Medicare Supplement Plan B

medicare supplement plan b

Medicare Supplement Plan B covers the basic set of benefits. These basic benefits include most Medicare Part A and B coinsurance amounts, blood, and additional hospital benefits not covered by Original Medicare. Plan B also covers the Part A deductible.

In 2018, only 2% of all Medicare Supplement policy holders were enrolled in Plan B. Plan B does not cover the Part B deductible or the the Skilled Nursing co-payment. In 2021, the Part B deductible amount is $203.

Enrollment in Plan B decreased 10% from 2017 to 2018.

Part A Hospital Insurance

  • Days 61-90 of a hospital stay in each Medicare benefit period.
  • Days 91-150 of a hospital stay. Medicare will only pay for these 60 days once during your lifetime.

Additional Part A Hospital Benefits

  • An extra 365 days of inpatient hospital care after you use your Original Medicare hospital benefits.

Part B Coinsurance

  • Medicare Supplement Plan B pays for the Part B coinsurance after you meet your annual deductible.

Part A and B Blood Coverage

  • Pays for the first three pints of blood per calendar year.

Part A Hospice Coinsurance

  • Pays for outpatient prescriptions drug and inpatient respite care coinsurance.

Part A Deductible

  • In 2021, the Medicare Part A Deductible is $1,484. Medigap Plan B covers the deductible amount.

The only difference between Plan A and Plan B is that Plan B pays for the Part A Deductible, while Plan A does not. Therefore, Plan B rates are generally higher than Plan A.

Plan B Enrollment by State

The following data is provided by Ahip.org and it is as of December 31, 2018:

  • Alabama had 91,914 people enrolled in Plan B. In short, Plan B had the most enrollees of any plan in Alabama.
  • Florida had 28,433 people enrolled in Plan B. Plans C, D, F and also N had more enrollees.
  • Pennsylvania had 20,890 people enrolled in Plan B. Only Plans C, F, G and also N had more enrollees.
  • New York had 19,353 people enrolled in Plan B. Plans C, F and also N were the only plans with more enrollees.
  • Kentucky had 3,744 people enrolled in Plan B. Plans C, F and also N were the only Medigap plans with more enrollees.
  • Maryland had 3,658 people enrolled in Plan B. Plans C, F, G and also N were the only plans with more enrollees.
  • Illinois had 3,356 people enrolled in Plan B. Medigap Plans K, L and M had fewer enrollees.
  • Ohio had 3,717 people enrolled in Plan B. Plans K, L and M had fewer enrollees.
  • New Jersey had 2,825 people enrolled in Plan B. Plans C, F, G and also N were the only Medigap plans with more enrollees.
  • California had 2,877 people enrolled in Plan B. Only Plans L and M had fewer enrollees.
  • Georgia had 2,436 people enrolled in Plan B. Medigap Plans D, K, L, and also M had fewer enrollees.
  • North Carolina had 2,480 people enrolled in Plan B. Only Medigap Plans K, L and M had fewer enrollees.
  • South Carolina had 2,244 people enrolled in Plan B. Medigap Plans K, L and M had fewer enrollees.
  • Indiana had 2,211 people enrolled in Plan B. Plans K, L and M had fewer people enrolled.
  • Louisiana had 2,153 people enrolled in Plan B. Medigap Plans C, K, L and also M had fewer enrollees.