What Are the Best Medicare Supplement Plans in Pennsylvania?
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AARP/UnitedHealthcare offers the best Medicare Supplement coverage in Pennsylvania because of its affordable prices and low customer complaint levels.
Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policies help you pay for costs that Medicare doesn't cover. While you can choose from 10 different Medigap plans in Pennsylvania, most people choose either Plan F, G or N because these three plans provide the most coverage.
If price is the most important factor for you, we recommend Medigap Plan N from Aetna. Plan N provides nearly the same coverage as Plan G, and it costs $35 a month less on average.
What's the best Medicare Supplement company in Pennsylvania?
The best Medicare Supplement company in Pennsylvania is AARP/UnitedHealthcare.
AARP/UnitedHealthcare plans are typically cheaper than the state average. The company also receives 62% fewer complaints compared to an average Medicare Supplement company its size.
AARP/UnitedHealthcare is the largest Medigap provider in Pennsylvania, selling roughly one-third of all Medigap policies in the state. While AARP/UnitedHealthcare has the best mix of prices and customer service, it may not be the right fit for you. For example, you should consider a cheap Plan N policy from Aetna if price is more important to you than customer service.
Top Medicare Supplement companies in Pennsylvania
Company | Plan G monthly rate |
Customer satisfaction (out of 5)
|
|---|---|---|
| AARP/UnitedHealthcare | $121 | 4.5 |
| Highmark | $171 | 5.0 |
| Aetna | $130 | 2.0 |
| Cigna | $160 | 3.5 |
| Colonial Penn | $261 | 1.5 |
All rates are for a 65-year-old female nonsmoker.
All Medicare Supplement plan letters are standardized. That means you'll get the exact same coverage from a Plan G policy regardless of which company sells it to you. When shopping for a Medigap policy, you should only pay attention to plan letter, price and customer service.
A Medigap policy will help you cover your out-of-pocket costs left by Original Medicare. You cannot buy a Medicare Supplement plan if you have Medicare Advantage since Medicare Supplement exists to help manage the cost of Original Medicare.
Most Medigap plans don't require you to use a network of doctors.
Best overall: AARP/UnitedHealthcare
Average cost of AARP/UHC Medigap in Pennsylvania:
- Plan K: $48
- Plan L: $85
- Plan N: $93
- Plan A: $96
- Plan B: $120
- Plan G: $121
- Plan F: $159
- Plan C: $166
AARP/UnitedHealthcare (UHC) Medicare Supplement plans in Pennsylvania offer affordable rates and good customer service. For a 65-year-old woman who doesn't smoke, these plans are 28% cheaper than the Pennsylvania state average.
AARP/UHC offers eight Medicare Supplement plans to choose from including Plans F, G and N, which make up 76% of all policies sold in Pennsylvania. However, AARP/UHC does not sell high-deductible Medigap Plans G and F in Pennsylvania. Consider Aetna and Colonial Penn if you're in the market for a high-deductible Plan G since they provide the lowest rates among major insurance companies.
AARP/UHC receives considerably fewer customer complaints compared to the competition. Among major insurance companies in Pennsylvania, only Highmark has a better customer support track record.
It's important to choose an insurance company with a good customer service record since it's more likely to process your claim in a timely and efficient manner.
In addition to its low prices and strong customer service, AARP/UHC offers Medigap policyholders discounts on hearing, vision and dental policies. You also receive a free gym membership, access to an online brain health program and a 24/7 nurse hotline with your Medigap policy.
You must sign up for an AARP membership before you buy a Medicare Supplement policy from UnitedHealthcare. Annual fees are just $16, and as an AARP member, you'll receive access to a wide range of discounts for everything from travel to health and wellness services.
Best for customer service: Highmark (BCBS)
Average cost of Highmark (BCBS) Medigap in Pennsylvania:
- High-deductible Plan F: $126
- Plan A: $145
- Plan B: $158
- Plan N: $159
- Plan D: $166
- Plan G: $171
- Plan C: $221
- Plan F: $225
Highmark offers the highest levels of customer service of any major Medigap provider in Pennsylvania. Although its prices hover 15% above the state average, you should consider Highmark if a smooth claims process is a high priority for you.
Highmark is an independent company that operates under the Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) brand.
Highmark offers eight plans including a high-deductible Plan F. High-deductible Medigap plans are much cheaper than regular plans. In Pennsylvania, a high-deductible Plan F costs $122 per month less than a conventional Plan F. For Plan G, the difference is $115 per month.
However, high-deductible plans come with a deductible of $2,700 that you must pay before your insurance starts paying for most nonpreventive services. That means high-deductible Medicare Supplement Plans F and G only make sense if you're in good health and don't expect to meet your annual deductible.
As a Highmark Medigap policyholder, you can enroll in Highmark's Whole Health Balance Program to receive fitness benefits and dental, vision and hearing coverage.
Cheapest Plan N: Aetna
Average cost of Aetna Medigap in Pennsylvania:
- High-deductible Plan G: $46
- Plan N: $90
- Plan A: $116
- Plan G: $130
- Plan B: $130
- Plan F: $167
Aetna has some of the cheapest prices among major Medigap providers in Pennsylvania. Its Plan N policy is just $90 a month, which is 30% cheaper than the state average. Across the board, Aetna's plans are priced 21% below the Pennsylvania average.
However, these low prices come at a cost. Aetna's Medicare Supplement division receives twice as many complaints as the average Medigap provider. High levels of customer complaints mean you may experience delays or denials when filing an insurance claim.
However, if price is a higher priority than customer service for you, you should consider buying a Plan N policy from Aetna. Plan N provides all of the same coverage as the more popular Plan G except you have to pay up to $20 for some visits to the doctor and up to $50 for some emergency room visits.
Plan N doesn't cover Medicare Part B excess charges, or the difference between what Medicare will pay for a service and what a doctor charges. However, Pennsylvania is one of the few states that does not allow excess charges. That makes Plan N an attractive option for people in relatively good health without chronic health conditions.
How much does a Medigap plan cost in Pennsylvania?
Medicare Supplement plans in Pennsylvania cost between $48 and $217 a month on average.
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Pennsylvania Medigap plans
Medigap plan | Monthly cost | Popularity in Pennsylvania (enrollment %) |
|---|---|---|
| Plan F | $197 | 32% |
| Plan G | $163 | 29% |
| Plan N | $128 | 15% |
| Plan C | $217 | 11% |
Enrollment percentages for Plans F and G include the high-deductible versions. Rates are based on a 65-year-old female nonsmoker in Pennsylvania.
Plan F is the most popular plan in Pennsylvania, covering nearly one-third of all Medigap policyholders in the state. You can only buy Plan F or Plan C if you became eligible for Medicare before Jan. 1, 2020.
If you qualified for Medicare on or after that date, you should consider Plans G and N, which both offer high levels of coverage. Plan G covers everything that Plan F does with the exception of your Part B deductible, which costs $226 per year.
For a 65-year-old woman, Plan G costs $408 less per year than Plan F, making it a better deal. However, it's important to look at a wide range of ages when comparing Plans F and G because very few 65-year-olds qualify for Plan F.
Pennsylvania belongs to a handful of states that require all Medigap providers to offer coverage to some Medicare recipients below the age of 65.
Plan G is an increasingly better choice as you get older. A 75-year-old woman who doesn't smoke and who lives in Pennsylvania can save $564 a year by switching from Plan F to Plan G, and an 85-year-old woman can save $684 a year.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Medicare Supplement plan in PA?
Medigap Plan G is a top choice for most Pennsylvania residents because it offers the most comprehensive coverage for new Medicare enrollees. However, you should consider Plan N if affordable monthly rates are a high priority for you.
How much does Medigap insurance cost in PA?
Medigap insurance runs from $48 to $217 a month. Rates depend on your plan letter. The average Plan G policy costs $163 a month for a 65-year-old Pennsylvania woman who doesn't smoke.
What are the best Medicare Supplement companies in PA?
AARP/UnitedHealthcare is the best Medicare Supplement provider in Pennsylvania because of its combination of low prices and good customer service. Highmark has the best customer service of any Medigap company in PA, and Aetna offers the lowest prices among major Pennsylvania Medigap providers.
Sources and methodology
ValuePenguin used data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and Medicare.gov to compile average rates for a 65-year-old nonsmoking woman. Companies with a Medigap market share below 2.2% in Pennsylvania were excluded from the rate analysis.
Information from America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) was used to determine enrollment numbers for different Medigap plan types. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) compiles customer complaint information for Pennsylvania Medicare Supplement companies.
NAIC data was used to create a score for each Pennsylvania Medigap provider, with a score of five signaling a low level of complaints.
Satisfaction score | Customer complaints adjusted for company size |
|---|---|
| 5.0 (top rating) | Over 75% fewer complaints than typical |
| 4.5 | 50% to 75% fewer complaints than typical |
| 4.0 | 25% to 50% fewer complaints than typical |
| 3.5 | 0% to 25% fewer complaints than typical |
| 3.0 | An average rate of complaints |
| 2.5 | 0% to 50% more complaints than typical |
| 2.0 | 50% to 100% more complaints than typical |
| 1.5 | 100% to 250% more complaints than typical |
| 1.0 | Over 250% more complaints than typical |
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