Is A Medicare Supplement Necessary? 
It 's a personal decision . Many people get a Medigap Plan -LRB- aka Medicare Supplement insurance -RRB- for peace of mind . Medicare Supplement insurance is designed to fill in the `` gaps '' that Medicare does n't cover . So , if you stick with just Original Medicare Part A & B , you leave yourself open to paying the 20 % that Medicare does n't cover . In addition , you are responsible for the Part A and Part B deductible . The Part A -LRB- Hospital insurance -RRB- deductible in 2014 is $ 1216 The Part B -LRB- Medical insurance -RRB- deductible in 2014 is $ 147 I spoke with a Medicare Beneficiary who wanted to add a Medicare Supplement because she had some health issues and the treatment was getting expensive . Unfortunately , she could not get approved for a policy because of her current medical conditions . The point is ... we do n't have a crystal ball to predict our health . If you 're healthy now and it does n't seem necessary to spend the money on a Medigap Plan , then think about the long term effects . As we age , our health changes and you may end up paying a lot more in medical bills . Thank you for reading my reply . Please let me know if I can be of further assistance . 