Final answer:
To be eligible for a Medicare Supplement policy, an individual must be enrolled in both Medicare Part A and Part B, which cover hospital charges and non-hospital medical expenses, respectively.
Step-by-step explanation:
In order for a member to be eligible for a Medicare Supplement policy, also known as Medigap, they must be enrolled in both Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B. Medicare Part A covers hospital charges and is funded by payroll deductions, while Medicare Part B is an optional insurance that covers non-hospital medical expenses.
Beneficiaries of Medicare Part B pay a monthly fee, deductible charges, and copayments, with the government covering about three-quarters of the costs. Medicare's existence since 1965 has provided health insurance to those 65 and older and certain younger people with disabilities.
As medical costs continue to rise, Medicare Supplement policies help cover expenses that Medicare does not fully cover, making this additional insurance critical for many beneficiaries facing copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles.