Medicare Supplement Plans (Medigap) | Term Insurance Brokers

Medicare Supplement insurance — commonly called Medigap — is private health insurance that works alongside Original Medicare (Parts A and B) to cover the out-of-pocket costs Medicare leaves behind. This page explains how the plans work, what each one covers, and how to choose the right fit.

What Is a Medigap Plan?

Standardized by the federal government — All Medigap plans are sold by letter (A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, N). Every carrier must offer the exact same benefits for a given plan letter. Plan G at one company covers the same things as Plan G at any other — the only difference is the premium.

Works with any Medicare provider, nationwide — There are no networks. You can see any doctor or use any hospital that accepts Medicare, anywhere in the country — no referrals, no prior authorizations required.

Does not replace Medicare — Medigap supplements Original Medicare; it does not replace it. You must remain enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B and continue paying the Part B premium ($202.90/month in 2026). Medigap does not include prescription drug coverage — you’ll need a separate Part D plan for that.

Cannot be combined with Medicare Advantage — Medigap only works with Original Medicare. If you’re enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, you cannot use a Medigap policy.

Plan Benefit Comparison Chart

The chart below shows which Medicare cost-sharing gaps each plan covers. HD-G and HD-F columns (shaded) cover all standard benefits after satisfying the 2026 annual deductible of $2,870 — in exchange for significantly lower monthly premiums.

Benefit	A	B	C*	D	F*	G	K	L	N	HD-G	HD-F*
Part A coinsurance & hospital costs (365 extra days)	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓†	✓†
Part B coinsurance or copayment	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	50%	75%	✓‡	✓†	✓†
First 3 pints of blood	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	50%	75%	✓	✓†	✓†
Part A hospice care coinsurance	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	50%	75%	✓	✓†	✓†
Skilled nursing facility coinsurance	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓	50%	75%	✓	✓†	✓†
Part A deductible ($1,736 in 2026)	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	50%	75%	✓	✓†	✓†
Part B deductible ($283 in 2026)	✗	✗	✓	✗	✓	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗	✓†
Part B excess charges	✗	✗	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗	✗	✗	✓†	✓†
Foreign travel emergency (up to plan limits)	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓†	✓†
Annual out-of-pocket limit (2026)	—	—	—	—	—	—	$7,220	$3,610	—	$2,870 ded.	$2,870 ded.

* Plans C and F are only available to beneficiaries who became Medicare-eligible before January 1, 2020. HD-F carries the same eligibility restriction. ‡ Plan N pays Part B coinsurance but you may owe up to a $20 copay for office visits and up to $50 for ER visits not resulting in hospital admission. † HD Plan G and HD Plan F cover all standard benefits after you satisfy the 2026 annual deductible of $2,870. Premiums are typically 40–60% lower than the standard versions of those plans.

Plan Summaries

Plan G — Most Popular

The most widely chosen plan for new Medicare enrollees. Covers everything except the $283 Part B deductible. After that single annual cost, all Medicare-approved charges are covered in full — no copays, no coinsurance, no networks.

Plan G Details →

Plan N — Best Value

Lower premium than Plan G in exchange for modest copays — up to $20 for office visits, up to $50 for ER visits. Does not cover Part B excess charges. A strong choice for beneficiaries who rarely see specialists who don’t accept Medicare assignment.

Plan N Details →

High-Deductible Plan G

Same benefits as standard Plan G after satisfying a $2,870 annual deductible (2026). Monthly premiums are typically 40–60% lower. Best for healthy beneficiaries who want catastrophic coverage at minimal cost.

HD Plan Details →

Plan F — Pre-2020 Enrollees Only

The most comprehensive Medigap plan available — covers the Part B deductible in addition to everything Plan G covers. Only available to beneficiaries who became Medicare-eligible before January 1, 2020.

Plan F Details →

Plans K & L — Cost-Sharing Plans

Lower-premium plans that pay 50% (Plan K) or 75% (Plan L) of most covered benefits until you reach an annual out-of-pocket maximum — $7,220 for K and $3,610 for L in 2026. Lowest premiums among comprehensive Medigap plans.

Plan K Details →

Plan L Details →

Plans A, B, C, D

Less commonly purchased plans with narrower coverage. Plan A is the most basic. Plans C and D cover the Part A deductible; Plan C also covers the Part B deductible but is restricted to pre-2020 enrollees. Plan B covers the Part A deductible only.

Plan A
Plan B
Plan C
Plan D

When Can You Enroll?

Open Enrollment Period (best time to apply) — Your 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period begins the month you turn 65 and are enrolled in Medicare Part B. During this window, carriers must sell you any plan at standard rates — no medical underwriting, no health questions, no pre-existing condition exclusions.

After Open Enrollment — Outside your Open Enrollment Period, carriers in most states can use medical underwriting to deny coverage or charge higher premiums based on your health history. A few states (CT, MA, NY) have continuous open enrollment with guaranteed issue protections year-round.

Guaranteed-Issue Rights — Even outside Open Enrollment, certain life events — such as losing employer coverage, moving out of a Medicare Advantage plan’s service area, or your plan leaving the market — trigger guaranteed-issue rights that allow you to enroll without underwriting. See all qualifying events →

How Premiums Are Priced

Community-Rated

Same premium for everyone regardless of age. Premiums only increase due to inflation — not because you get older. Generally most favorable for older enrollees.

Issue-Age-Rated

Premium is based on your age when you first buy the policy and doesn’t increase due to age — only inflation. Typically lower for younger buyers who lock in early.

Attained-Age-Rated

The most common pricing method. Premium starts low but increases as you age. Can become significantly more expensive over time. Most carriers use this method.

The Key Takeaway on Pricing

Because benefits are identical across carriers for a given plan letter, the only reason to pay more for one carrier over another is brand preference or household discounts. Shopping multiple carriers before enrolling — especially during your Open Enrollment window — can save hundreds of dollars per year for identical coverage.

Additional Resources

How to Compare Medigap Plans
A step-by-step guide to evaluating plan options, including the HD plan trade-off and the Plan G vs. N decision.

Guaranteed-Issue Rights
When you can enroll or switch plans without medical underwriting — and the qualifying events that trigger those rights.

Pre-Existing Conditions
How carriers handle pre-existing conditions, waiting periods, and what protections apply during Open Enrollment.

Medicare Supplement FAQs
Answers to the most common questions about Medigap — enrollment timing, switching plans, drug coverage, and more.

What Is Medicare SELECT?

Medicare SELECT is a type of Medigap policy that was introduced as a lower-cost alternative to standard Medicare Supplement plans. While it offers the same standardized plan letters (A through N) and covers the same benefits as regular Medigap, it comes with a significant restriction that makes it a poor choice for most beneficiaries.

⚠ Important: Medicare SELECT Is Rarely the Right Choice

Medicare SELECT requires you to use a specific network of hospitals and, in some cases, doctors in order to receive full benefits. If you use an out-of-network provider — except in a medical emergency — you may owe the same cost-sharing you would have with no Medigap coverage at all.

How Medicare SELECT Differs from Standard Medigap

Feature	Standard Medigap	Medicare SELECT
Provider network	Any Medicare provider, nationwide	Restricted network required
Out-of-network benefits	Full benefits anywhere	May owe full cost-sharing
Monthly premium	Standard market rates	Slightly lower
Emergency coverage	Full coverage anywhere	Full coverage (emergencies only)
Referrals required	Never	Sometimes
Travel & snowbird-friendly	Yes — works anywhere in the U.S.	No — network is regional

States Where Medicare SELECT Is Offered

Medicare SELECT is not available in every state. It tends to be offered in more rural or regionally concentrated markets where insurers can define a hospital network. States where Medicare SELECT policies have historically been sold include:

Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin — among others. Availability changes as carriers enter and exit markets; confirm with a broker whether it is offered in your state.

Why We Recommend Standard Medigap Instead

The premium savings are minimal — Medicare SELECT plans typically cost only a few dollars less per month than a standard Plan G or Plan N. The small savings rarely justify the restrictions placed on where you can receive care.

Networks change — your health needs don’t — The hospital or specialist you prefer today may not be in network next year. With a standard Medigap plan, you never have to worry about whether your provider “qualifies.”

Terrible for travelers and snowbirds — If you spend part of the year in another state or travel frequently, a network-restricted plan provides little protection outside your home region — except in emergencies.

Standard Medigap is already competitively priced — Because benefits are federally standardized, carriers compete almost entirely on price. With a broker, you can find a standard Plan G or Plan N at a very competitive rate — without any network restrictions.

You have a right to switch away — once — If you enroll in Medicare SELECT and want to switch to a standard Medigap plan, you have a one-time right to do so within the first 12 months. After that, switching is subject to medical underwriting in most states.

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Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Plan Guide