Medicare Supplement Plan A

Medigap Plan A is the most basic Medicare Supplement plan. It covers Part A hospital coinsurance and costs up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits are used up. It also covers Part B coinsurance or copayment, the first three pints of blood used in a medical procedure, and coinsurance for hospice care.

Plan A does not cover the Part A inpatient deductible ($1,676 per benefit period in 2026), the Part B deductible ($257 in 2026), skilled nursing facility coinsurance, or foreign travel emergency care. If you're hospitalized more than once per year, you'd be responsible for the Part A deductible each time.

Plan A makes the most sense for people who want basic protection against catastrophic hospital costs but are comfortable self-insuring against the Part A deductible and other gaps. Because it covers less, Plan A typically carries the lowest premium of any Medigap plan. If you're healthy, rarely hospitalized, and want the lowest monthly cost while still having some coverage beyond Original Medicare, Plan A is worth comparing.

Before choosing Plan A, compare the premium savings against the potential cost of the uncovered gaps. In Utah, Plan A premiums from carriers like Regence BlueCross, Humana, and Mutual of Omaha are typically well below Plan G premiums. Whether the savings outweigh the added exposure depends on your health history and risk tolerance.

One practical note: when shopping Medigap plans, your enrollment timing matters. If you apply during your open enrollment window (the six months starting when you first enroll in Part B), insurers cannot deny coverage or charge you more based on health conditions. Outside that window, you may face medical underwriting depending on your state. Utah follows standard federal rules on this point.