Plan E is a Medicare supplement (Medigap) plan that has not been available to new Medicare subscribers since 2009.

You may not purchase Plan E unless you had it before January 1, 2010. However, if you have it, you can keep it. Since so few people have Plan E, it may be more expensive than other similar Medigap plans.

Medicare is a government health insurance option for individuals 65 and older and those with certain chronic conditions. It is made up of different “parts” – A, B, C, or D—and can be supplemented with different “plans” that offer additional coverage.

Medigap Plan E, or Medicare Supplement Plan E, is an Original Medicare (parts A and B) add-on that helps cover some Medicare costs. As of 2010, Medicare Plan E was no longer offered to new beneficiaries, but those who were previously enrolled can still keep their plan.

Glossary of common Medicare terms

  • Out-of-pocket cost: This is the amount you pay for care when Medicare doesn’t pay the full cost or offer coverage. It includes premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments.
  • Premium: This is the monthly amount you pay for Medicare coverage.
  • Deductible: This is the annual amount you must spend out of pocket before Medicare begins to cover services and treatments.
  • Coinsurance: This is the percentage of treatment costs you’re responsible for paying out of pocket. With Medicare Part B, you typically pay 20%.
  • Copayment: This is a fixed dollar amount you pay when receiving certain treatments or services. With Medicare, this often applies to prescription medications.

There are 10 Medigap plans that are currently offered in the marketplace: A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N.

Medicare Supplement Plan E is a previously offered Medigap plan that covered some Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B costs, plus blood transfusions, preventive services, and care needed during international travel.

The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act was enacted in 2003. This legislation made some significant changes to Original Medicare and Medigap plan offerings.

Through this legislation, Medicare + Choice, the Medicare managed care program, became what we now know as Medicare Advantage (Part C).

Medicare Part D, the prescription drug benefit program, became available through private plans for all beneficiaries.

The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act was enacted in 2008. This legislation made multiple improvements to Medicare, including some that greatly impacted Medigap offerings. Due to the Medicare changes, Medigap plans E, H, I, and J were all eliminated.

As of June 1, 2010, no new Medicare enrollees were eligible to enroll in Medigap Plan E. However, anyone enrolled in Medigap Plan E before it was discontinued in 2010 may be eligible to keep their plan and plan benefits.

If you became eligible for Medicare after June 2010, there are a few current options that are similar to Plan J. Because Plan J was a very comprehensive plan, the two most similar plans offered today include Plan D and Plan G.

»Learn more: Medigap

Medigap Plan E covered the following Medicare costs:

Medigap Plan E did not cover these Medicare costs:

Since all Medigap plans are standardized, any insurance company with beneficiaries enrolled in Medigap Plan E must continue offering the original plan coverage.

After almost a decade of Medicare reforms, Medigap Plan E was discontinued after it became redundant.

This means that if you are still enrolled in this Medicare Supplement plan, you may get better coverage if you switch to a current Medigap plan instead. Similar plans offered today include Plan D and Plan G.

You can find Medigap plans available in your area using the Medicare online search tool.

If you are looking for another way to add coverage, you can consider a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan.

Medicare Advantage

A Medicare Advantage plan is another option if you’d prefer to switch from Original Medicare (parts A and B) altogether. Medicare Advantage plans offer the same coverage as Original Medicare. Many also include prescription drug, dental, vision, and hearing coverage.

If you want to compare more of the current Medigap and Medicare Advantage offerings, Medicare’s Find a Plan toolcan help.

Medicare Supplement Plan E is a former Medigap plan that was taken off the market in 2010.

Medigap Plan E helped cover your basic Medicare expenses, including some Part A and Part B costs, blood transfusions, and international travel medical costs.

Medigap Plan E is no longer available to new Medicare beneficiaries, but if you already have the plan, you can continue using the benefits.