Which statement about Medicare Supplement policy benefits is true?

• A. They must duplicate Medicare benefits
• B. They must be identical to Medicare benefits
• C. They must duplicate Medicare benefits but may be excess
• D. They must not duplicate Medicare benefits

Answer: (D)

Medicare Supplement policies are designed to fill the gaps in Medicare coverage, acting as secondary coverage. They must not duplicate the benefits that Medicare already provides. In practice, these plans come into play after Medicare has paid its share, helping cover remaining cost-sharing amounts like deductibles, coinsurance, and copays, or sometimes costs not paid by Medicare at all, depending on the plan. This gap-filling purpose is what makes the statement true. The other ideas imply mirroring Medicare benefits or providing overlapping coverage, which Medigap policies are not intended to do.