---
title: "What Is Medigap? Home Care Glossary | HomeCare.com"
description: "Medigap is private insurance that helps pay your share of Original Medicare costs, such as copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles. You generally need..."
url: https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/medigap/
publisher: HomeCare.com
phone: 800-974-3458
start: https://care.homecare.com/?source=homecare.com
---

Paying for care

# Medigap (Medicare supplement insurance)

Medigap is private insurance that helps pay your share of Original Medicare costs, such as copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles. You generally need Part A and Part B to buy a policy. Medigap works with Original Medicare. It does not replace Medicare.

## Why it matters for your family

Medigap can make hospital and doctor bills more predictable. It does not turn Medicare into long-term care insurance. Medicare says it does not pay for long-term care, including custodial care at home, and most other health plans, including Medigap, do not either. A family that buys Medigap expecting it to pay for a daily home caregiver will be disappointed. Medigap is for medical cost-sharing. For help with daily living, families look at private pay, long-term care insurance, veterans benefits, or Medicaid. A State Health Insurance Assistance Program counselor can explain current rules for free.

Source: [medicare.gov](https://www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/medigap)

[Read more: What Medicare Doesn't Cover](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/home-care-resources/what-medicare-doesnt-cover/)

## Related terms

-   [**Medicare Part A**Medicare Part A is hospital insurance.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/medicare-part-a/)
-   [**Medicare Part B**Medicare Part B is medical insurance.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/medicare-part-b/)
-   [**Medicare Advantage (Part C)**Medicare Advantage, also called Part C, is a Medicare-approved health plan sold by a private company.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/medicare-advantage/)
-   [**Long-term care insurance**Long-term care insurance is a private policy that pays for help with daily living when a person can no longer manage alone.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/long-term-care-insurance/)
-   [**Medicare coverage of custodial care**Custodial care is non-skilled personal care, such as help with bathing, dressing, eating, and using the bathroom.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/medicare-coverage-of-custodial-care/)
-   [**State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)**A State Health Insurance Assistance Program is a free, state-run counseling service for people with Medicare and their families.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/state-health-insurance-assistance-program/)

[All glossary terms](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/)

## Talk to a care advisor today.

Free consultation. No minimums, no contracts.

[800-974-3458](tel:+18009743458)

[Call a care advisor](tel:+18009743458)[Find a caregiver online](https://care.homecare.com/?source=homecare.com)

![A caregiver bringing a meal to an older man at home](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/_astro/caregiver.CIGFcZAB_PlrDw.webp)