Medigap · Medicare Supplement Insurance
Plain English. Five calm steps. No pressure.
Original Medicare pays a lot, but not everything. Medigap is extra insurance from a private company that helps pay the gaps — like your 20% coinsurance and hospital deductible — so your costs are more predictable. When you buy it matters as much as which plan you pick.
Free · Private · About a 12-minute read
Your Medigap Path
Read them in order, or jump straight to what you need.
How Medigap works with Original Medicare.
What Plans G, N, K and others each cover.
Why the same plan can cost different amounts.
Your 6-month window, and why it matters so much.
A checklist, then enroll yourself when you're ready.
Step 1 What It Is
Medigap = Medicare Supplement Insurance
Medicare pays its share of a covered bill first. Then your Medigap policy pays its share of what's left — depending on your plan letter. Many people with a Medigap plan see few or no bills for covered care.
Original Medicare's 20% coinsurance has no yearly cap. Most Medigap plans pay all or part of it.
Many plans pay the Part A hospital deductible and add 365 extra hospital days after Medicare's run out.
No networks and no referrals. If a doctor or hospital accepts Medicare, your Medigap plan works there — anywhere in the U.S.
As long as you pay your premium, the company can't cancel your policy because of your health.
What Medigap does not cover: prescription drugs (you'll want a separate Part D plan), routine dental, vision and hearing care, and long-term care. Medigap also can't be used with a Medicare Advantage plan.
To buy a Medigap policy, you need:
Step 2 The Plan Letters
Same Letter, Same Benefits
In most states, Medigap plans are standardized and named by letter. A Plan G from one company has exactly the same benefits as a Plan G from another — so once you choose a letter, you're comparing price and company service.
Covers nearly all the gaps. You pay only the Part B deductible each year ($283 in 2026); after that, covered care is generally paid in full.
Most popular for new enrolleesSimilar to G, usually with a lower premium. You pay the Part B deductible, plus copays of up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for ER visits that don't lead to admission.
Lower premium, small copaysThe same benefits as Plan G after you pay a $3,050 deductible in 2027. Premiums are usually much lower.
Lowest premium, more riskPay a share (50% or 75%) of many costs, with a yearly out-of-pocket limit: $8,360 for K and $4,180 for L in 2027.
Cost-sharing plansThe full chart (✓ = pays 100%):
| Benefit | A | B | D | G | K | L | M | N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part A coinsurance + 365 extra hospital days | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Part B coinsurance or copay | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 50% | 75% | ✓ | ✓* |
| Blood (first 3 pints) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 50% | 75% | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hospice coinsurance | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 50% | 75% | ✓ | ✓ |
| Skilled nursing coinsurance | — | — | ✓ | ✓ | 50% | 75% | ✓ | ✓ |
| Part A deductible | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 50% | 75% | 50% | ✓ |
| Part B deductible | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Part B excess charges | — | — | — | ✓ | — | — | — | — |
| Foreign travel emergency | — | — | 80% | 80% | — | — | 80% | 80% |
| Yearly out-of-pocket limit (2027) | — | — | — | — | $8,360 | $4,180 | — | — |
* Plan N: you pay up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for ER visits that don't result in admission. Plans C and F also pay the Part B deductible, but they can only be bought by people who became eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020. Massachusetts, Minnesota and Wisconsin standardize their plans differently. Source: Medicare.gov and CMS.
What are "excess charges"? Doctors who don't accept Medicare's approved amount as full payment can charge up to 15% more. Plan G pays this; Plan N doesn't. Some states don't allow excess charges at all.
Step 3 Costs & Pricing
Same Benefits, Different Prices
You pay a monthly premium to the insurance company, on top of your Part B premium. Prices vary by company, plan letter, ZIP code, age, and sometimes tobacco use — so it pays to compare.
Three ways companies set prices:
Everyone pays the same premium regardless of age. Prices can still rise with inflation.
Age doesn't change price
Your premium is based on your age when you buy. It won't go up just because you get older.
Buy younger, pay less
Your premium is based on your current age, so it goes up as you get older — plus any inflation increases.
Often cheapest at first
Look past the first-year price. A low starting premium can climb quickly with age. Ask each company how it prices its policies and how its rates have changed in recent years.
Your full monthly picture: with Medigap, you'll usually pay three premiums — Part B, your Medigap plan, and a separate Part D drug plan. In return, your costs when you get care are low and predictable. See how this compares on our Medicare Advantage page.
Step 4 When to Buy
Your Medigap Open Enrollment Period
Your Medigap Open Enrollment Period starts the first month you're 65 or older and have Part B, and lasts 6 months. During it, a company can't turn you down or charge you more because of your health. It happens only once — and it can't be paused or restarted.
In most states, companies can ask health questions and may charge more or decline to sell you a policy. That's why many people buy during their first window.
Health questions likelyYour window waits until your Part B starts — so choose your Part B start date with Medigap in mind. Read the Part B guide →
Window starts with Part BIn certain situations — like your Medicare Advantage plan leaving your area, or using your 12-month trial right — you can buy certain Medigap plans without health questions.
Special situationsSome states give extra protections. New York, for example, lets you buy Medigap at any time of year without health questions. Others offer yearly chances to switch.
Varies by stateUnder 65 with Medicare? Federal law doesn't require companies to sell Medigap to people under 65, but many states do. Check with your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP).
Step 5 Compare & Enroll
When You're Ready — And Only Then
Medigap is bought directly from a private insurance company, not through Social Security or Medicare. Here's how to choose with confidence.
Switching from another Medigap plan? Don't cancel your current policy until your new one is approved and in effect. You get a 30-day "free look" to decide whether to keep the new policy.
Choose your state to explore your options and enroll yourself:
Want to see every Medigap policy in your area? Use the Medigap search at Medicare.gov, call 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), or contact your State Insurance Department or SHIP for free, unbiased help.
The Original Medicare that Medigap supplements. Part A guide →
Part B guide →
Medigap doesn't cover drugs — pair it with a drug plan. Part D guide →
The other main path, and how the two compare. Medicare Advantage guide →
No pressure · No sales calls · Your choice, your pace
Common Questions
Medigap adds to Original Medicare and helps pay your share of costs, letting you see any provider that accepts Medicare. Medicare Advantage replaces Original Medicare with a private plan that usually uses networks. You can't have both at the same time.
For people new to Medicare, Plan G is the most comprehensive plan available and is a common choice. Plan N is popular with people who prefer a lower premium and don't mind small copays. The right letter depends on your budget and how much cost-sharing you're comfortable with.
No. Medigap plans sold today don't include drug coverage. Most people with Medigap also join a separate Part D prescription drug plan.
During your 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period, which starts the first month you're 65 or older and have Part B. During this window, companies must sell you any Medigap policy they offer in your state, at the same price as people in good health.
Yes, at any time — but outside of your Open Enrollment Period or a guaranteed issue situation, most states let companies ask health questions and decline or charge more. Some states, like New York, have more protective rules.
No. Each policy covers one person, so spouses buy separate policies. Some companies offer a household discount when both of you buy from them.
Still have a question? Just ask.
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Education First. Enrollment Second.