What dose 100 % of excess mean under plan J

The most popular Medicare supplement plans are called Plan C, Plan F, and Plan J (by Medicare). All plans must include coverage for "basic benefits". Basic benefits are:  

• Hospitalization - Part A coinsurance plus coverage for 365 additional days after Medicare benefits end.
• Medical Expenses - Part B coinsurance (20 percent of Medicare approved expenses).
• Blood - First three pints of blood each year.

Plan A provides basic benefits coverage only. It includes no coverage for any other services. It is designed for those who feel financially able to handle both Part A and Part B deductibles plus virtually all other hospital and medical expenses above what Medicare pays.

Plans B through J add coverage for the Part A hospital deductible.

Plans C through J include coverage for skilled nursing coinsurance (up to the daily coinsurance amount for days 21 through 100 of care) and a $50,000 lifetime maximum benefit for medically necessary emergency care when traveling outside of the United States.

The Part B deductible for medical expenses is covered under Plans C, F and J.

Coverage for Part B excess charges (the difference between the Medicare-approved amount and the provider's actual charges) is included in Plans F, G, I, and J. Plan G pays 80 percent of excess charges. Plans F, I and J pay 100 percent of excess charges. This is what they mean when they refer to "100% of excess under Plan J", i.e., Plan J pays for all excess charges that Part B doesn't cover -- generally the excess being the difference between what the provider charges -- say, $100 -- and what Part B covers -- say, $70. In this case, Part J would pay the rest -- the "excess" -- i.e., the $30 that the provider charged that Part B didn't cover. Plan J is one of several available supplemental insurance packages that help cover what the base Medicare Plan B does not.

Extra (but related) info:

At-home recovery services (short-term, at-home assistance with daily living activities such as bathing, dressing, personal hygiene, etc.) are part of Plans D, G, I and J -- up to $1,600 per year.

Coverage for preventive care services is included in Plan J (and Plan E). Through Plan J, preventive care services, such as physicals, cholesterol screenings, hearing tests, and diabetes screenings are paid up to $120 per year. 

Hope this helps!

BillF

Excess charges can be as much as 15 percent above the 20 percent medicare does not pay in part B. If your doctor takes assignment he will only charge you the 20 percent, and almost all doctors will only do the 20 percent. I would advise you to go with the plan F. Plan J looks better on paper, but, in reality, it is almost impossible to use that in home care stuff that plan J shows. Plan F does the same nursing care for 100 days any way. Only about 4% of folks are on skilled care, and, for a very short time. Most folks are on intermediate or custodial care.  If you want real nursing care one has to buy a seperate long term care policy.

When a Medicare provider (doctor, lab, etc.) signs a contract to provide services for Medicare, they can become either preferred or not.  The preferred provider accepts "Medicare Assignemnt", meaning, they will accept the price Medicare allows.  Say, if the bill is $100, Medicare will pay typically 80% (after the deductible) or $80.  The doctor will wait, and Medicare will pay the $80, and he will charge you the $20, or wait for your Medicare Supplement to pay.  Some primary care doctors, and many specialists do not take assignment.  Therefore, the can charge more, known as the "excess charge".  Law permits them to charge no more than 15% above the "assignment rate."  This is the excess charge paid at 100% by plans F, I and J.  Plan G would pay 80% of this amount.