Medigap policies don’t cover long-term care (like care in a nursing home), vision or dental care, hearing aids, eyeglasses or private-duty nursing.

* Plans F and J also offer a high-deductible option ($1,900 in 2008).
The 2008 out-of-pocket limit is $4,440 for Plan K and $2,220 for Plan L.

If you're interested in a Medigap policy, strike while the iron is hot! This is during your Medigap open enrollment period which begins on the first day of the month in which you are age 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare Part B, and it lasts for six months. During this time, an insurance company can’t refuse to sell you any Medigap policy it sells, can't make you wait for coverage to start (except possibly for coverage of pre-existing conditions), and can't charge you more for a Medigap policy because of your health problems. (Medicare will still cover your pre-existing condition but you'll have to pay your own out-of-pocket costs.)

There's still another Medigap option. Medicare SELECT, sold in some states, can be any of the standardized Medigap Plans A through L except that you must use specific hospitals and, in some cases, specific doctors to get your full insurance benefits (except in an emergency). The advantage is that Medicare SELECT policies generally cost less than other Medigap policies. However, if you have a Medicare SELECT policy but don't use hospitals or doctors on the list for non-emergency services, you will have to pay some or all of what Medicare doesn’t pay. Medicare will still pay its share of approved charges no matter which hospital or doctor you choose.

For all the details about Medigap plans and enrollment, see the latest "Choosing a Medigap Policy" handbook at www.medicare.gov.

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