the bill when you see a specialist. There is no “safety cap” or limit on how much you might have to pay out of your own pocket in a given year. If you have a serious illness or a long hospital stay, those bills can add up very quickly.
Medicare Supplement Insurance (often called Medigap) is extra insurance you buy from a private company. It steps in to pay those leftover bills, like copays and deductibles.
Because these plans are strictly regulated by the government, the coverage for each “letter” plan is exactly the same everywhere. This means a “Plan G” from one insurance company gives you the exact same medical coverage as a “Plan G” from a totally different company.
At Senior Benefits NW, our goal is simple: since the coverage is identical, we shop around to find the insurance company that offers the best price for you, keeping your healthcare costs manageable.
For most people starting Medicare, the choice comes down to the two most popular options: Plan G and Plan N. Choosing between them just depends on your budget and how often you go to the doctor.
Plan G: Total Peace of Mind
Plan G is the most comprehensive. Once you pay your small, once-a-year Medicare Part B deductible, Plan G steps in and pays 100% of all your other covered medical bills. There are no surprise bills in the mail after a doctor’s visit or a hospital stay.
Plan N: Lower Monthly Bills
Plan N is a great way to save some money on your monthly insurance bill, typically around $50 compared to Plan G. Like Plan G, you pay the yearly Part B deductible. After that, you might pay up to $20 when you visit the doctor, and up to $50 if you go to the Emergency Room but don’t get admitted. Plan N also doesn’t cover “excess charges” (a rare extra fee that a few doctors charge). If you are on a budget and don’t go to the doctor very often, Plan N is a fantastic choice.
Living in the Pacific Northwest means you have some of the best rules in the country to protect you from rising insurance prices. Understanding these local rules helps keep you from getting stuck in an expensive plan.
Oregon’s “Birthday Rule”
In Oregon, you get a special 60-day window around your birthday every year (starting 30 days before your birthday and ending 30 days after). During this time, if you already have a Medigap plan, you can switch to a different insurance company to get a better price. The best part? They cannot ask you any health questions or turn you down because of a pre-existing condition.
Washington’s Year-Round Rule
Washington State has an even better rule! If you live in Washington and have a standard Medigap plan (Plans B through N), you can switch to another company at any time of the year. Just like in Oregon, there are no health questions asked.
We make finding and setting up your Medicare Supplement plan safe, easy, and completely stress-free.
Yes! Medigap plans do not restrict you to local networks. You have the total freedom to see any doctor, specialist, or hospital in the entire country, as long as they accept Original Medicare. You also never need a referral to see a specialist.
Federal law requires every insurance company to offer the exact same medical benefits for each lettered plan. A “Plan G” from a big national company covers the exact same things as a “Plan G” from a smaller local company. Because the medical coverage is identical, we focus on helping you find the company with the lowest price.
Your Medigap Open Enrollment is a one-time, 6-month window that starts the first day of the month your Medicare Part B coverage goes into effect (as long as you are 65 or older). If you delayed Part B because you kept working past 65, your 6-month window does not start until your Part B actually begins. During this time, you can enroll in any Medigap plan without answering health questions.
The Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) in the Fall (Oct 15 – Dec 7) is for changing your prescription drug plan or a Medicare Advantage plan. You cannot use this window to switch Medigap companies without answering health questions—if you apply for a new Medigap plan during this time, you still have to pass medical underwriting.
Yes. Medigap plans only cover medical bills (like doctors and hospitals). They do not pay for your medications at the pharmacy. To avoid late penalties and high drug costs, you need to enroll in a separate Part D prescription plan. We will help you find the one that makes your specific medications the cheapest.
Companies price their plans in a few ways: based on your zip code, age, tobacco use. We look closely at how each company sets their prices to make sure you don’t pick a plan that looks cheap today but gets wildly expensive in a few years.
No. As long as you pay your monthly bill on time, your Medigap policy is yours for life. The insurance company is legally not allowed to cancel your plan, change what it covers, or raise your price just because you get sick or have a lot of medical bills.
Yes, but it can be tricky. If you try to switch back after your initial 1 year trial period is over, you usually have to answer a long list of health questions. If you have medical issues, the Medigap insurance company is allowed to say “no” and deny you. This is why picking the right path from the very beginning is so important.
Yes! Your Medigap plan works seamlessly in all 50 states. Plus, plans like Plan G and Plan N actually include emergency coverage if you travel outside of the United States, paying up to 80% of your emergency bills after a small deductible.
Your income doesn’t change what plans you are allowed to enroll in, though people with higher incomes do have to pay a bit more for their Medicare Parts B and D.
The best time to reach out is at least 3 months or earlier before your 65th birthday, or 3 months before you transition off of an employer’s health insurance plan. This gives us plenty of time to enroll you in Medicare A & B, compare your supplemental plan options, check your doctors, and get your paperwork filed so your coverage starts exactly when you need it, with no late fees.
