by Russell Noga | Updated July 10th, 2023
When you turn 65, you’re eligible for Medicare. This federally-funded healthcare initiative helps seniors cope with their healthcare costs during retirement.
Original Medicare Part A (hospital) and Part B (medical) only cover 80% of healthcare expenses associated with your treatments, leaving you to pay the 20% balance.
Medicare supplement plans, known as “Medigap,” is available from private healthcare insurers.
These policies assist with partially or fully paying the remaining out-of-pocket costs associated with Original Medicare Parts A & B.
The plans bring more consistency and predictability to your annual healthcare costs. They reduce the chances of receiving a hospital or medical bill that ruins your financial planning in your golden years.
What Is Medicare Supplement Plan E?
Medicare supplement Plan E is part of the range of Medigap policies phased out in 2010. It’s no longer available for purchase, even if you qualified for Medicare before the cut-off date.
Medigap Plan E had one of the most comprehensive offerings, making it popular with healthy seniors looking for good emergency coverage.
What Did Medicare Supplement Plan E Cover?
All Medigap providers (healthcare insurers offering these plans) must comply with guidelines on the scale of benefits set by the CMS, a federal agency.
The CMS ensures that every Medigap provider standardizes the benefits of each Medigap plan, bringing consistency to the industry.
In other words, the benefits you receive from one provider in a Plan E policy are the same as all the others. What Made Plan E popular with seniors was its preventative care benefits.
However, Medigap plans no longer offer this coverage.
Medigap Plan E had the following benefits for policyholders when it was available.
- Part A coinsurance and hospital costs for up to 365 days after using up Medicare benefits.
- Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment.
- Part B coinsurance or copayment.
- Blood transfusion costs for the first three pints of blood.
- Part A deductible.
- Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance.
- Preventive care benefits.
- 80% of emergency healthcare costs when traveling outside the US for 60 days. ($250 deductible and $50,000 maximum apply).
What Wasn’t Covered by Medicare Supplement Plan E?
While Plan E had excellent coverage of Part A & B benefits and was the only plan offering benefits for preventative care services, it didn’t cover the following.
- Part B deductible
- Part B excess charges
Medigap Plan E didn’t offer any coverage for private-duty nursing or stays at unskilled nursing homes. You also didn’t receive coverage for prescriptions.
What are the Average Monthly Premiums for Medicare Supplement Plan E?
Since Medigap Plan E is no longer available, there is no data on current pricing for this plan.
However, when it was available, a Plan E policy had monthly premiums ranging from $110-$120 per month.
Is Medicare Supplement Plan E Available in Massachusetts, Minnesota, or Wisconsin?
Since Plan E is no longer available from Medigap providers, it’s unavailable in Minnesota, Massachusetts, or Wisconsin.
However, when Plan E was a Medigap product, it wasn’t available in these states due to the way they standardize plans differently due to federal waivers.
These states offer Basic plans, Basic with Riders, Extended Basic, and Medigap plans F, K, L, M, and N.
How Do You Enroll in Medicare Supplement Plan E?
You can no longer enroll in Medicare supplement Plan E; it’s unavailable.
The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act was enacted in 2008. This Medicare legislation made several improvements to Medicare and Medigap offerings.
The new law eliminated Medigap plans E, H, I, and J. As of June 1, 2010, no seniors eligible for Medicare and Medigap could apply for a Plan E policy.
However, these beneficiaries enrolled in Plan E before the January 1, 20210, discontinuation date could retain their plan and its benefits.
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What are the Best Alternatives to Medicare Supplement Plan E?
There are several alternatives to Plan E in the modern Medigap offering. Plan F is a good choice offering “first dollar coverage” to the beneficiary.
First-dollar coverage implies that you have no additional healthcare expenses after paying your monthly premiums.
However, Plan F is also unavailable for newly eligible members due to the MACRA Act passed in 2015. As a result, all seniors eligible for Medicare after January 1, 2020, cannot choose Medigap Plan F for their supplemental policy. This also includes the “high-deductible” Plan F policy.
Like Plan E, those enrolled in Plan F before the January 2020 cut-off date are still eligible for Plan F, and all beneficiaries currently enrolled in Plan F maintain their policy and its benefits.
Due to the near-comprehensive benefits offered in Plan E, the next best choice for newly eligible seniors is Plan G. Plan G offers all the same benefits as Plan E, except the preventative care coverage.
However, Plan G does include coverage for Part B excess charges. Excess charges are the fees charged by practitioners over the standard Medicare rates.
Providers in the Medicare network can charge up to 15% above the “Medicare Assignment” rate. This additional 15% fee is an “excess charge.”
Plan G covers these charges, giving the policyholder near-comprehensive coverage with their policy. The only thing Plan G doesn’t cover is the Part B deductible.
Plan G, like Plan F, is available in a “high-deductible” version. The High-Deductible Plan G offers beneficiaries all the same benefits as the standard version.
However, the Part A deductible increases from $1,600 to $2,700. In return for accepting a higher deductible, you receive a 75% to 80% savings on your monthly premiums.
High-deductible Plan G is a good choice for healthy seniors who rarely visit the doctor or emergency room. You get lower monthly premiums but maintain all the benefits of standard Plan G in a medical emergency.
Call Us to Learn More About Medicare Supplement Plan E
Reach out to our team of fully licensed Medigap agents at 1-888-891-0229. We offer a free consultation on Medicare supplement Plan E and all Medigap policies.
We’ll quote you the most affordable monthly premiums for any Medigap plan.
Or leave your contact details on our form on this site, and we’ll get a Medigap agent to call you back. We also have a free tool on this site to get an automated quote on any Medigap plan.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What was Medicare Supplement Plan E?
Medicare Supplement Plan E was a previous offering that provided additional coverage to fill the gaps in Original Medicare. However, it is no longer available for new enrollees.
What did Medicare Supplement Plan E cover?
Medicare Supplement Plan E typically covered a wide range of benefits, including deductibles, coinsurance, copayments, and other out-of-pocket costs associated with Medicare Part A and Part B.
Did Medicare Supplement Plan E include prescription drug coverage?
No, Medicare Supplement Plan E did not include coverage for prescription drugs. Beneficiaries needed to enroll in a separate Medicare Part D plan for prescription medication coverage.
How did Medicare Supplement Plan E differ from other plans?
Medicare Supplement Plan E may have offered different coverage compared to other plans, but since it is no longer available, it’s important to explore the current standardized plans to find the most suitable option.
Can current beneficiaries switch to Medicare Supplement Plan E?
No, current beneficiaries cannot switch to Medicare Supplement Plan E as it is no longer available. However, they can explore other available Medicare Supplement plans that align with their coverage needs.
Why was Medicare Supplement Plan E discontinued?
The discontinuation of Medicare Supplement Plan E may have been a decision made by insurance providers or regulatory changes within the Medicare system. Specific reasons for its discontinuation may vary.
What should individuals do if they were enrolled in Medicare Supplement Plan E?
Individuals who were enrolled in Medicare Supplement Plan E can continue to receive the benefits provided by their plan. However, it’s essential to stay informed about any changes or updates related to the plan through their insurance provider.
Are there any alternatives to Medicare Supplement Plan E?
Yes, individuals seeking similar coverage to Medicare Supplement Plan E can explore other available Medicare Supplement plans, such as Medicare Plan G and Medicare Plan N which provide substantial coverage for relatively low premiums.
Can existing beneficiaries switch to one of the current Medicare Supplement plans?
Existing beneficiaries of Medicare Supplement Plan E can generally switch to another available Medicare Supplement plan during certain enrollment periods. However, it’s recommended to consult with insurance providers to determine eligibility and coverage options.
How can individuals find the most suitable Medicare Supplement plan for their needs?
To find the most suitable Medicare Supplement plan, individuals should assess their healthcare needs, compare the benefits and costs of available plans, and consult with insurance providers or licensed agents who can provide personalized guidance.
Find the Right Medicare Plan for You
Discovering the best Medicare plan doesn’t have to be confusing. Whether it’s a Medigap plan or you have questions about Medicare Advantage or Medicare Part D, we can help.
Call us today at 1-888-891-0229 and one of our knowledgeable, licensed insurance agents will be happy to assist you!
Russell Noga is the CEO and Medicare editor of Medisupps.com. His 15 years of experience in the Medicare insurance market includes being a licensed Medicare insurance broker in all 50 states. He is frequently featured as a featured as a keynote Medicare event speaker, has authored hundreds of Medicare content pages, and hosts the very popular Medisupps.com Medicare Youtube channel. His expertise includes Medicare, Medigap insurance, Medicare Advantage plans, and Medicare Part D.