Comparing 2021 National General Medigap Plans

National General Accident and Health offers Medigap supplemental insurance policies to residents in 23 states. Medigap options from National General are categorized as Medigap Plan A, F, high-deductible F, G and N.

National General Accident and Health is part of National Health Insurance Company, which is held by National General Holdings Corporation. Each year, NGHC produces about $2.5 billion in revenue.  In that year, National General wrote over $535 million in net premiums for this division. NGHC has its headquarters in New York City. In its present form, NGHC was founded in 2009 but has roots that go back to 1939.

As of 2021, A.M. Best has given NGHC and its subsidiaries a Financial Strength Rating of “A+”. The organization has also bestowed an “aa” score on NGHC for its Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating.

2021 National General Medigap Plans

National General sells four standardized Medigap policies – A, F, G and N – as well as a high-deductible version of Plan F. All Medicare supplement policies cover the same benefits by letter. Plan A in Maryland looks the same as Plan A in West Virginia, regardless of who’s selling it. That’s because these plans are standardized at the federal level. The difference in Medigap policies comes in cost and company. Note that in Minnesota, Massachusetts and Wisconsin, Medigap plans are standardized differently.

To give you an idea of the costs associated with these plans, we’ve used a zip code in the Houston area (Harris County, Texas). Keep in mind that Medicare supplement availability depends on where you live, which means you could have access to plans that someone in the next town doesn’t. The best way to find out what your options are is to get a personalized quote. Here’s what you can expect from National General Medicare supplement plans in 2021.

2021 National General Medigap Plan A

Medigap Plan A covers the basics of Medicare supplement plans. If you don’t need much supplemental coverage, you might consider Plan A. Just know that many companies price other, more comprehensive plans better than the basic supplement plan, so shop carefully to make sure you get a good deal. For a 65-year-old in Houston, Medigap Plan A from National General cost about $122 a month in 2019. It covers:

• Part A coinsurance and hospital costs (up to an extra 365 days after Medicare hospital benefits get used up)
• Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment
• Part B coinsurance or copayment
• The first three pints of blood

2021 National General Medigap Plan F

• Note: Plan F is no longer available to people who were newly eligible to Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. You can keep this plan in place if you already have it, and you may be able to enroll in Plan F if you were eligible for Medicare before 2020. But new enrollees are ineligible for Plan F.

National General offers both the regular and high-deductible versions of Medigap Plan F, which is the most comprehensive Medicare supplement option available. Plan F covers everything that a Medigap plan can cover. The difference between the regular version and the high-deductible one is that high-deductible Plan F requires you to meet a deductible before benefits pay out. In 2022, that deductible is $2,490.

You’ll also see a big cost difference between the two versions. For our Harris County resident, Plan F from National General cost $156 a month in 2019. The high-deductible version cost just $48 a month instead. With Plan F, you’ll get coverage for:

• Part A coinsurance and hospital costs (up to an extra 365 days after Medicare hospital benefits get used up)
• Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment
• Part A deductible
• Skilled nursing facility coinsurance
• Part B deductible
• Part B coinsurance or copayment
• Part B excess charges
• The first three pints of blood
• 80% of foreign travel medical expenses (up to the plan limit)

Plan F is a good value if you need a lot of supplemental coverage, but we do want to reiterate that this plan is unavailable to new Medicare enrollees as of January 1, 2020. If you had Plan F in place by this date, you can keep it. But you won’t be able to buy a new Plan F policy after that date because the federal government eliminated Medigap plans that cover the Medicare Part B deductible.

2021 National General Medigap Plan G

If you like the sound of Plan F but want a plan that’s still being sold to new enrollees, consider Medigap Plan G. This Medicare supplement plan covers everything that Plan F covers except for the annual Medicare Part B deductible, which is $233 in 2022. Plan G is also about $30 cheaper per month. Our 65-year-old Houston resident would pay about $123 a month for Plan G from National General in 2019, saving over $300 for the year with this coverage – enough to make up for the fact that it doesn’t cover the Part B deductible. Under Plan G, you’ll be covered for:

• Part A coinsurance and hospital costs (up to an extra 365 days after Medicare hospital benefits get used up)
• Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment
• Part A deductible
• Skilled nursing facility coinsurance
• Part B coinsurance or copayment
• Part B excess charges
• The first three pints of blood
• 80% of foreign travel medical expenses (up to the plan limit)

2021 National General Medigap Plan N

Medigap Plan N looks similar to Medigap Plan G, but there are a couple of key differences. First, Plan N does not cover Part B excess charges. These are charges that you might get if you see a doctor who doesn’t contract with Medicare. That provider could charge you more than Medicare will cover for care, leaving you with “excess charges” that you would owe out of pocket (above and beyond your standard 20 percent Part B copay). Plan G covers this excess, but Plan N doesn’t. Both plans, as a side note, cover your Part B coinsurance. Excess charges aren’t a prevalent problem, but they can add up for some people.

The other notable difference is that Plan N requires cost sharing for some Part B services. You’ll pay up to $20 for regular office visits and up to $50 for trips to the ER if you don’t get admitted as a hospital inpatient. The tradeoff for the cost sharing is that Plan N tends to cost less per month. For a 65-year-old in Houston, Plan N cost about $104 a month in 2019 (vs. $123 a month for Plan G). Plan N covers:

• Part A coinsurance and hospital costs (up to an extra 365 days after Medicare hospital benefits get used up)
• Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment
• Part A deductible
• Skilled nursing facility coinsurance
• Part B coinsurance or copayment
• The first three pints of blood
• 80% of foreign travel medical expenses (up to the plan limit)

Medigap plans can run together, especially since many of them cover the same types of benefits and at similar amounts. If you’re not sure which one would work best for you, talk to us. We’re pros in the Medicare world, and we can help you find the right coverage for your needs. Whether you’re looking for a supplement to original Medicare or a private Medicare Advantage plan, get a customized quote today for a full picture of what’s available.

If you have questions or concerns and would like to speak with a licensed Medicare professional, please use our toll free number, or simply use the form below to connect with us or schedule an appointment.

Disclosure: Medicare.net is owned by HealthNetwork Group, LLC, a subsidiary of NGHC.