by Russell Noga | Updated November 2nd, 2023
Medicare supplement plans offer seniors additional financial coverage for Original Medicare Part A & B expenses. There are dozens of Medigap providers across the United States, and Sterling is one of the top-rated providers and a subsidiary of Cigna.
Sterling Medicare Supplement Plans at a Glance
- Sterling is a subsidiary of Cigna, offering a niche range of Medigap plans.
- The company serves 39 states, with over 44,000 clients.
- Sterling offers additional health and wellness benefits, depending on your plan.
- The cost of premiums is similar to the rates provided by Cigna.
Who Is Sterling?
Founded in 1958, Sterling Insurance Company launched its business selling health care insurance to Americans. Sterling entered the Medigap market in 1999, with corporate headquarters in Atlanta and regional operations in Bellingham and Nashville.
Sterling caters to 44,000 Medigap clients in 39 states and also offers life insurance policies. In April 2015, Cigna, one of the largest players in the Medicare supplement market, purchased Sterling from WellCare. The Sterling Life Insurance Company underwrites all Sterling Medigap policies.
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What Medicare Supplement Plans Does Sterling Offer?
Sterling has a niche Medigap range offering Plans A, B, D, F, G, & N. The company also offers Medicare SELECT policies.
Plan A – This policy offers basic Medicare Part A benefits. All providers must offer Plan A as part of their Medigap range per CMS regulations. Medigap Plan A doesn’t cover the Medicare Part A deductible but provides coverage for the Medicare Part B coinsurance or copayment.
Plan B – Medigap Plan B is similar to Plan A, but you get coverage for the Medicare Part A deductible.
Plan D – Plan D offers one of the highest levels of coverage. It doesn’t cover the Medicare Part B excess charges and deductibles.
Plan F* – This policy gives you the most comprehensive level of coverage in the Medigap range, including the Medicare Part B deductible.
Plan G – This plan offers near-comprehensive coverage for Medicare Part A & B expenses but doesn’t cover the Part B deductible.
Plan N – This policy is a good choice for seniors who don’t visit the doctor or emergency room much during the year. It has copayment responsibilities when seeing the doctor and emergency room. It also doesn’t cover Medicare Part B excess charges. The low premiums make it attractive.
*Medigap Plan F is no longer available for seniors qualifying for Medicare after January 1, 2020. If you are eligible before this date, you might have guaranteed issue rights allowing you to join Plan F without medical underwriting. Speak to our licensed agents about your situation.
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Sterling Medicare Supplement Plans – Benefits & Coverage
The CMS regulates the Medigap industry, ensuring providers offer standardized benefits in all Medicare supplement plans. So, the benefits you receive with Sterling are the same as what’s available with all Medigap insurers.
All Sterling Medigap plans offer the following benefits for Original Medicare Parts A & B.*
- 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.
Plans F, G, and N offer additional Medicare Parts A & B benefits.
- Part A deductible.
- Part B excess charges (Plan N doesn’t cover these charges).
- Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance.
- 80% of emergency healthcare costs when traveling outside the US for 60 days. ($250 deductible and $50,000 maximum apply).
- Unlimited coverage for all out-of-pocket costs.
What Sterling Medicare Supplement Plans Don't Cover
Sterling Medicare supplement plans don’t offer coverage for medical expenses unrelated to Original Medicare Parts A & B. So, you don’t have coverage for preventative treatments at the physiotherapist, chiropractor, acupuncturist, or podiatrist.
Medigap policies don’t cover the cost of vision, hearing, and dental services or cosmetic procedures. You don’t have prescription coverage, private duty nursing, or stays at unskilled nursing facilities. However, Sterling provides additional benefits to its beneficiaries, depending on their Medigap plan.
Sterling Medicare Supplement Plans – Premiums
Sterling Medicare supplement plans have different price ranges, depending on their coverage. The more benefits in your plan, the higher the monthly premium. Sterling assesses your age, gender, smoking status, and location when setting your premiums.
Prices on Medigap premiums vary, depending on your location in the United States. Some states have higher rates than others due to the increased health risk of living in these regions.
Registering for a Medigap plan during the “Open Enrollment” window in the six months after your 65th birthday gets you the best rates on your plan, even if you have pre-existing conditions.
According to our research on Plans A, G, & N offered by Sterling, a 65-year-old nonsmoking woman can expect the following premiums in Los Angeles and Atlanta.
*The rate charged on your monthly premiums may differ depending on your risk profile.
Sterling Medicare Supplement Plans – Additional Benefits & Discounts
Depending on your plan, Sterling offers Medigap beneficiaries additional benefits, including discounted rates at participating gyms and fitness facilities nationwide. You have access via phone to a registered nurse 24/7 for health advice and a 12-month premium guarantee from the policy effective date.
Cigna’s “Healthy Rewards” program offers qualifying Medigap beneficiaries access to discounted wellness products and services. You get discounted rates on weight management and nutrition services and discounts for acupuncture, physiotherapy, massage, and tobacco cessation programs.
You can save up to 40% on vitamins and other OTC health and wellness products at its in-network providers.
Sterling Medicare Supplement Plans – Third-Party Ratings & Reviews
Sterling has a good reputation for customer service and an A- (Excellent) rating for financial strength from AM Best.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are Sterling Medicare Supplement Plans?
Contact Us for a Free Consultation on Medigap Plans
If you have questions about Medicare Supplement plans, call our team at 1-888-891-0229. We offer professional advice on Medigap policies. Our fully licensed agents offer free consultations to give you all the information you need about Medigap. If you want someone to call you back, leave your details on our contact form, and we’ll get a Medigap expert to reach out to 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.