{
  "id": "RL31223",
  "type": "CRS Report",
  "typeId": "REPORTS",
  "number": "RL31223",
  "active": false,
  "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
  "versions": [
    {
      "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
      "id": 329708,
      "date": "2007-10-02",
      "retrieved": "2016-04-07T17:52:53.950029",
      "title": "Medicare: Supplementary \"Medigap\" Coverage",
      "summary": "Medicare is a nationwide health insurance program for the aged and certain disabled persons. \nAlthough the program provides broad protection against the costs of many, primarily acute care,\nservices, it covers only about one-half of beneficiaries' total health care expenses. Most individuals\nhave some coverage in addition to basic Medicare benefits. Some persons have additional benefits\nthrough a managed care plan. Most other individuals have some supplementary coverage through\nprivate insurers or public programs such as Medicaid. Private supplementary coverage can be\nobtained through an individually purchased policy, commonly referred to as a \"Medigap\" policy. \nIt can also be obtained through a current or former employer. Some persons have both types of\ncoverage.\n Beneficiaries with Medigap insurance typically have coverage for Medicare's deductibles and\ncoinsurance; they may also have coverage for some items and services not covered by Medicare. \nIndividuals generally select from one of 10 standardized plans, though not all 10 plans are offered\nin all states. The 10 plans are known as Plans A through Plan J. Plan A covers a basic package of\nbenefits. Each of the other nine plans includes the basic benefits plus a different combination of\nadditional benefits. Plan J is the most comprehensive. \n The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA,  P.L.\n108-73 ) added a new voluntary prescription drug benefit under a new\n Medicare Part D. It also made a number of changes to the Medigap requirements. The first\nsignificant change was the addition of two new standardized plan types, Plan K and Plan L. There\nare two key differences between the benefits included under these options and those offered under\nPlans A-H. First, Plans K and L eliminate first-dollar coverage for most Medicare cost-sharing.\nSecond, both Plans K and L include an annual out-of-pocket limit on Medicare cost-sharing charges. \n The second major MMA change was the prohibition, beginning January 1, 2006, on the sale\nof Medigap policies with prescription drug coverage. Individuals who had such policies could renew\nthem provided they did not enroll in a prescription drug plan under the new Part D. Alternatively,\nif they enrolled under Part D, they could continue to enroll in a Medigap plan, but without drug\ncoverage.\n MMA also required the Secretary of the Health and Human Services to request the National\nAssociation of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) to review and revise the Medigap benefit packages,\ntaking into account changes made by the new law. The NAIC announced its recommendations in\nMarch 2007. The Children's Health and Medicare Protection Act of 2007 (CHAMP), as passed by\nthe House on August 1, 2007, incorporates these recommendations, as well as making additional\nMedigap changes. This report will be revised as circumstances warrant.",
      "type": "CRS Report",
      "typeId": "REPORTS",
      "active": false,
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          "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/RL31223",
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      ],
      "topics": []
    }
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Domestic Social Policy",
    "Health Policy"
  ]
}