Janice Domke is a certified National Social Security Advisor and licensed insurance professional with over 20 years experience. Having focused primarily on Medicare and Individual Health insurance, she has a deep understanding of the Affordable Care Act, all parts of Medicare and the plans that go with it. In recent years, she has started to write to share this knowledge with a wider audience.
Updated on February 23rd, 2022
We aim to help you make informed healthcare decisions. While this post may contain links to lead generation forms, this won’t influence our writing. We follow strict editorial standards to give you the most accurate and unbiased information.
If you’re one of the 500,000-plus members of Medicare Part A and B, or Original Medicare, in Louisiana, 1 you know it can leave you with extra costs. Original Medicare doesn’t offer 100% coverage, and it doesn’t cap your out-of-pocket costs. A Medicare Supplement plan can help reduce those bills.
Medicare Supplement, or Medigap, will pay some or all of the costs not covered by Original Medicare. In Louisiana, more than 138,000 people have Medigap policies. 2
You can choose from 12 Medicare Supplement plans, or Plans A through N. Each plan provides varying levels of coverage.
For example, Plan G, a popular plan for people who turned 65 on or after January 1, 2020, covers most medical expenses after you pay the Medicare Part B deductible ($198 in 2020). An average monthly premium in Louisiana is around $250 per person.
What You Need to Know
Medicare Supplement plans can help you lower your out-of-pocket costs from Original Medicare.
There are multiple types of Medigap policies available from private insurance companies.
You can shop around by checking the individual companies or working with a Medicare specialist.
Your premium will vary based on factors like where you live, your age, your gender, and tobacco use. Different insurance companies may charge different rates for the same plan. Some companies offer “community rates,” which means you will pay the same premium regardless of your age. Other companies offer “attained age” rates, which means your premium is based on how old you are when you purchase coverage and can change as you get older.
If you are a male, age 70, living in Lafayette, you could pay between $137 and $458 for Plan F — the most popular plan for people who became eligible for Medicare Part A before January 1, 2020. (Plan F isn’t available to those new to Medicare as of January 1, 2020.)
If you move to New Orleans, you could pay between $160 and $585, according to a search for Medigap policies. 3 See the charts below with three popular plan options for both a 65-year-old female and male, non-tobacco users in Louisiana.
65-Year-Old Woman, No Tobacco Use
| Plan Type | Premium Range |
| Plan F | $122-$363 |
| Plan G | $98-$340 |
| Plan N | $81-$313 |
65-Year-Old Man, No Tobacco Use
If you need more benefits or a lower-cost plan, you might want a different Medigap policy. Generally, you can switch Medigap policies in certain situations, when you have a guaranteed issue right or you’re within your Open Enrollment Period. If you switch, you’ll have 30 days to decide if you want to keep the new policy. This is the “free look period.” You’ll have to pay both premiums for that month. Afterward, be sure to cancel your old policy. 5
Medicare Advantage plans, or Medicare Part C, provide replacement coverage for Original Medicare and frequently include vision, dental and prescription drug coverage. Medicare Advantage plans offer a cost-effective option but work much like an HMO or PPO, meaning you’d be restricted to in-network providers and pay more if you go outside the network. They set an out-of-pocket maximum for medical services.
If you need help with Medicare costs, the Louisiana State Department of Insurance offers information on Medicaid and prescription drug programs.
You can also receive free counseling services through the Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIP). These trained volunteers can assist you in answering questions about plan options.
