IBM Medicare Via Benefits Medicare Hospital cost data for 2021

 In 2019 I wrote a blog post about the significant difference in cost for a hospital stay coverage for Original Medicare with an "N" Medicare Supplement insurance policy, and a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan with a $0 premium, but an out of pocket maximum cost (MOOP). 

MA plans are significantly more expensive if you need a lengthy hospital stay. It also is expensive if you are unlucky and have several hospital stays 60 days apart. I updated the table comparison for 2021 since that MA MOOP number has significantly increased.  The original post explains more about the table and was written  September 21, 2019: http://ibmmedicare.blogspot.com/2019/  

The table update for 2021. The average premium of an "N" plan is about the same in 2021. The highest premium for an N plan (which is NYC) is about $200/mo:

Phase	Original Medicare +  Medigap N at $150/mo	Sample (actual) 2021 Medicare Advantage plan $0 premium
Hospital Benefit Period (Every 60 days)	$1452 deductible Paid by Medigap N plan	No deductible
Hospital Days copays Every Benefit Period	$0 days 1-60  $363 days 61-90  $726 for 60 lifetime days All copays paid by Medigap N	$400 days 1-5 $0 days 5-90 $? lifetime days (not described in planfinder)
If exceed 150 days in hospital	All Medigaps provide this extra benefit of 365 addition lifetime days with $0 copay	No Medicare Advantage plans have this benefit  Patient pays all hospital costs after 150 days
Maximum hospital stay cost for 2021	$1800 for 2021 (Medigap premium $150 x 12)	$7,550 for 2021 (if within 150 day limit)