Humana Medigap Plans Review

Founded in 1961, Humana is a Louisville, Kentucky-based company with roots in the nursing home industry and hospital ownership. Today, it has evolved into one of the largest publicly traded health insurance companies in America, with over 20 million members.

Offering nine of the 10 standard medigap plans, Humana has substantial options, befitting such a large company. Other providers we've reviewed, including Cigna, offer a more limited number of plans, so we appreciate Humana's variety. But be aware that those options vary greatly depending on your ZIP code. Humana is dedicated to providing superior customer service, easy access to instant plan pricing, and healthy lifestyle perks. This Better Business Bureau A+ rated company1 may be the insurance partner that helps you maintain your robust quality of life. Below, we'll take a closer look at Humana's medigap plans, what they offer, and who they're best for.

Pros and Cons of Humana’s Medicare Supplement Plans

Overview of Humana’s Medigap Plans

*Medigap Plans F and G also offer a high-deductible option in some states.
**Plan N has a $20 copay for office visits; $50 copay for ER.

Extra Perks for All Humana Plans

As a Humana Medicare supplement policyholder, you get access to additional services and discounts at no extra cost!

• SilverSneakers fitness program
• Hearing aids and services discount
• Prescription medicine discount
• Vision care discount
• 24/7 registered nurse hotline

Which Humana Medigap Plan Is Right for Me?

Let's take a look at the different medigap plans and who they're best for so you can decide which Humana plan fits your needs.

Seniors Who Need Basic Coverage but Not Extensive Health Care Services

Medigap Plans A and B are designed to help cover coinsurance and costs for basic needs not paid by Medicare Parts A and B, such as unexpected medical expenses, hospice care, or extended hospital costs. While you save money with these plans since you are not paying for coverage you don't use, you may have to deal with a few out-of-pocket expenses. Plan B adds a bit more coverage for hospitalization.

Those Who Travel and Have the Budget to Pay for More Comprehensive Coverage

Medigap Plan G has all the benefits of Plans A and B, plus coverage for skilled nursing facility care coinsurance, your Part A deductible for hospitalization, and your Part B excess charge. Plan G also covers medical emergency help (up to plan limits) when you're traveling out of the country. Bear in mind Plan G does not include your Medicare Part B deductible ($233 in 2022). It's worth doing the math to see if your rate generated for Plan G will save you money.

If you were eligible for Medicare before Jan. 1, 2020, another comprehensive medigap option is Plan C. This plan helps keep your monthly expenses consistent, as Plan C covers most Medicare-approved medical expenses. Plan C comes with the added benefit of covering your Medicare Part B deductible. However, Medicare's Part B excess charge is not covered.

Older Adults Looking for the Most Complete Coverage Available

Plans F and G are the only two medigap plans that cover 100 percent of Medicare Part B excess charges. This protects you from additional expenses for treatments that exceed Medicare approval. Both Plan F and Plan G include all of the benefits of Plans A and B, plus skilled nursing facility care, Medicare Part A deductible, and international travel emergency help.

Plan F also has a high-deductible option with a lower premium but note that the deductible is not fixed and can go up each year. Keep in mind Medicare Plan F and High Deductible Plan F are only available to Medicare beneficiaries who were eligible for Medicare before Jan. 1, 2020.

Seniors on Tight Budgets Who Don't Need Frequent Doctor Visits

Medicare Plans K and L offer lower premiums for less coverage. You get the same basic benefits but with less coinsurance and copayment coverage. On the other hand, you are protected by out-of-pocket maximums that limit the amount you may pay each year. After that maximum is reached, the plan pays 100 percent of Medicare-approved costs for the remainder of the year. These plans give peace of mind in case of serious illness or accident. Plan K offers a lower premium than Plan L, but it has higher coinsurance amounts and annual out-of-pocket maximums.

Plan N is similar to Plans K and L in that it maintains a lower premium than other plans, but it offers more coverage than K and L. Plan N covers 100 percent of your Medicare Part B coinsurance costs, but you will have a $20 copay for office visits, and a $50 copay for ER visits. All three of these plans may be attractive medigap plan options for healthy seniors who will rarely use their Medicare benefits.

How Much Do Humana Medigap Plans Cost?

All 10 medigap plans are federally standardized. This means the benefits included under medigap Plan A are the same whether you live in Connecticut or Colorado. However, medigap pricing is based on several key factors, including location. For example, New Jersey, Louisiana, and Nevada tend to have the costliest medigap premiums, while Hawaii, New Mexico, and Oregon have the cheapest yearly costs. In addition to location, your medigap plan premium may be affected by the following:

1. Age
2. Gender
3. Marital status
4. Medigap provider and plan selected
5. Community-rated or attained-age pricing
6. Smoking status
7. Time of enrollment

We’ve queried four popular medigap plans for a snapshot of how medigap pricing varies. Rates are based on a non-smoking 65-year-old female located in Delaware (ZIP code 19803). Knowing when you're eligible for a medigap policy is crucial as your premium may be considerably higher outside of open enrollment. In the chart below, we've included preferred rates (when you enroll during the initial enrollment period) and standard rates (when you enroll outside of the initial enrollment period). Keep in mind: Rates can vary greatly from person to person, and the prices below are only an example for one individual.

*Preferred rate also includes Humana's online enrollment discount. 

How to Buy a Humana Medigap Policy

Humana earns high marks for its user-friendly online enrollment process. It's easy to research and compare Humana's medigap plan options side by side. Need a bit of extra assistance? No worries! Help is just a phone call away by contacting a licensed Humana sales agent. We appreciate that Humana offers an online enrollment option, as Colonial Penn, another provider we've reviewed, requires you to get a quote and enroll over the phone.

Below is a step-by-step guide to enrolling in a Humana medigap plan online.

1. Use the ZIP code search on Humana's website to find what is available in your area. You may also need to enter the county where you reside.
   

   Humana ZIP code page

2. Then, you'll need to plug in basic information to get a personalized quote with specific pricing. Once you input this information, you'll be able to see a quote for all of the available medigap plans for easy comparison.
   

   Entering information for a Humana quote

3. Next, you'll be directed to a page that lets you compare all the Humana plans available in your area. Review the plan benefits to zone in on your preferred plans. Click on the “See outline of coverage” button for each medigap plan's full explanation of benefits. If you decide to enroll in a Humana Medicare supplement plan, click the “Enroll” button.
   

   Comparing Humana plans based on ZIP code

4. After clicking the “Enroll” button, carefully review your personal information, eligibility, payment schedule, and Humana's agreements. You'll need to input your Medicare ID number, so have your card on hand. If you opt for ACH or credit card monthly payments of future premiums, you may be eligible for a discount.
   

   Humana enrollment page

Final Thoughts on Humana

Humana has competitive rates and wallet-friendly enrollment discounts. The company's size allows it to offer a few more bells and whistles compared to smaller companies. Humana helps seniors optimize their health with extensive wellness discounts and a free fitness membership. The ability to customize your coverage with add-ons like dental, vision, and prescription plans is a noteworthy benefit. Overall, the options and price points make Humana a solid choice for your medigap needs.