Human Resources: Medigap and Medicare Advantage Plans

Retirees

Medigap and Medicare Advantage Plans

If you are a retired employee of Syracuse University who is no longer eligible for coverage under the University's Medical Benefits Plan or Retiree Medical Benefits Plan, you may be covered by Medicare. If you wish to obtain individual medical coverage that will supplement Medicare, you may want to consider one of the following alternative non-University medical plans. The University does not endorse or sponsor any alternative medical plan or medical coverage provider, and will not be involved in the establishment or maintenance of such coverage. Your decision with respect to such alternative plan coverage is completely voluntary. Any such individual medical coverage you may decide to obtain is not a University benefit and is not part of a benefit arrangement or plan established or maintained by the University.

Medigap Plans

A Medigap plan is a health insurance policy sold by private insurance companies to fill the "gaps" in the original Medicare Plan by helping you pay health care costs that the Original Medicare plan (not to be confused with the Medicare Advantage Plans) doesn't cover. If you are in the Original Medicare Plan and have a Medigap policy, then Medicare and your Medigap policy will each pay a share of your health care costs.

If you are interested in purchasing a Medigap Plan, you must contact an insurance company directly. There are currently 12 different Medigap plans available, Plans A through L. Each plan has a different set of benefits. The premium varies based on plan design and company selected. All contributions and other costs for the coverage you select are your responsibility. More information on pricing and alternatives is available from Medicare/Medigap.

Medicare Advantage Plans

Medicare Advantage Plans (formerly called Medicare + Choice Plans) are offered in most geographical locations through private insurance companies. They often provide more choices and can sometimes offer extra benefits, such as extended coverage for hospital stays. If you are interested in purchasing a Medicare Advantage Plan, you must contact an insurance company directly.

To join a Medicare Advantage Plan, you must have Medicare Part A and Part B. You will have to pay the monthly Medicare Part B premium to Medicare. Depending on the plan selected, you may have a monthly premium to your Medicare Advantage Plan for the extra benefits that it offers.

If you're in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you don't need to purchase a Medigap policy as Medicare Advantage Plans generally cover many of the same benefits covered by a Medigap policy, such as extended coverage for hospital stays after you have exhausted Medicare coverage.

These plans have varying monthly premiums, starting at $0 per month. All contributions and other costs for the coverage you select are your responsibility. More information on pricing and alternatives is available from Medicare/Advantage.

For More Information

For more information on either type of plan call: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227)

Helpful Links

Medicare

Questions? Call the HR Service Center at 443-4042 or e-mail hrservic@syr.edu.

As is the case with all of its employee benefit plans, the University reserves the right to modify or terminate the Retiree Medical Plan and/or the Retiree Prescription Drug Plan (including the terms of those Plans described in this summary) from time to time. You only will be eligible for the coverages described in this summary if the Retiree Medical Plan and the Retiree Prescription Drug Plan are satisfied, and the terms of the those Plans will control if there are any inconsistencies with this summary.