Amerigroup, an Anthem company, offers Medigap plans in Arizona and Texas through their Wellpoint brand.
Amerigroup (Wellpoint) is an insurance company owned by Anthem, a healthcare benefits company. Amerigroup (Wellpoint) offers Medigap plans in two states: Arizona and Texas. In these states, Amerigroup Medigap plans are administered by Wellpoint.
According to the Wellpoint website, starting January 1, 2025, they will not sell Medigap policies to new subscribers. However, if you currently have an Amerigroup (Wellpoint) Medigap plan, you may keep it as long as you continue to pay the premiums.
If you have Original Medicare (parts A and B), you aren’t required to have a Medigap policy. However, you might consider purchasing a Medigap plan to simplify your healthcare expenses and reduce your out-of-pocket costs. A Medigap policy may help cut down on your out-of-pocket healthcare costs and give you a better idea of what to expect in terms of monthly expenses.
Keep reading to learn more about the Medicare supplement insurance that Amerigroup (Wellpoint) manages.
The following are some of the services covered under Amerigroup (Wellpoint) Medigap policies.
Part A benefits
Medicare Part A is the portion of Original Medicare that pays for hospital coverage and inpatient care.
Medigap policies may help supplement coverage for Part A expenses, including:
- the Part A deductible
- coinsurance at hospitals and skilled nursing facilities (for a short-term stay)
- blood up to the first 3 pints
Part B benefits
Medicare Part B is the part of Original Medicare that covers outpatient medical costs, such as doctor’s visits and preventive care.
The monthly premium for Medicare Part B is standardized, and since January 1, 2020 Medigap policies no longer assist with paying for the Part B deductible.
However, some Medigap policies offer savings with Medicare Part B expenses. Part B coverage through Medigap includes coinsurance and copayments, as well as Part B excess charges. Excess charges are extra costs you may have — for example, if you use a doctor who doesn’t accept Medicare assignment.
Foreign travel emergency
If you frequently travel outside the United States, you may benefit from foreign travel coverage. Throughout your lifetime, this benefit will provide up to $50,000 of health coverage for emergency services overseas.
Amerigroup (Wellpoint) Medigap plan extra benefits
Being an Amerigroup (Wellpoint) Medigap member helps pay for copayments and coinsurance, and it also allows you to participate in the SilverSneakers program.
This fitness program provides access to more than 16,000 participating exercise facilities across the country, a mobile app, an online tool that offers self-guided fitness programs, and a wellness resource.
Amerigroup (Wellpoint) may also offer a pharmacy savings program that can help you save on costs for prescription drugs.
Medicare requires Medigap plans to be standardized. There are 12 types of plans, and each is known by a letter name: A, B, C, D, F, F High Deductible, G, G High Deductible, K, L, M, and N.
The following sections provide an overview of each of the Medigap plans that Amerigroup (Wellpoint) offers.
Amerigroup (Wellpoint) Medigap Plan A
If a company offers Medigap plans, it must sell at least Plan A.
Plan A pays for coinsurance and hospital costs for up to 365 days after you use your Medicare benefits. Some additional coverage options include:
- Part B coinsurance or copayments
- first 3 pints of blood
- hospice care coinsurance or copayments
However, the policy doesn’t cover your Medicare Part A or Part B deductibles or foreign travel health costs.
Amerigroup (Wellpoint) Medigap Plan F
Medigap Plan F offers the same coverage as Plan G (see below), except that it also pays the Part B deductible. Plan F is one of the most comprehensive plans offered.
Some changes to Medicare laws have meant that insurance companies can’t sell some Medigap policies anymore. As of January 1, 2020, companies selling Medigap policies can’t offer Plan F (or Plan C) because Medigap plans can no longer cover the Part B deductible.
If you purchased Medigap Plan F before January 1, 2020, you can keep your plan if you’d like. You may also be able to buy Plan F if you were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020.
Amerigroup (Wellpoint) Medigap Plan G
Medigap Plan G is the most popular Amerigroup (Wellpoint) plan. This may be because the plan covers almost all out-of-pocket costs associated with Medicare services, with the exception of the Part B deductible.
Amerigroup (Wellpoint) Medigap Plan N
Medigap Plan N involves setting up a copayment with the plan for emergency room visits and covered doctor’s visits. The plan also covers 80% of costs for emergency health needs while traveling abroad.
While Medigap policies are intended to reduce out-of-pocket costs, there are still some costs these policies don’t cover.
These include:
Even with a Medigap plan, you’ll still be responsible for these costs.
While Medigap plans are standardized, their costs are not.
An insurance company can charge different monthly premiums for their policies based on factors such as:
- your age
- where you live
- your overall health
However, the competitiveness of the insurance marketplace is intended to keep Medigap plan prices affordable.
The table below shows the monthly premium range of Amerigroup (Wellpoint) Medigap plans in a few sample cities in the company’s coverage area.
| State | Plan A | Plan F | Plan G | Plan N |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $127-$266 | $190-$497 | $147-$397 | $122-$340 |
| Texas | $148-$1,504 | $193-$483 | $151-$424 | $124-$328 |
Much of Amerigroup (Wellpoint) policy pricing is based on attained-age pricing. This means the younger the policyholder, the less expensive the policy is likely to be. As you get older, the policy premium will increase. The premium may also increase based on inflation.
Medicare supplement insurance, also called Medigap, is a policy designed to help cover some of the “gaps” (or extra costs) in an Original Medicare policy.
Some people purchase a Medigap policy to reduce their out-of-pocket costs associated with Medicare coverage, which include:
- coinsurance
- copayments
- deductibles
To purchase a Medigap plan, you must have Original Medicare (parts A and B). And if you have Medicare Advantage (Part C), you can’t also enroll in Medigap.
Although Medigap policies are mostly standardized, there are some exceptions. Available plans may vary by region and state.
Some states also standardize their plans differently. These include Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, where Medigap policies may have different names.
Amerigroup (Wellpoint) Medigap plan is one company that provides Medigap policies. If you are already enrolled in an Amerigroup (Wellpoint) Medigap plan, you may keep your plan as long as you continue to pay your premiums. However, Amerigroup (Wellpoint) is not accepting new enrollments for coverage that begins January 1, 2025.
For more information about Amerigroup (Wellpoint) Medigap policies and how to enroll, you can contact the company directly at 800-852-5864.