What WPS Medicare Supplement Plans Are Offered in 2021?

AT A GLANCE

·        WPS is a private health insurer, based in Wisconsin, that sells Medicare supplement insurance plans.

·        These optional plans, also known as Medigap plans, can help offset your share of Medicare costs.

·        WPS offers plans to residents across Wisconsin, plus 14 other states.

Medicare supplement insurance helps people with Medicare cover their costs after Medicare pays its share. These optional plans are also called Medigap plans.

With a Medigap plan, you pay a premium in exchange for potentially lowering your overall share of healthcare costs not paid by original Medicare (parts A and B).

Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation (WPS) is a private insurance company based in Madison, Wisconsin. It offers Medicare supplement plans to residents of Wisconsin and 14 other states.

Read on to find out if you qualify for a WPS supplement plan and what’s covered for 2020.

What services do WPS supplement plans cover?

Each Medigap plan covers aspects of original Medicare (Part A and Part B) that you’d typically have to pay after Medicare covers its share.

It’s important to note that you can’t use a Medigap policy if you have a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan.

In addition to the services covered under each plan type, the state of Wisconsin mandates that certain services be included in the WPS Medicare supplement plans.

For the following services, Medicare will pay 80 percent of the Medicare-eligible charges after you’ve paid your Medicare Part B deductible. Your Medicare supplement plan will then pay 20 percent of the remaining charges not covered by Medicare.

These include costs for:

·        kidney transplants

·        dialysis treatments

·        kidney disease care

·        diabetic equipment

·        some diabetes supplies

·        diabetes self-management

·        education programs

·        chiropractic care

·        breast reconstruction after a mastectomy

·        hospital, ambulatory surgery center, and anesthesia charges for dental care, in certain cases

WPS Medigap plan extra benefits

WPS Medigap plans offer some extra benefits in addition to the standard coverage. Extras offered with these plans can include:

·        7 percent discount on your if you and another member of your household enroll in a WPS Medigap plan

·        2 percent discount when you have your premium deducted automatically from your bank account

·        vision and hearing discount programs

·        Silver&Fit fitness membership

·        discounts on acupuncture, massage therapy, and nutritional counseling through the ChooseHealthy program

·        base plans with unlimited preventive coverage

·        optional dental coverage

·        optional foreign travel emergency coverage

What Medigap plans does WPS offer?

In most states, the types of Medicare supplement plans that companies can offer is standardized.

In three states, however, unique supplement plans are offered, based on the legal requirements of those states. The three states are:

·        Massachusetts

·        Minnesota

·        Wisconsin

WPS has created its own unique Medicare supplement plans. Let’s explore them in the following sections.

Basic plan

The WPS Basic plan allows you to add several different types of riders to customize your coverage. Features of the WPS Basic plan include:

·        an optional rider to pay 50 percent or 100 percent of the Medicare Part A deductible for hospitalization

·        up to $176 per day for days 21 through 100 for skilled nursing care

·        100 percent of the Medicare copayments and coinsurance for hospice care

·        100 percent of the Medicare copayments and coinsurance for the first three pints of blood

·        an optional rider for Medicare Part B excess charges

·        40 paid home healthcare visits, and up to 365 visits with an optional rider

·        an optional foreign travel medical emergency care rider

·        no out-of-pocket limits

·        fitness program

·        discounts on eye exams and eyewear

·        discounts on hearing aids

·        additional preventive care services

·        an optional Medicare Part B deductible rider for participants who were first eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020

25% Cost-Sharing plan

With the 25% Cost-Sharing plan, you only pay a small amount of the costs after Medicare as paid its part. WPS pays the remainder. This plan includes:

·        75 percent of the Medicare Part A deductible for hospitalization

·        up to $132 per day for days 21 through 100 for skilled nursing care

·        75 percent of Medicare copayments and coinsurance for hospice care

·        75 percent of Medicare copayments and coinsurance for the first three pints of blood

·        no coverage for Medicare Part B excess charges

·        40 paid home healthcare visits, and up to 365 visits with an optional rider

·        out-of-pocket limits

·        discounts on eye exams and eyewear

·        discounts on hearing aids

50% Cost-Sharing plan

This plan has a similar structure as the 25% Cost-Sharing plan, except you pay a lower monthly premium and a greater share of your medical expenses. Features of this plan include:

·        50 percent of the Medicare Part A deductible for hospitalization

·        up to $88 per day for days 21 through 100 for skilled nursing care

·        50 percent of the Medicare copayment and coinsurance for hospice care

·        50 percent of the Medicare copayments and coinsurance for the first three pints of blood

·        40 paid home care visits, and up to 365 visits with an optional rider

·        out-of-pocket limits

·        discounts on eye exams and eyewear

·        discounts on hearing aids

Bottom of Form

How much do WPS Medicare supplement plans cost?

Costs for WPS Medicare supplement plans vary based on:

·        your age

·        your location

·        the plan type you choose

Below are a few examples of the monthly premiums you’ll pay in 2021 for a WPS Medigap plan across a few different age groups.

	Age 65	Age 75	Ages 85+
Base plan, area 1	$130.73	$203.51	$264.63
Base plan, area 2	$128.73	$200.41	$260.60
Base plan, area 3	$116.47	$181.32	$235.77
25% Cost-Sharing plan, area 1	$105	$154.17	$188.70
25% Cost-Sharing plan, area 2	$105	$154.17	$188.70
25% Cost-Sharing plan, area 3	$105	$154.17	$188.70
50% Cost-Sharing plan, area 1	$82.70	$121.39	$148.59
50% Cost-Sharing plan, area 2	$82.70	$121.39	$148.59
50% Cost-Sharing plan, area 3	$105	$154.17	$188.70

What is Medigap?

Medigap plans are private insurance prodcuts meant to help you cover your share of healthcare costs.

Although Medicare Part A covers inpatient care, Medicare Part B covers outpatient care, and Medicare Part C offers a private hybrid plan for parts A and B, you’ll still be responsible for a share of your healthcare costs with these plans.

Once you qualify for Medicare coverage, you can add or switch a Medicare supplement plan at any time. However, you’ll usually get the best price if you purchase a Medicare supplement plan when you first become eligible for Medicare.

There are 10 different types of Medicare supplement plans, which are standardized in most parts of the country. Only Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin have exceptions, due to state mandates.

You can compare offerings and premium prices in your area using the Medicare plan finder tool.

The takeaway

·        Medicare supplement plans can help cover your share of Medicare costs.

·        Medicare supplement plans are sold by private insurance companies.

·        WPS offers supplement plans across Wisconsin and in 14 other states.

·        Wisconsin is one of the three states that offers unique Medicare supplement plans.

·        Compare supplement plans with care to ensure you’re comparing similar products and to find the one that best suits your needs.

The information on this website may assist you in making personal decisions about insurance, but it is not intended to provide advice regarding the purchase or use of any insurance or insurance products. Healthline Media does not transact the business of insurance in any manner and is not licensed as an insurance company or producer in any U.S. jurisdiction. Healthline Media does not recommend or endorse any third parties that may transact the business of insurance.

Last medically reviewed on August 31, 2020

https://www.healthline.com/health/medicare/wps-medicare-supplement#whats-medigap