Private insurance that covers items not covered by Medicare. For tips on choosing such a policy, see the AARP's series, "Selecting Medicare Supplemental Insurance." [Link: http://www.aarp.org/hcchoices/medicare/supplement/home.html
This is private insurance (often called Medigap) that pays Medicare's deductibles and co-insurances, and may cover services not covered by Medicare. Most Medigap plans will help pay for skilled nursing care, but only when that care is covered by Medicare.