Medigap Plans Compared: Choose the Right Medicare Supplement

If you choose Original Medicare (Parts A and B), you’ll quickly discover a significant problem: there’s no cap on what you can owe out of pocket. A serious illness or extended hospital stay can leave you with bills far exceeding what most people can comfortably afford. Medigap plans - also called Medicare Supplement Insurance - exist to fill these gaps.

This guide compares all 10 standardized Medigap plans, explains what each covers, and helps you decide which one is right for your budget and health situation.

Which Medigap Plan Is Best?

Plan G is the best Medigap plan for most new Medicare enrollees. It covers every gap in Original Medicare except the annual Part B deductible ($283 in 2026) - meaning after that one annual payment, Medicare and Plan G together pay 100% of any Medicare-approved charge for the rest of the year.

At-a-glance comparison of the most popular plans:

What Medigap does NOT cover:

• Prescription drugs (you need a separate Medicare Part D plan)
• Dental care, vision care, or hearing aids
• Long-term nursing home care (only skilled nursing for a limited time)
• Routine foot care

The full plan-by-plan breakdown and comparison table follow below.

What Is a Medigap Plan?

A Medigap plan is a private health insurance policy that works alongside Original Medicare. After Medicare pays its share of a covered service, your Medigap plan pays some or all of the remaining cost - the “gaps” in Medicare’s coverage.

Medigap plans are standardized by federal law. Every insurer offering Plan G must cover exactly the same benefits as every other insurer offering Plan G. What varies between insurers is the monthly premium and the quality of customer service - not the coverage itself.

You must have Medicare Part A and Part B to buy a Medigap plan. You cannot use a Medigap plan if you have Medicare Advantage (Part C) - the two are mutually exclusive.

The 10 Standard Medigap Plans

Not all plans are available in every state. Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin have their own standardized Medigap systems. In the other 47 states, the 10 standard plans are A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N.

Plan A

Plan A is the most basic Medigap plan available. It covers:

• Medicare Part A coinsurance and hospital costs (up to 365 extra days after Medicare benefits end)
• Medicare Part B coinsurance or copays (the 20% you owe)
• First three pints of blood
• Part A hospice care coinsurance or copays

Plan A does not cover the Part A deductible ($1,736 per benefit period in 2026), the Part B deductible ($283 in 2026), or Part B excess charges. For most people, Plan A is too limited to be worth its premium compared to richer options like Plan G.

Plan B

Plan B covers everything Plan A covers, plus:

• Medicare Part A deductible ($1,736 per benefit period in 2026)

Adding Part A deductible coverage makes Plan B meaningfully more protective than Plan A for anyone who has a hospital stay. Still, it doesn’t cover the Part B deductible or Part B excess charges.

Plan C

Plan C was closed to new Medicare enrollees who became eligible after January 1, 2020, due to federal law changes. If you became Medicare-eligible before that date, you may still be able to enroll in Plan C.

Plan C covered everything Plan A and B cover, plus the Part B deductible - making it one of the most comprehensive plans historically. Its discontinuation for new enrollees drove many toward Plan G.

Plan D

Plan D covers:

• All of Plan A’s benefits
• Part A deductible
• Part A skilled nursing facility coinsurance
• Foreign travel emergency (up to plan limits)

It does not cover the Part B deductible or Part B excess charges. Plan D is rarely the best choice - Plan G offers more complete coverage often at a modest premium difference.

Plan F

Like Plan C, Plan F was closed to Medicare enrollees who became eligible on or after January 1, 2020. For those who became eligible before that date, Plan F remains available.

Plan F is the most comprehensive Medigap plan: it covers everything including the Part B deductible and Part B excess charges, meaning enrollees typically owe nothing out of pocket for Medicare-covered services. If you’re eligible, it’s worth comparing Plan F and Plan G premiums, since Plan G now dominates the new-enrollee market.

Plan G - Best Overall for Most New Enrollees

Plan G is the most popular Medigap plan for new Medicare enrollees and typically offers the best value when you factor in premiums versus coverage.

Plan G covers:

• Part A deductible ($1,736 per benefit period in 2026)
• Part A coinsurance and hospital costs (up to 365 additional days after Medicare benefits end)
• Part B coinsurance or copays (the 20%)
• Part B excess charges (the difference between what a non-participating doctor charges and Medicare’s approved amount)
• Skilled nursing facility coinsurance
• First three pints of blood
• Part A hospice care coinsurance or copays
• Foreign travel emergency (80% up to plan limits, $250 deductible)

The only thing Plan G doesn’t cover is the Part B deductible ($283/year in 2026). Once you’ve paid that, Medicare and Plan G together cover 100% of all Medicare-approved charges for the rest of the year.

High-Deductible Plan G is a variant with a lower monthly premium but a high annual deductible ($2,950 in 2026) before coverage kicks in. It suits healthy enrollees who want catastrophic protection at a lower monthly cost.

Plan K

Plan K covers a percentage of costs rather than 100%:

• 50% of Part A coinsurance (hospital costs)
• 50% of Part B coinsurance or copays
• 50% of first three pints of blood
• 50% of Part A hospice coinsurance
• 50% of skilled nursing facility coinsurance
• 50% of Part A deductible

Plan K has an annual out-of-pocket limit ($8,000 in 2026). Once you hit that limit, Plan K pays 100% of covered costs for the rest of the year. Premiums are significantly lower than Plan G, making it an option for people who want a safety net but can manage moderate cost-sharing.

Plan L

Plan L works similarly to Plan K, but covers 75% of costs instead of 50%, with a lower out-of-pocket limit ($4,000 in 2026). It bridges the gap between the comprehensive coverage of Plan G and the partial coverage of Plan K.

Plan M

Plan M covers:

• 50% of the Part A deductible
• All Part A coinsurance
• All Part B coinsurance
• Skilled nursing facility coinsurance
• First three pints of blood
• Hospice coinsurance
• Foreign travel emergency

It does not cover the Part B deductible or Part B excess charges, and only partially covers the Part A deductible. Plan M premiums are lower than Plan G - a trade-off suited to people willing to absorb some cost-sharing in exchange for lower monthly premiums.

Plan N

Plan N covers:

• All Part A coinsurance and hospital costs
• Part A deductible
• Part B coinsurance (but with copays of up to $20 for office visits and up to $50 for emergency room visits)
• Skilled nursing facility coinsurance
• First three pints of blood
• Hospice coinsurance
• Foreign travel emergency (80% up to limits)

Plan N does not cover Part B excess charges. If your doctors don’t participate in Medicare (meaning they can charge above Medicare’s approved rate), you’d owe that difference out of pocket. For most people whose doctors accept Medicare assignment, Plan N is an excellent value - lower premiums than Plan G with only minor copays.

Medigap Comparison Table

*Plan N: copays up to $20 office visits, up to $50 ER visits

What Do Medigap Plans Cost?

Premiums vary significantly by insurer, your age, location, gender, and whether you use tobacco. That said, rough 2026 national averages for a 65-year-old non-smoking woman give a sense of scale:

• Plan A: $80-$150/month
• Plan B: $100-$200/month
• Plan G: $120-$250/month
• Plan N: $80-$180/month
• High-Deductible Plan G: $40-$90/month

Men typically pay 5-10% more than women. Premiums increase with age under most pricing systems.

How Medigap Pricing Works

Insurers use one of three pricing methods:

Community-rated: Everyone pays the same premium regardless of age. Premiums may increase over time but not based on your age. Best for people who plan to stay with the same plan for many years.

Issue-age-rated: Your premium is based on your age when you buy the plan. Premiums don’t increase simply because you get older, though they may rise due to inflation.

Attained-age-rated: Your premium is based on your current age and increases as you age. Premiums are lowest when you first enroll but rise significantly over time.

When to Buy: The Medigap Open Enrollment Window

The most important rule: buy Medigap during your Medigap Open Enrollment Period. This 6-month window begins the month you turn 65 and are enrolled in Part B. During this window, insurers must sell you any Medigap plan they offer at the same rate as a healthy person - they cannot deny you coverage or charge you more for pre-existing conditions.

Outside this window, insurers in most states can medically underwrite you - meaning they can charge higher premiums or deny coverage based on your health history. If you develop serious health problems later and try to switch plans, you may find yourself unable to get any Medigap coverage at an affordable price.

This is the most important timing decision in Medigap. Don’t delay enrollment hoping to save money on premiums - the savings rarely justify the risk of losing guaranteed-issue rights.

Plan G vs. Plan N: The Core Trade-Off for New Enrollees

For most new Medicare enrollees, the meaningful choice comes down to Plan G versus Plan N:

Choose Plan G if:

• Your doctors don’t always accept Medicare’s payment in full (Part B excess charges are a real risk)
• You want zero out-of-pocket for Medicare-covered services after the Part B deductible
• You’re willing to pay higher premiums for complete predictability

Choose Plan N if:

• All your doctors accept Medicare assignment (check via Medicare.gov’s provider lookup)
• You don’t mind paying small copays ($20 max for office visits, $50 for ER)
• Lowering your monthly premium is a priority

For most people in most markets, the premium difference between Plan G and Plan N makes Plan N a better value over time - especially if you’re healthy and rarely need specialist visits.

Medigap and Prescription Drugs

Medigap plans do not cover prescription drugs. If you have Original Medicare plus a Medigap plan, you’ll need a standalone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan.

Key Takeaways

• Plan G is the most comprehensive Medigap plan available to new enrollees - it covers everything except the annual Part B deductible ($283 in 2026)
• Plan N offers similar coverage at a lower premium, with small copays and no Part B excess charge protection
• High-Deductible Plan G has the lowest premiums but requires you to pay $2,800 out of pocket before full coverage begins
• Buy during your 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period - missing this window can make coverage unavailable or unaffordable
• Medigap does not include prescription drug coverage - add a Part D plan separately

For guidance on the underlying Medicare coverage these plans supplement, see what Medicare Part B covers and costs and Medicare Part A coverage explained.

Plan G’s Part B coinsurance coverage is especially significant for conditions that rely on expensive physician-administered drugs. A single year of BCG-unresponsive bladder cancer treatment with nadofaragene firadenovec (Adstiladrin) can generate roughly $40,000 in Part B coinsurance without a supplement - but costs $0 after the deductible with Plan G. See Medicare coverage for bladder cancer for a concrete example of how Medigap affects real-world treatment costs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Medigap cover dental, vision, and hearing?

No. Standard Medigap plans cover only the gaps in Original Medicare Parts A and B. They do not cover dental care, eyeglasses, contact lenses, hearing aids, or routine foot care - because Original Medicare itself does not cover those services. If you want dental or vision coverage, you need a separate standalone plan or a Medicare Advantage plan (which cannot be combined with Medigap).

What is the difference between Medigap Plan G and Plan N?

Both Plan G and Plan N cover most Medicare gaps, but they differ in two ways:

1. Part B excess charges: Plan G pays the difference when a non-participating doctor charges above Medicare’s approved rate. Plan N does not - you owe that difference out of pocket.
2. Copays: Plan N charges up to $20 for office visits and up to $50 for ER visits that don’t result in inpatient admission. Plan G has no copays after the Part B deductible.

For people whose doctors all accept Medicare assignment (most do - confirm at Medicare.gov’s provider lookup), Part B excess charges rarely apply. In those cases, Plan N’s lower premium often makes it the better long-term value.

Can I switch Medigap plans after I enroll?

Yes, but with important restrictions. Outside your 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period (starting when you turn 65 and enroll in Part B), insurers in most states can medically underwrite you - meaning they can charge higher premiums, exclude pre-existing conditions, or deny coverage based on your health history. A few states (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New York) have continuous open enrollment with no underwriting regardless of when you apply. If you develop a serious illness, switching plans may become unaffordable or impossible - which is why buying during your Open Enrollment window matters so much.

Do Medigap premiums increase every year?

Yes, in most cases. How much depends on the pricing method your insurer uses:

• Community-rated: Everyone in your area pays the same premium. Premiums can still rise with inflation and claims experience, but not because you aged.
• Issue-age-rated: Your premium is locked to your age at enrollment and rises only with inflation, not your birthday.
• Attained-age-rated: Your premium increases every year as you get older. Plans look inexpensive at 65 but can double or triple in cost by 75-80.

Ask your insurer which pricing method applies before enrolling. Attained-age plans carry hidden long-term cost risk.

Is Plan G worth the higher premium compared to Plan N?

For most people, Plan N offers better value if all your doctors accept Medicare assignment. The typical premium difference is $30-$60 per month ($360-$720 per year). Plan G is worth the premium gap if:

• You regularly see specialists or surgeons who don’t accept Medicare assignment
• You visit the ER frequently (Plan N charges up to $50 per visit)
• You want zero variable costs after the Part B deductible

If your healthcare use is moderate and your doctors accept Medicare, Plan N’s premium savings usually outweigh the small copay exposure over time.

Does Medigap cover foreign travel emergencies?

Plans G, D, M, and N include a foreign travel emergency benefit that covers 80% of emergency medical costs outside the U.S., after a $250 annual deductible, up to a lifetime maximum of $50,000. This covers urgent care and stabilizing treatment - not planned medical tourism, routine care abroad, or care that could wait until you return home. Plans A, B, K, and L do not include this benefit.

Can I have Medigap and Medicare Advantage at the same time?

No. Medigap works only with Original Medicare (Parts A and B). If you enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C), your Medigap coverage becomes essentially useless - Medicare Advantage pays claims directly instead of Original Medicare, so there are no “gaps” for Medigap to fill. The two are mutually exclusive. To use Medigap, stay with Original Medicare.

When is the best time to buy a Medigap plan?

During your Medigap Open Enrollment Period - the 6-month window starting the month you turn 65 and are enrolled in Medicare Part B. During this window, insurers cannot deny you any plan they sell or charge you extra for pre-existing conditions. This is the only time guaranteed-issue rights apply in most states. Missing this window can make coverage unavailable or unaffordable if your health changes. Don’t delay enrollment hoping to save a few months of premiums - the downside risk far outweighs any short-term savings.

Sources

• Medicare.gov - What’s Medigap (Medicare Supplement Insurance)?
• Medicare.gov - Find a Medigap policy that works for you
• Medicare.gov - Medicare costs
• Medicare.gov - Get free personalized Medicare counseling (SHIP)

All sources are official government or nonprofit consumer resources, verified July 2026. Medicare and Social Security rules and dollar amounts change annually - confirm current figures at the links above before making decisions.