Minnesota Medicare Supplement insurance plans are available to those receiving Medicare benefits residing in the state. These insurance policies are offered by private insurance companies to address any gaps in coverage for co-pays, co-insurance and deductibles. In Minnesota, you’re granted guarantee issue right, but the policies are different.

Minnesota Medicare Supplement plans, along with Massachusetts and Wisconsin, are standardized differently then the other states. Regardless of your current health issues or age, once you enroll in Medicare Part B the basic and extended basic benefits are available to you. If you drop Part B due to going back to work and electing your employers health plan, you’ll receive another six month Open Enrollment Period. Once you retire from your employer and elect Part B again, you’ll also receive another six month OEP.

The Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce established two categories of Medicare Supplements and they each include a minimum of standards. The Basic Plan has the least comprehensive coverage and the Extended Basic Plan has the most. The same policies and benefits that are available to those receiving benefits from Medicare over 65 are also available to those under 65. Minnesota Medicare Supplements include 5 policies called “alpha plans” that each have different cost sharing requirements. If you pay a lower premium, you’ll limit your benefits.

All Minnesota Medicare Supplemental Policies include the basic benefits listed below: 

• Part A coinsurance for inpatient hospital care
• Part B coinsurance for the 20% of Medicare approved medical costs after Medicare pays their 80%
• First 3 pints of blooded for a medical procedure
• Part A hospice and respite care cost sharing
• Parts A and B home health services and supplies cost sharing

Minnesota Medicare Supplement Basic Plan Outline of Coverage

• Basic benefits listed above
• Part A coinsurance for skilled nursing facility (provides 100 days of care)
• 80% of any emergency care outside of the United States
• 50% of outpatient mental health care
• Preventive care
• 20% of physical therapy
• State mandated benefits
  • Diabetic equipment and supplies
  • Routine cancer screening
  • Reconstructive surgery
  • Immunizations

MN Medicare Supplements Optional Riders

MN Medicare Supplements have extra benefits that can be added to their Basic Plan, these benefits are called riders. These options riders are available for:

• Part A deductible
• Part B deductible
• Part B excess charges
• Preventive health services

Minnesota Medicare Supplemental Insurance Extended Basic Plan Benefits

Minnesota Medicare Supplemental insurance extended basic plan benefits include all the benefits listed under the basic plan as well as all the optional riders and a few other benefits. The plan pays 100% once you reach $1,000 in out of pocket expenses for the calendar year.

• Basic benefits
• Part A: inpatient hospital deductible
• Part A: skilled nursing facility coinsurance (provides 120 days of care)
• Part B: deductible
• 80% of foreign travel (100% is covered after you reach $1,000 in out of pocket expenses)
• 50% of outpatient mental health
• 80% of excess charges (100% is covered after you reach $1,000 in out of pocket expenses)
• Medicare cover preventive care
• 20% of physical therapy care
• 80% coverage while in a foreign country (100% is covered after you reach $1,000 in out of pocket expenses)
• State mandated benefits for diabetic equipment and supplies, routine cancer screening, reconstructive surgery and immunizations.

Minnesota Medicare Supplements Comparison for the Alpha Plans

Below will include Minnesota Medicare Supplements comparison for Alpha Plans K, L & N.

Plans K and L pay 100% of covered benefits for the reminder of the calendar year once you’ve reached the out of pocket limits. Please note, Part B deductible is not included as a covered benefits, but it does count towards your out of pocket limit. However, any Part B expenses does not count towards your out of pocket limits.

Plan N requires small copays for each office visit. There’s no limit on this copayment, this means that each office visit by any provider is billed, even if you have multiple visits in on day. There’s also a small copayment for emergency room visits, however, the copayment may be waived if you’re admitted to a hospital. For more Minnesota state resources, click here.