Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap)

Medigap, also known as Medicare Supplement Insurance, helps cover some of Medicare's out-of-pocket costs, which can include deductibles, copayments and coinsurance.

Medigap plans can help cover your out-of-pocket costs when you get inpatient or outpatient Medicare services.

What Are Medigap Plans?

In most states, there are 10 standardized Medigap plans to choose from, labeled A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M and N.

Important: Plan F and Plan C are not available to beneficiaries who became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020.

Each Medigap plan provides a unique mix of basic benefits that range from limited to comprehensive.

All 10 standardized Medigap plans provide at least partial coverage for:

• Medicare Part A coinsurance and hospital costs

• Medicare Part B coinsurance or copayment

• First three pints of blood

• Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment

Medigap Comparison Chart

The following chart shows the basic benefits of all 10 standardized Medigap plan types to help you compare them side by side. 

When Can I Enroll in Medigap?

The best time to enroll in Medigap is during your Medigap Open Enrollment Period, which is the six-month period that begins the day you are both 65 years old and enrolled in Medicare Part B.

During your Medigap Open Enrollment Period, insurance companies can't use your health to determine your plan premium costs (a process which is known as "medical underwriting").

8 Things to Know About Medigap Before You Enroll

Before you enroll in a Medigap plan, read through the following information to ensure you understand how it works and get the most from its benefits.

1. During your open enrollment period, you cannot be denied a Medigap policy, even if you have a preexisting condition or other medical issues.

2. If you fail to enroll in Medigap during your six-month open enrollment period, insurance companies can charge you more for your plan or refuse to cover you at all based on your health.

3. Don't get Medigap plans A, B, C and D confused with Medicare Parts A, B, C and D. Medicare Part A and Part B make up Original Medicare. Medicare Part C is known as Medicare Advantage and is sold through private insurance companies as an alternative to Original Medicare. Medicare Part D plans are prescription drug plans sold through private insurers to help beneficiaries cover the cost of prescriptions.

4. You cannot be enrolled in Original Medicare and a Medicare Advantage plan at the same time.

5. You cannot be enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan and a Medicare Supplement Insurance plan at the same time.

6.You can be enrolled in a Medicare Supplement Insurance plan and a Part D prescription drug plan at the same time.You can compare Part D plans available where you live and enroll in a Medicare prescription drug plan online when you visit MyRxPlans.com.

7. Medigap plans that share a letter will provide the same basic benefits no matter which state you purchase them in. For example, a Medigap Plan F policy purchased in Virginia will have the same basic benefits as a Medigap Plan F policy purchased in California. 

8. The price you pay for a Medigap plan may vary based on several factors, including your location and insurance company.

So although the basic benefits remain the same no matter where you purchase your policy, the price you pay for those benefits can vary greatly.  

Call today to speak with a licensed insurance agent who can help you compare Medigap plans available in your area so that you can find the best Medicare Supplement plan for your needs.

Christian Worstell is a health care and policy writer for MedicareSupplement.com. He has written hundreds of articles helping people better understand their Medicare coverage options.