ty for 60 consecutive days. If you fall later in the year, get pneumonia, or anything that necessitates hospitalization, you may be into another benefit period, which will trigger another deductible. Medicare Supplement Insurance Options Work In Various WaysYou basically have two choices to add to your Medicare coverage. You can replace the government-funded coverage with one the Medicare Advantage Plans offered by private insurance companies. You'll get all the coverage available through Medicare and, usually, some extra bonuses, like help with hearing aids and eyeglasses.Unlike Medicare, Medicare Advantage Plans operate under individual company rules within Medicare's guidelines. The prescriptions covered by these private plans will be different. The network of providers will probably be more limited, too.If there are no Medicare Advantage Plans available where you live, you will probably have access to at least some of the Medicare Supplement Plans that are also offered through private insurers.Known as Medigap Plans, these supplements do not replace Medicare in the manner than Advantage plans do. Medigap Insurance works with Medicare to pay for services that Medicare doesn't cover. For example, Medicare's coverage for doctor visits is limited to 80 percent of a standard amount per specific service after you've met what's known as the Part B deductible. That's $162 for 2011 and it is an annual deductible, unlike the Part A one. After you meet that deductible, if your doctor accepts Medicare payments, you'll still owe for 20 percent of each bill. If your doctor charges in excess of Medicare's payment, you'll owe for 20 percent of Medicare's pre-determined rate for that service plus anything above Medicare's pre-determined amount that your doctor charges.Medigap Plans can cover all of your out-of-pocket costs under Medicare depending on which form of Medigap Insurance you choose. While Medicare Advantage Plans operate under separate rules, Medigap Plans are run under only 10 sets of coverage. These plans are labeled Plan A, Plan B, etc., to specify what benefits are included. Once you decide which benefits you want, you're well on your way to finding the plan you want.Medigap Insurance Pricing Various Tremend