Freedom to choose providers
See any physician, specialist, or hospital that accepts Medicare patients. Medicare Supplement plans generally provide broad access to healthcare providers nationwide, without provider networks.
- Works Alongside Original Medicare
- Any Provider Nationwide That Accepts Medicare
- No Network Restrictions
- Compare Plans G, N and More
The basics
Everything you need to know about Medicare Supplement Insurance
Medicare Supplement Insurance, also known as Medigap, is private insurance designed to help pay some of the healthcare costs that Original Medicare does not fully cover.
While Medicare Part A and Part B provide valuable coverage for millions of Americans, beneficiaries are still responsible for deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, and other out-of-pocket healthcare expenses. A Medicare Supplement plan works alongside Original Medicare to help reduce these costs and provide greater financial predictability.
Unlike Medicare Advantage plans, Medicare Supplement plans do not replace Original Medicare. Instead, they work together with Medicare Parts A and B to help pay eligible healthcare expenses.
Common reasons people choose it
No referrals required
Many beneficiaries appreciate not needing referrals before seeing specialists, especially people who see multiple doctors, manage chronic conditions, or prefer more control over their healthcare decisions.
Nationwide coverage
For retirees who travel or spend part of the year in different states, coverage follows them wherever Medicare is accepted, which is why these plans are popular with snowbirds, RV owners and travelers.
Predictable healthcare costs
Many beneficiaries prefer paying a monthly premium in exchange for reducing the risk of large unexpected healthcare expenses left behind by Original Medicare.
Standardized benefits
Benefits of a specific plan letter are generally the same regardless of which insurance company offers it: a Plan G from one carrier provides the same basic benefits as a Plan G from another.
So the carrier still matters
Carriers differ in:
- Monthly premiums
- Customer service
- Financial strength
- Household discounts
- Rate stability and long-term pricing history
Eligibility
Who qualifies for Medicare Supplement Insurance?
Generally, you may be eligible if
- You are enrolled in Medicare Part A
- You are enrolled in Medicare Part B
- You live in the state where the policy is offered
- You are not enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan
Why Parts A and B matter
Medicare Supplement plans help pay certain costs that remain after Medicare pays its share, so enrollment in both Part A and Part B is typically required. If you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, you generally cannot use a Medicare Supplement plan at the same time.
Who typically buys it
- People who visit doctors regularly
- People who want broad provider access
- Frequent travelers
- People who prefer predictable costs
- People who value provider choice over network restrictions
Can you get Medicare Supplement before age 65?
Certain individuals qualify for Medicare before age 65 because of disability or qualifying medical conditions:
- Social Security Disability Insurance: generally eligible for Medicare after receiving disability benefits for 24 months.
- End-Stage Renal Disease: permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or transplantation may qualify.
- ALS: may qualify for Medicare sooner than traditional disability waiting periods.
Turning 65 and new to Medicare Supplement?
As you approach Medicare eligibility, you may begin comparing Medicare Supplement plans for the first time. Understanding coverage before your enrollment period begins can help you avoid costly mistakes.
Many beneficiaries begin researching several months before their 65th birthday. This provides time to understand plan options, compare costs, evaluate healthcare needs, and avoid missing important enrollment protections.
Terms you’ll hear:
Enrollment protections
Open Enrollment and Guaranteed Issue Rights
Six months
Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment
Your Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment Period is often the best time to enroll. This six-month period begins when you are age 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare Part B. During this period:
- Coverage generally cannot be denied because of health conditions
- Premiums generally cannot be increased because of health history
- Health questions are generally not required
- Prescription drug reviews generally do not apply
- Height and weight questions generally do not apply
- You generally have access to available plans
Life events
Guaranteed Issue Rights
Certain life events may provide special protections that allow you to buy Medicare Supplement coverage without medical underwriting. Examples may include:
- Loss of employer coverage
- Medicare Advantage plan termination
- Moving outside a service area
- Certain Medicare trial rights situations
During a valid Guaranteed Issue period, health questions, prescription reviews and height and weight questions are generally not required, and coverage generally cannot be denied because of medical history.
Sources: Medigap enrollment timing · Medigap protections
Medical underwriting
What happens if you miss your Guaranteed Issue period?
You may still be able to apply for Medicare Supplement coverage, but many insurance companies may require medical underwriting: the carrier may ask questions about your health and review your medical background before deciding whether to approve your application.
Medical underwriting is the process insurance companies use to evaluate an applicant’s health history when applying for coverage outside protected enrollment periods. During a valid Guaranteed Issue period, height and weight questions are generally not required; after it ends, they may be part of the review.
Coverage approval is not guaranteed when medical underwriting applies. Depending on the carrier and the applicant’s health history, an application may be approved, delayed, rated differently where allowed, or declined.
A carrier may review
- Current health conditions
- Prescription medications
- Hospitalizations
- Surgeries
- Tobacco use
- Height and weight
- Chronic illnesses
- Recent medical treatment
Plan letters
Complete Medicare Supplement plan breakdown
Medicare Supplement plans are identified by letters. Because they are standardized, the benefits for the same plan letter are generally the same from one insurance company to another. Premiums and carrier experience can vary.
Medigap Plan Comparison Chart
| Medigap Plan Benefits | Plan A | Plan B | Plan C | Plan D | Plan F | PopularPlan G | Plan K | Plan L | Plan M | PopularPlan N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part A Coinsurance & Hospital CostsUp to an Additional 365 Days After Medicare Benefits Are Used | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Part B Coinsurance or Copayment | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 50% | 75% | 100% | 100% |
| BloodFirst 3 Pints | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 50% | 75% | 100% | 100% |
| Part A Hospice Care Coinsurance or Copayment | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 50% | 75% | 100% | 100% |
| Skilled Nursing Facility Coinsurance | ✕ | ✕ | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 50% | 75% | 100% | 100% |
| Part A Deductible | ✕ | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 50% | 75% | 50% | 100% |
| Part B Deductible | ✕ | ✕ | 100% | ✕ | 100% | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Part B Excess Charges | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | 100% | 100% | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Foreign Travel EmergencyUp to Plan Limits | ✕ | ✕ | 80% | 80% | 80% | 80% | ✕ | ✕ | 80% | 80% |
| Plan N pays 100% of the Part B coinsurance, except for a copayment of up to $20 for some office visits and up to a $50 copayment for emergency room visits that don’t lead to an inpatient admission. | Out-of-Pocket Limit | $8,000 | $4,000 | |||||||
| Out-of-Pocket Limit | $8,000 | $4,000 | ||||||||
Plan N pays 100% of the Part B coinsurance, except for a copayment of up to $20 for some office visits and up to a $50 copayment for emergency room visits that don’t lead to an inpatient admission.
Good to know
- Plans C and F: generally only available to people who were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020.
- Plans F and G: also come in a high-deductible version, which pays the same benefits after you meet the yearly deductible.
- Plans K and L: have a yearly out-of-pocket limit ($8,000 and $4,000 in 2026). After you reach it, the plan pays 100% of covered services for the rest of the year.
Sources: Medicare.gov: compare Medigap plan benefits
Plan A
Plan A is the most basic standardized Medicare Supplement plan. It generally covers core Medicare Supplement benefits but does not include as many benefits as some other plan letters.
May be for: Beneficiaries who want basic Medicare Supplement protection and are comfortable with fewer covered gaps than more comprehensive plans.
Plan B
Plan B includes the basic benefits of Plan A and adds coverage for the Medicare Part A deductible.
May be for: Someone who wants more protection than Plan A but does not need one of the more comprehensive options.
Plan D
Plan D offers broader benefits than Plans A and B, but it does not cover the Medicare Part B deductible or Part B Excess Charges.
May be for: Beneficiaries who want a more complete Medicare Supplement option but are comfortable with certain costs not being covered.
Plan G
Plan G is one of the most popular Medicare Supplement plans available to people who are newly eligible for Medicare. It generally covers many of the major gaps left behind by Original Medicare, except for the Medicare Part B deductible. Once that deductible is met, Plan G may help cover many remaining eligible Medicare-approved costs.
May be for: Beneficiaries who want broad coverage, prefer predictable costs, see doctors or specialists regularly, travel frequently, or want nationwide access to providers who accept Medicare.
High Deductible Plan G
Provides the same standardized benefits as Plan G after the annual high deductible is met. It typically has a lower monthly premium than standard Plan G, but you pay more out of pocket before benefits begin.
May be for: Healthy retirees, people who rarely visit doctors, and budget-conscious individuals who prefer lower monthly premiums and want catastrophic protection.
Plan K
Plan K uses a cost-sharing structure. Instead of covering certain benefits in full, it pays a portion of some covered costs and includes an annual out-of-pocket limit.
May be for: Beneficiaries who want lower premiums and are comfortable sharing more of the cost of care.
Plan L
Plan L is another cost-sharing option. It generally pays a higher percentage than Plan K for certain benefits and also includes an annual out-of-pocket limit.
May be for: Beneficiaries who want some protection from large expenses but are comfortable with cost sharing.
Plan M
Plan M covers certain Medicare Supplement benefits but only pays part of the Medicare Part A deductible.
May be for: Beneficiaries who want moderate coverage and are comfortable paying part of certain costs themselves.
Plan N
Plan N may offer lower monthly premiums than Plan G in exchange for some cost sharing. It may require copayments for certain office visits or emergency room visits, and it does not cover Medicare Part B Excess Charges.
May be for: Beneficiaries who want lower monthly premiums, do not visit doctors frequently, and are comfortable with certain copays and Part B Excess Charges.
Plan F & High Deductible Plan F
Plan F was historically one of the most comprehensive plans. It is generally not available to people who became newly eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. High Deductible Plan F works similarly but requires a high deductible first.
May be for: People who were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020, depending on their situation and carrier availability.
What happened to Plan C and Plan F?
Beginning January 1, 2020, newly eligible Medicare beneficiaries generally can no longer purchase Medicare Supplement plans that cover the Part B deductible. People eligible before that date may be grandfathered and may still keep or apply for these plans, which is why some people can still have Plan F while others cannot newly purchase it.
Most compared
Plan G vs. Plan N
Broader coverage
Choose Plan G if
Plan G generally covers Medicare Part B Excess Charges and does not require the office visit copays that may apply with Plan N.
- You want broader coverage
- You see specialists regularly
- You want fewer surprise costs
- You want coverage for Part B Excess Charges
- You prefer predictable expenses
Lower premium
Choose Plan N if
Plan N may include copayments for certain office visits and emergency room visits, and does not cover Part B Excess Charges.
- You want lower premiums
- You are comfortable with some copays
- You do not visit doctors often
- You are comfortable being responsible for Part B Excess Charges
- You want strong coverage with a lower monthly cost
Which Medicare Supplement plan is right for me?
There is no single best plan for everyone. The right plan depends on your health needs, budget, travel habits, provider preferences, and comfort level with out-of-pocket costs.
Choose High Deductible Plan G if
- You want a lower monthly premium
- You are generally healthy and rarely use medical services
- You want catastrophic-style protection
- You are comfortable meeting a higher deductible before benefits begin
Keep Plan F if
- You already have Plan F
- You were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020
- You value comprehensive coverage
- Your premium remains affordable compared with other available options
Coverage
What Medicare Supplement covers, and what it doesn’t
Depending on the plan letter, it may help with
- Part A coinsurance
- Part B coinsurance
- Blood
- Skilled nursing facility coinsurance
- Part A deductible
- Part B Excess Charges
- Foreign travel emergency coverage
- Hospice care coinsurance or copayments
It generally does not cover
- Prescription drug coverage
- Routine dental care
- Routine vision care
- Hearing aids
- Long-term care
- Private-duty nursing
- Most non-Medicare-approved services
Prescription drug coverage
Medicare Supplement plans sold today generally do not include prescription drug coverage. If you want it, you may need to enroll in a separate Medicare Part D plan. Medigap helps pay certain costs left by Original Medicare; Part D helps with prescriptions.
About Part DPremiums & carriers
How to choose a Medicare Supplement carrier
Many people assume that because plans are standardized, the carrier does not matter. That is not true: the premium, customer experience, discounts, and rate history may differ.
Compare carriers on
- Monthly premium
- Financial strength
- Customer service
- Household discounts
- Rate stability
- Years in the Medicare market
- Complaint history
- Long-term pricing history
Why premiums go up
Premiums may increase because of inflation, rising healthcare costs, claims experience, age, carrier rate adjustments, geographic factors, medical cost trends, and changes in the insurer’s overall book of business. Compare more than just the starting price: long-term rate stability matters.
Household discounts
Some carriers offer household discounts that may reduce the monthly premium if another eligible person lives in the household or both spouses have coverage with the same carrier. Rules vary by carrier and state.
Travel & moving
Coverage that goes where you go
What happens if you move?
Medicare Supplement coverage is generally portable because it works with Original Medicare, so it may still work anywhere Medicare is accepted. Your premium may change depending on your new location.
Moving within Virginia: your premium may change based on your new ZIP code or rating area.
Moving to another state: your plan may continue to work, but your premium or available carrier options may differ.
Popular with travelers
Because it generally allows access to any provider that accepts Medicare, it can be helpful for:
- RV owners
- Snowbirds
- Frequent travelers
- Retirees with homes in multiple states
- People who want nationwide provider access
Some plans also include limited foreign travel emergency benefits.
Real-life examples
How people choose
Example 1
Retired couple choosing Plan G
A retired couple wants predictable healthcare costs and broad provider access. They travel often and want to avoid network restrictions. Plan G may be appealing because it offers broad coverage and helps reduce many out-of-pocket costs after the Part B deductible is met.
Example 2
Healthy retiree choosing Plan N
A healthy retiree rarely visits the doctor and wants to keep monthly premiums lower. This person is comfortable with possible office visit copays and understands that Plan N does not cover Part B Excess Charges. Plan N may be a reasonable fit.
Example 3
Budget-conscious retiree choosing High Deductible Plan G
A budget-conscious retiree wants lower monthly premiums but still wants protection from larger medical expenses, and is comfortable paying more out of pocket before the plan begins paying. High Deductible Plan G may be worth considering.
Common misconceptions
Medicare Supplement myths
Myth 1
“Medicare covers everything.”
Original Medicare does not cover every healthcare cost. You may still be responsible for deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, and other out-of-pocket expenses.
Myth 2
“All plans cost the same.”
Benefits are standardized by plan letter, but premiums vary by carrier, location, age, discounts, and other factors.
Myth 3
“Medigap includes drug coverage.”
Plans sold today generally do not include prescription drug coverage. You may need a separate Part D plan.
Myth 4
“You can only enroll at 65.”
Age 65 is a common enrollment point, but some people qualify for Medicare earlier due to disability or certain medical conditions, and other enrollment opportunities may exist.
Myth 5
“You can never change plans.”
Some beneficiaries may apply to change plans later, but changing after protected enrollment periods may require medical underwriting.
Questions to ask yourself
- Do I travel often or want nationwide access?
- Do I see specialists, and how often?
- What monthly premium fits my budget?
- Am I comfortable with copays or a high deductible?
- Do I need separate drug coverage?
- Am I enrolling on time to avoid underwriting?
Glossary
Important terms to know
Deductible
The amount you pay for covered services before certain benefits begin paying. For example, Part B has an annual deductible before Medicare pays its share.
Copayment
A fixed amount you pay for a covered service. Some Medicare Supplement plans may require a copay for certain office or emergency room visits.
Coinsurance
Your share of costs after Medicare pays its portion. Many Medicare Supplement plans help pay some or all of it.
Premium
The amount you pay each month to keep coverage. You may pay premiums for Part B, Part D, and Medicare Supplement Insurance.
Out-of-pocket costs
Healthcare expenses you pay yourself: deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, prescription costs, and non-covered services.
Excess charges
Amounts some providers charge above the Medicare-approved amount, known as Part B Excess Charges. Certain plans may help cover them.
FAQs
Medicare Supplement FAQ
Can I be denied Medicare Supplement coverage?
During Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment or a valid Guaranteed Issue period, coverage generally cannot be denied because of health conditions. Outside protected enrollment periods, medical underwriting may apply.
Will I have to answer health questions?
During Open Enrollment or a valid Guaranteed Issue period, health questions are generally not required. If you apply later, health questions may be required.
Will the carrier ask about my height and weight?
During a valid Guaranteed Issue period, height and weight questions are generally not required. If you miss your Guaranteed Issue period and medical underwriting applies, height and weight may be reviewed.
Will the carrier review my prescriptions?
During Open Enrollment or Guaranteed Issue, prescription drug reviews generally do not apply. Outside protected periods, prescription history may be reviewed.
Can I apply after Open Enrollment?
Yes, but medical underwriting may be required unless you qualify for a Guaranteed Issue situation.
Can I use Medicare Supplement outside my state?
Generally, Medicare Supplement coverage works anywhere Medicare is accepted.
Does Medicare Supplement include drug coverage?
Medicare Supplement plans sold today generally do not include prescription drug coverage. You may need a separate Medicare Part D plan.
Is Plan G better than Plan N?
Plan G generally provides broader coverage, while Plan N may offer lower premiums with some cost sharing. The better option depends on your needs and budget.
Why do Medicare Supplement premiums increase?
Premiums may increase due to age, inflation, healthcare costs, claims experience, carrier adjustments, and geographic factors.
Can I switch Medicare Supplement plans later?
You may be able to apply to switch plans, but medical underwriting may apply outside protected enrollment periods.
This information is for educational purposes only and does not guarantee eligibility, approval, plan availability, or premium amount. Medicare Supplement plan availability, underwriting rules, enrollment protections, and premiums may vary by state, carrier, and individual situation.
Ready to compare Medicare Supplement plans?
Speak with a licensed agent to compare Medicare Supplement plans, review carrier options, and see whether Plan G, Plan N, High Deductible Plan G, or another plan may fit your needs. New to Medicare? Start here.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by the federal government, Medicare, or the Social Security Administration. This page provides general Medicare education. Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board handles enrollment in Parts A and B.