Medicare Supplements are just that, a supplemental insurance for people who are enrolled in Medicare. Medicare itself is comprised of two parts, A&B. Part A of Medicare covers Hospital charges including the hospital entrance fee and subsequent daily charges when they apply. Those charges are burdensome at time of illness but with the appropriate Medicare supplement most, if not all, charges will be paid. Part B of Medicare is designed to pay outpatient physician charges not paid by Medicare. Medicare pays 80% of their allowed charges. Supplements vary in how they cover the remaining charges.

Some while ago the Federal Government, moving to eliminate abuses in the sales of Medicare Supplements, designed what they call "Plans A thru J." Each letter designates a Medicare Supplement with certain benefits and all companies who sell Supplements must design their products to comply with those letters so that all Plan Cs, for instance, will have the same benefits as all other Plan Cs. This makes comparison of policies easily understandable to shoppers.

Plans and insurance companies do differ in other ways. Consulting with a knowledgeable insurance agent is advisable.