Having a supplemental health insurance plan is important for individuals who receive their health coverage through Medicare — in many cases, the supplemental health care policy is just as important as the primary Medicare policy!

Here are just a few reasons why more people are starting to purchase Medicare supplement insurance plans after purchasing Medicare:

First off, it’s important to note that Medicare doesn’t cover every medical need that many aging Americans face. Medicare plans typically only cover the basic costs of medical care, while the supplemental plans provide extra coverage for more specific needs.

These supplemental insurance plans are often called “Medigap” policies because they provide coverage for the “gap” of medical expenses that Medicare policies don’t cover. Medicare supplemental insurance can provide health care coverage for anyone traveling internationally whereas Medicare policies do not allow for medical coverage outside of the U.S. These supplemental health insurance plans also provide extra coverage for things like nursing home care, certain expenses during a surgical procedure, and also coverage for monthly premiums.

There are 10 different Medicare supplemental health insurance plans and they all provide slightly different coverage; from providing plenty of coverage and filling in all of the “gaps,” to just paying for the basic premiums, it’s possible for policyholders to choose the plan that best fits their needs. These supplemental plans don’t provide total coverage; supplemental plans are no longer allowed to provide prescription drug coverage, for example, and they typically don’t cover expenses like eyeglasses or hearing aids. Nevertheless, these policies can be incredibly beneficial for anyone on a Medicare policy because they provide just enough coverage to make Medicare very effective and affordable.