What Does Medicare Supplement Plan K Cover?

Unsure how much you’ll actually pay when you see a doctor or go to the hospital with Original Medicare? You’re not alone. But it doesn’t have to be confusing, because Medicare Supplement Plan K can help.

Medicare Supplement Plan K can help by covering some of the costs that Original Medicare doesn’t pay for. While Original Medicare covers many services, it still leaves you responsible for certain deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments.

In this article, you’ll learn:

• What Medicare Supplement Plan K covers
• How it works with Original Medicare
• What to consider if you’re thinking about this type of plan

About Medicare Supplement Plans

Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans are designed to work alongside Original Medicare.¹ These plans are standardized by the federal government, meaning each plan with the same letter offers the same basic benefits no matter which insurance company sells it.

All Medicare Supplement Plan K policies include identical core coverage, but premiums and any added features can vary depending on the carrier.

●     Tip: It’s a good idea to compare costs and benefits carefully before choosing a policy.

There are 10 Medigap plan types, although not every plan is available in every state.² This article focuses on Medicare Supplement Plan K and what it helps cover.

What Medicare Supplement Plan K Covers

Medicare Supplement Plan K helps pay for several out-of-pocket costs that aren’t fully covered by Original Medicare. Here’s a closer look at what it helps cover:*
●     Medicare Part A coinsurance

●     50% of the Medicare Part A deductible

●     Medicare Part A hospital costs for up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits are used up

●     50% of Medicare Part B coinsurance or copayments

●     50% of the first three pints of blood for a medical procedure

●     50% of hospice care coinsurance or copayments

●     50% of skilled nursing facility care coinsurance

●     80% of foreign travel emergency medical care

*If you live in Massachusetts, Minnesota, or Wisconsin, your plan benefits may differ.

How Medicare Supplement Plan K Works with Original Medicare

To understand how Plan K fits into your coverage, it helps to look at how it works with the services Medicare already covers. Here are a few examples:

Doctor’s visit

• If you see your doctor for a covered Part B visit, Plan K pays 50% of the Part B coinsurance and you pay the remaining 50% until you reach the yearly out-of-pocket limit.

Skilled nursing facility care

• If you need skilled nursing facility care after a hospital stay, Medicare covers part of the cost for a set number of days.
• Plan K pays 50% of the skilled nursing facility coinsurance, and you pay the other 50% until you reach the annual limit.

Yearly deductible & out-of-pocket limit

• Once you meet the [2025] out-of-pocket yearly limit of $7,220 and the Medicare Part B deductible ($257 in [2025]), Plan K covers 100% of covered services for the rest of the year.^2,3

Is Medicare Supplement Plan K right for you?

If you want a lower monthly premium and don’t mind paying a portion of your healthcare costs until you reach the plan’s yearly out-of-pocket limit, Medicare Supplement Plan K may work for you.

It offers partial coverage for several key benefits and can help provide a safety net once that yearly limit is met.

Why some people choose Plan K

Plan K is built around a simple idea:

• You pay for a portion of your costs up front.
• In return, you may have a lower monthly premium compared to plans with fuller coverage.

It’s a middle-ground option that offers partial coverage throughout the year but provides complete coverage of certain services once the out-of-pocket limit is reached.

How to get Medicare Supplement Plan K

Medicare Supplement Plan K is sold by private insurance companies, so availability and pricing can vary by location and carrier. Want help choosing a Medicare Supplement Plan?

Give us a call at (800) 827-9990 to speak with a licensed health insurance agent or find a licensed health insurance agent in your area. We can help you compare plans and find an option that fits your needs.