Comparing plans
How to Choose the Best Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan
There are 10 standardized Medicare Supplement Insurance plans available in most states. Learn more about popular Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans like Plan G, Plan F and Plan N, and compare free quotes as you're choosing the best plan to fit your health care needs.
by Christian Worstell | Published February 03, 2022 | Reviewed by John Krahnert
Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) offers a range of health insurance benefits but leaves some out-of-pocket costs that can add up quickly. Medicare Supplement Insurance plans (also called Medigap) can help cover some of these costs.
Find the right Medicare Supplement Insurance plan for your health insurance coverage by comparing the basic benefits of each plan.
Health Care Costs and Original Medicare
Original Medicare provides health insurance coverage for hospital stays, doctor's office visits, lab testing, medical supplies and some other services. For Medicare beneficiaries, other out-of-pocket costs can add up quickly.
- In 2022, the Medicare Part A deductible for in-patient hospital care is $1,556 per benefit period.
- Days 61-90 of hospital stays require a $389 coinsurance payment per day in each benefit period in 2022.
- Any hospital stays longer than 91 days in 2022 require a $778.
- The Medicare Part B deductible in 2022 is $233 for the year.
- After the Part B deductible is met, you typically pay a 20% coinsurance of the Medicare-approved cost for medical services.
To get help with some of these costs, millions of Medicare beneficiaries choose to buy a Medicare Supplement Insurance plan.
Choosing the Best Medicare Supplement Plan for You
Medigap plans supplement your Original Medicare coverage with benefits that help fill in some key cost gaps. The basic benefits of each type of Medicare Supplement Insurance plan are standardized by Medicare, though the policies themselves are sold by private companies. That means you always get the same basic coverage, but different companies may charge different rates and may offer different additional benefits.
Use the chart below to compare the basic benefits of each type of Medicare Supplement Insurance plan.
Scroll to the right to continue reading the chart
Medicare Supplement Benefits
Part A coinsurance and hospital coverage
Part B coinsurance or copayment
Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment
First 3 pints of blood
Skilled nursing facility coinsurance
Part A deductible
Part B deductible
Part B excess charges
Foreign travel emergency
| Medicare Supplement Benefits | A | B | C* | D | F1* | G1 | K2 | L3 | M | N4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part A coinsurance and hospital coverage | ||||||||||
| Part B coinsurance or copayment | 50% | 75% | ||||||||
| Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment | 50% | 75% | ||||||||
| First 3 pints of blood | 50% | 75% | ||||||||
| Skilled nursing facility coinsurance | 50% | 75% | ||||||||
| Part A deductible | 50% | 75% | 50% | |||||||
| Part B deductible | ||||||||||
| Part B excess charges | ||||||||||
| Foreign travel emergency | 80% | 80% | 80% | 80% | 80% | 80% |
* Plan F and Plan C are not available to Medicare beneficiaries who became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. If you became eligible for Medicare before 2020, you may still be able to enroll in Plan F or Plan C as long as they are available in your area.
+ Read more1 Plans F and G offer high-deductible plans that each have an annual deductible of $2,490 in 2022. Once the annual deductible is met, the plan pays 100% of covered services for the rest of the year. The high-deductible Plan F is not available to new beneficiaries who became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020.
2 Plan K has an out-of-pocket yearly limit of $6,620 in 2022. After you pay the out-of-pocket yearly limit and yearly Part B deductible, it pays 100% of covered services for the rest of the calendar year.
3 Plan L has an out-of-pocket yearly limit of $3,310 in 2022. After you pay the out-of-pocket yearly limit and yearly Part B deductible, it pays 100% of covered services for the rest of the calendar year.
4 Plan N pays 100% of the Part B coinsurance, except for a copayment of up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 copayment for emergency room visits that don’t result in an inpatient admission.
- Read lessGetting the Most From Medicare Supplement Insurance
Here is some beneficial information about Medigap enrollment:
- If you buy a plan during your Medigap open enrollment period, insurers cannot deny you a policy or charge more for your Medigap plan based on your health or pre-existing conditions. If you don't purchase a Medicare Supplement Insurance plan during your open enrollment period, you could potentially be denied coverage or pay higher monthly premiums.
- Your 6-month Medigap open enrollment period begins as soon as you are at least age 65 and enrolled in Medicare Part B.
- During your open enrollment period, you can switch Medigap plans without medical underwriting.
Medicare Advantage Plans Replace Original Medicare Benefits
Another health plan option is Medicare Advantage plans. It is important to note that Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement Insurance are different. Medicare Advantage plans are an alternative to Original Medicare, while Medigap plans work alongside your Original Medicare benefits to help cover out-of-pocket costs.
Medicare Advantage is also known as Medicare Part C. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, you are not allowed to purchase a Medicare Supplement Insurance plan. If you wish to disenroll in Medicare Advantage and instead enroll in Original Medicare with a Medigap plan, you should first speak with your Medicare Part C provider.
Get Help Buying the Right Medigap Plan for You
The right Medicare Supplement Insurance plan is the one that best matches your health care cost requirements and your budget. A licensed agent can answer your questions and help you determine which plan is right for you.
Compare Medigap plans in your area.
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