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This AI knows Medigap inside out — plans, costs, enrollment rules, how it interacts with LTC coverage. Ask a specific question or describe your situation and it'll walk you through your options.
What Is Medigap (Medicare Supplement)?
Medigap is a private health insurance policy sold by insurance companies to fill the “gaps” in Original Medicare (Parts A and B). Original Medicare covers a lot, but it leaves you exposed to significant out-of-pocket costs — including copays, coinsurance, and deductibles that can add up to thousands of dollars per year.
Medigap picks up where Medicare leaves off. Depending on which plan you choose, it can cover your Part A hospital coinsurance, your Part B coinsurance (the 20% Medicare doesn’t pay after your deductible), skilled nursing facility coinsurance, Part B excess charges, and foreign travel emergency coverage.
Medigap vs. Medicare Advantage — Not the Same Thing
This distinction matters. Medigap is a supplement to Original Medicare — you keep Original Medicare and add a Medigap policy on top. Medicare Advantage (Part C) replaces Original Medicare with a bundled plan from a private insurer, often with network restrictions and prior authorization requirements.
You cannot have both Medigap and Medicare Advantage at the same time. If you have Medicare Advantage, you do not need Medigap — and a Medigap insurer cannot legally sell you a policy if you have Medicare Advantage.
The 10 Standardized Medigap Plans Compared
In most states, Medigap plans are standardized — meaning Plan G from Company A covers exactly the same benefits as Plan G from Company B. The only differences are price and insurer reputation. (Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin use different standardized systems.)
| Benefit | A | B | D | G BEST | Hi-G | K | L | M | N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part A coinsurance + hospital costs (up to 365 additional days) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Part B coinsurance or copayment | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 50% | 75% | ✓ | Copays |
| Blood (first 3 pints) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 50% | 75% | ✓ | ✓ |
| Part A hospice care coinsurance | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 50% | 75% | ✓ | ✓ |
| Skilled nursing facility coinsurance | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 50% | 75% | ✓ | ✓ |
| Part A deductible ($1,676 in 2026) | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 50% | 75% | 50% | ✓ |
| Part B deductible ($257 in 2026) | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Part B excess charges | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Foreign travel emergency (80%) | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Out-of-pocket limit (2026) | None | None | None | None | $2,870 | $7,220 | $3,610 | None | None |
Note: Plans C and F are no longer available to new Medicare enrollees (those who became eligible after Jan 1, 2020). High-Deductible Plan F also discontinued for new enrollees. Plan G is the most comprehensive plan available to new enrollees.
Plan G is the go-to for most enrollees who want comprehensive coverage and predictable costs. Plan N works well for healthy enrollees willing to pay small copays ($20 at office visits, $50 at ER) in exchange for lower premiums. High-Deductible Plan G offers the lowest premiums with a $2,870 deductible — best for the healthy and financially able to absorb that risk.
[SEEK EXPERT ADVICE] Plan availability, premiums, and terms vary by state, age, and insurer. The information above is educational and reflects 2026 standard benefits. Consult a licensed Medicare insurance broker before purchasing any Medigap policy. Brokers are typically free to you — they’re compensated by insurers.
Enrollment: The Window You Cannot Miss
Your Medigap Open Enrollment Period is the 6-month window that starts the month you turn 65 AND are enrolled in Medicare Part B. During this window, insurers must sell you ANY Medigap plan at standard rates regardless of your health. This window does not repeat.
What Happens If You Miss the Window?
After your Open Enrollment Period closes, insurers in most states can use medical underwriting to evaluate your health history. They can charge higher premiums, exclude certain conditions, or deny coverage entirely based on pre-existing conditions. In most states, once you miss the window, your options narrow significantly.
Special Enrollment Rights
You may have a guaranteed issue right (similar to Open Enrollment) in certain situations: losing employer coverage, losing a Medicare Advantage plan that’s leaving your area, or your insurer going bankrupt. These “Medigap Protections” are federal rights — know them before your situation changes.
When to Enroll If You’re Still Working at 65
If you have employer coverage at 65 and delay Part B enrollment, your Medigap Open Enrollment Period is delayed to when you sign up for Part B. This can work in your favor (you enroll at the right time) — but you must coordinate carefully to avoid gaps and penalties.
How Much Does Medigap Cost?
Premiums vary significantly by plan, insurer, state, age, and gender. These ranges are typical for a healthy 65-year-old in 2026:
- Plan G: $100–$250/month. Most popular. No surprises beyond the Part B deductible.
- Plan N: $70–$160/month. Small copays but lower premium. Good for low utilizers.
- High-Deductible Plan G: $35–$70/month. You pay first $2,870, then full coverage kicks in.
- Plan A: $50–$120/month. Bare minimum — only core hospital benefits.
Medigap premiums are in addition to your Medicare Part B premium ($185/month in 2026) and any Part D prescription drug plan. Total monthly cost for comprehensive coverage (Part B + Plan G + Part D) typically runs $350–$550/month.
Pricing Methods: Community, Issue-Age, Attained-Age
How your insurer prices premiums matters as much as the premium itself:
- Community-rated: Everyone pays the same premium regardless of age. Premiums increase only with inflation. Most predictable long-term.
- Issue-age rated: Premium based on age when you buy — younger means lower, locked in at issue age with inflation adjustments only.
- Attained-age rated: Premium rises as you age. Lowest initial premium, but the highest long-term cost. Most common pricing method.
[SEEK EXPERT ADVICE] Premium data above is illustrative for educational purposes. Actual premiums depend on your specific insurer, state, age, gender, and tobacco use. Get quotes from multiple insurers — premiums for identical plans can vary 50% or more for the same person.
How Medigap Fits Into Your Overall Insurance Stack
Medigap covers Medicare-eligible medical costs. It does not cover long-term custodial care — the daily help with bathing, dressing, and eating that’s the most expensive retirement risk. For complete coverage, most financial planners recommend:
- Medigap (Plan G or N) — covers hospital stays, doctor visits, medical expenses
- Medicare Part D — prescription drugs
- LTC Insurance or Hybrid Policy — covers custodial care (home health aide, memory care, nursing home)
These coverages are complementary, not redundant. Medigap fills the medical gaps in Medicare. LTC insurance fills the custodial care gap that Medicare never covers at all.