GTL offers Medigap plans that help supplement your original Medicare costs. If you have Medicare Parts A and B, then you know they only pay 80% of your medical expenses. What happens if you incur major medical costs? You need supplemental insurance to help defray these expenses. GTL offers four Medicare Supplement Insurance plans that help fill these gaps.
As well as Medigap plans, GTL offers other health insurance products such as:
- Hospital indemnity
- Precision care cancer insurance
- Guaranteed Issue Accident Insurance (iGAP)
- Group accident
- Short term care
- Senior dental
GTL products are sold by independent insurance agents across the country.
- Coverage available immediately
- Choose any doctor that takes Medicare
- Guaranteed renewable
- Competitive rates
- Popular Medigap plans
- No Live chat
- No mobile app
- Short hours
Guarantee Trust Life Medicare Ratings at a Glance
Founded in 1936, Guarantee Trust Life (GTL) offers a wide array of products like group and special risk insurance, as well as Medicare Supplement Insurance products like Medigap Plans A, F, G and N. GTL is headquartered in Glenview, Illinois, and carries an A.M. Best financial rating of A- or Excellent. GTL currently offers Medicare supplement insurance in 49 states plus D.C. and has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
Medigap Plan A
Medigap Plan A is one of the most basic of all the plans. It’s also one of the most affordable. Medigap Plan A covers specific out-of-pocket expenses incurred by both Medicare Parts A and B. Because it is both inexpensive and basic, Plan A is best for people who don’t plan on using their Medicare coverage much.
What Medigap Plan A Covers
- Coinsurance and hospital expenses for Medicare Part A (365 days after Medicare benefits expire)
- Coinsurance or copay expenses for Medicare Part B
- Copays or coinsurance for Part A hospice care
- First 3 pints of blood (for transfusion)
Medigap Plan A covers these at 100%.
What’s not Covered
While coinsurance and copays are covered under Plan A, deductibles are not. Medicare recipients are still responsible for paying their Medicare Part A and B deductibles. Part B excess charges and foreign travel emergency costs, as well as skilled nursing facility coinsurance, are not covered. Additional non-coverage includes:
- Part B deductibles
- Dental care
- Vision
- Hearing
- Prescription drugs
Medigap Plan N
Plan N is a basic plan with low monthly premiums and thus fewer benefits. Plan N typically has some of the lowest monthly premiums of all the Medigap plans. In fact, Plan N is virtually the same plan as Plan A with one distinction — it adds to it a $20 copay for doctor visits. Emergency room visits that do not result in hospitalization cost just $50, and most Plan N policies do not require payment to urgent care centers. The plan also covers the first 60 days when traveling outside the U.S.
What Medigap Plan N Covers
- Part A coinsurance and hospital care (365 days after Medicare benefits expire)
- Part B coinsurance for medical care
- Coinsurance for Part A hospice care
- Part A deductible
- Coinsurance for skilled nursing at home
- Three pints of blood
- First 60 days when traveling outside the U.S.
What’s not Covered
Under Plan N, Medicare Part B deductibles are not covered. Neither are excess charges for Part B. Non-coverage includes:
- Part B deductibles
- Dental care
- Vision
- Hearing
- Prescription drugs
Medigap Plan G
Medigap Plan G is one of the most comprehensive and most popular of all the Medigap plans. Because it is so comprehensive, it’s also one of the more expensive plans. Plan G is for people who expect to be using their Medicare coverage more frequently.
What Medigap Plan G Covers
- Part A coinsurance and hospital care (365 days after Medicare benefits expire)
- Part A deductible
- Copay or coinsurance for Part A
- Part B coinsurance or copay
- Part B excess expenses
- Blood transfusion (3 pints)
- Coinsurance for skilled nursing facility
- Emergency care when traveling abroad
Some states offer a high-deductible and are looking to save on their monthly premiums.
What’s not Covered
While Plan G is comprehensive, it still does not cover other healthcare items such as prescription medication, long-term care, dental and vision. Non-coverage includes:
- Part B deductibles
- Dental care
- Vision
- Hearing
- Prescription drugs
Medigap Plan F
Plan F is the exact same as Plan G, except for one big difference — it pays for the Medicare Part B deductible. If you’re looking for a plan that covers ALL deductibles, Plan F is for you.
What Medigap Plan F covers
- Part A deductible
- Medicare Part A coinsurance payments (365 days after Medicare benefits run out)
- Coinsurance or copay for Part A
- Part B deductible
- Part B excess expenses
- Part B coinsurance or copay
- 3 pints of blood
- Emergency care when traveling abroad
- Coinsurance for skilled nursing facility
What’s not Covered
While Plan F is the most comprehensive of all the Medigap plans, it still does not cover additional healthcare items such as prescription medication, long-term care, dental and vision. Non-coverage includes:
- Dental care
- Vision
- Hearing
- Prescription drugs
Medigap plans for newcomers to Medicare no longer cover the Part B deductible. Part F plans are no longer available to recipients who enrolled in Medicare on or after Jan. 1, 2020. People who were eligible on or before that date, however, and had not yet enrolled, can still sign up for Plan F. Plan F is the only coverage that pays the Medicare Part B deductible.
Other GTL health products
As well as Medigap plans, GTL offers other health insurance products such as:
- Hospital indemnity
- Precision care cancer insurance
- Guaranteed Issue Accident Insurance (iGAP)
- Group accident
- Short-term care
- Senior dental
You wouldn’t call GTL one of the most innovative companies when it comes to all the typical customer service website bells and whistles, but it does have a toll-free number and a contact form. Customer service hours are sparse, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Thursday and just 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Friday. The company is closed on weekends.
As far as new customers are concerned, this does not pose much of a problem as quotes are available through independent agents. For already existing customers, claims are made easy. Claims forms are available on the GTL website and can be downloaded and submitted there.
Pricing for Medigap policies really depends on your own personal details, like your age, lifestyle, prior health status and where you live. It also depends on when you purchase your Medigap policy. Prices are typically lower during your open enrollment period. If you wait until after the open enrollment period ends, you may pay higher monthly premiums. GTL pricing seems to be consistent with other companies its size. GTL pricing is rated as competitive.
User benefits to the GTL website include sections like:
- FAQ
- Learn More About Us
- Products by State
- Become an Agent
- Policy Login
Choosing the right type of claim forms is made easy on its File a Claim page. There you can choose the exact claim form you need:
- Heart attack claim form
- Cancer claim form
- Stroke claim form
- Short-term healthcare claim form
- Critical care claim form
The website is easy to navigate and informative. No live chat just means you’ll have to contact the company the old-fashioned way.
The user experience on the website is as easy as it is informative. The website is simple to navigate and full of useful information. Because all policies must be purchased through an independent agent, direct quotes are not available. Still, with the availability of the company’s Provider Portal and File a Claim services, users on the website find the experience typically straightforward.
Guarantee Trust Life Medicare vs. Competitors
GTL sells the same popular Medigap products as the competition, and at very competitive prices. When compared to Lumico Medigap, GTL sells the same products and at nearly the same rates in the same locations. GTL’s advantage over a company like Lumico is that it operates in seven more states and has been around longer. Both companies get a rating of “Excellent” from A.M. Best, while GTL scores higher with the BBB.
- Best For:Wide network of doctors, hospitals and specialists across the U.S.VIEW PROS & CONS:securely through Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Supplement's website
Overall, GTL rates 3.5 stars. What it lacks in flash, it gains in credibility. Having been in business for over 80 years, it’s no surprise it has such a strong reputation and financial rating.
Guarantee Trust Life Medicare Video
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medicare supplement insurance worth it?
Is Medicare supplement insurance worth it? If you have Medicare and you’re worried about gaps in coverage, Medicare supplement insurance is a great way to fill in the holes. Medicare Parts A and B only pay just 80% of your coverage and charge deductibles and coinsurance. Medicare supplement insurance often covers these and more. For an additional monthly premium, Medicare supplement insurance takes the surprise out of your Medicare bills.
Do all seniors need a Medicare Advantage plan?
If you’re a senior and you’re on Medicare, a Medicare Advantage plan may not be mandatory, but it’s a good idea. Medicare Advantage plans bundle all your Medicare coverages (Plans A, B and D), plus help pay your deductibles, copays and coinsurance. Medicare Advantage plans often pay for added services that Original Medicare does not, like dental, vision and hearing. Most Medicare Advantage plans require you to use doctors and services within their network.
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About Philip Loyd, Licensed Insurance Agent
Loyd has written for Forbes.com, Red News Real Estate, Therapist.com, IRA.com, McGraw Hill, TheStreet.com, WikiHow, GOBankingRates.com, S.R. Education, Society of Petroleum Engineers and BioTech Fortunes. He is a licensed insurance agent and financial advisor with both his series 6 and 7 certifications.