Compare Medicare Supplement Plans
Medigap Plans F and G have the best coverage, but Plan N is cheaper and still has good benefits.
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Medigap coverage comparison chart
As long as a Medicare Supplement plan, also called a Medigap plan, has the same letter, it has the same coverage, no matter what company you choose. Because the coverage is always the same for each plan letter, it's easy to compare the benefits of different Medigap plans.
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All Medigap plans reduce or eliminate what you pay for medical care, time spent in a hospital and hospice care. That's because they all pay for some of your Medicare Part A and B coinsurance. However, coverage for the Part A and B deductibles varies by Medigap plan.
Generally, the Medigap plans with better coverage are also more expensive. But rates change based on what company you choose and where you live. Your age can impact your price too, and you might pay more as you get older. This is partly because of state laws about whether age can be used to determine the cost of a policy.
The Medigap plans with more coverage are more popular. Medigap Plan F and Plan G have very good benefits and make up about 75% of all Medigap enrollment.
If you expect to need ongoing or expensive health care, it's usually cheaper overall to buy a plan with better coverage.
That’s because a plan with more coverage can seriously reduce or even eliminate your medical costs.
For most people who are enrolling in a Medicare Supplement plan, Medigap Plan G is the best choice because it has the best coverage that's available to everyone.
Plan G can be expensive, with an average cost of $180 per month. However, that total annual cost of $2,160 means that you'll eliminate most expenses for doctors, specialists, medical tests and hospital care.
Even if you don't need expensive medical care when you first turn 65 and become eligible for Medicare, getting a Medicare Supplement plan can be a good idea. That's because rates increase as you get older, and if you buy a plan when you're first eligible, your health can't be used to increase your price. If you wait until you're older to get a plan, you might not be able to afford it.
When comparing your options, you'll see Medicare Supplement policies referred to as "plans" and Original Medicare referred to as "parts." Some of the names overlap, but they aren't the same type of coverage. Medicare Parts A and B are your Original Medicare benefits through the government, and Medigap Plans A, B and other letters are the add-on coverage.
Also keep in mind that the standard Medigap plans with letters are only available in 47 states and the District of Columbia. Massachusetts, Minnesota and Wisconsin each have their own types of Medigap plans that are different from those in the rest of the country.
Compare Medigap plan pros and cons
Plan A provides coverage for a few basic categories of health expenses.
The plan is best for those who want coverage for the ongoing costs of medical care and hospital treatment but who are willing to pay for deductibles, skilled nursing facilities and other categories of medical expenses.
Medigap Plan A is most similar to Plan B, but Plan A doesn't cover the deductible for hospitalization or inpatient care. This means you pay the first $1,736 of your hospital bills yourself before the plan starts covering your hospital or inpatient care.
Medigap Plan B covers all the same medical expense categories as Plan A, and it has coverage for the Part A deductible. This means Medigap Plan B is best for those who want a basic set of benefits and also expect to need hospital care.
If you have Plan B and go to the hospital, the plan will cover both the $1,736 Part A deductible and any remaining hospital coinsurance bills, eliminating most of your costs.
Medigap Plan C has good benefits, covering every category of care except Medicare Part B excess charges. However, you can only get Plan C if you were eligible for Medicare before Jan. 1, 2020. Plan C is most similar to Plans F and G. The main difference is that Plan C doesn't cover Medicare Part B excess charges.
These charges occur in rare situations when a doctor does not accept the amount that Medicare has agreed to pay for a medical service. For example, if the Medicare-approved amount for an X-ray is $100, but the facility doesn't accept that price and wants to charge $115, the excess charge is $15.
You can avoid these charges by asking the medical provider if it accepts the Medicare-approved amount (also called the assignment). If it doesn't accept the amount, an excess charge of up to 15% can be billed to you, or if you have coverage, it's billed to your Medigap plan.
Medigap Plan D has good overall benefits and covers your medical copayments for doctors, hospitals, skilled nursing facilities and hospice care. It also covers the Medicare Part A deductible of $1,736, the Medicare Part B deductible of $283 and 80% of medical emergency costs when traveling abroad.
Plan D has slightly better benefits than Plan N, which has some other copayments for medical care. However, Plan D is not offered as often as Plan N, and its monthly costs can be higher. As a result, there are more people enrolled in Plan N than Plan D.
Medigap Plan F has the best coverage of all the Medigap plans. However, you're only able to get it if you were eligible for Medicare before Jan. 1, 2020. If you can’t get Plan F, consider Medigap Plan G, which has coverage that's nearly as good.
Even if you qualify for Plan F, it's not always a better deal than Plan G. For example, Plan F costs, on average, $47 more per month than Plan G. However, the only extra benefit is that you'd have coverage for the Medicare Part B deductible of $283. In this case, you'd be paying $564 more per year for Plan G in order to save $283.
If the cost difference between Plan F and Plan G were less than about $24 per month, then it would be a better deal to get Plan F than Plan G.
Medigap Plan G has the best coverage available without any restrictions about who can enroll. The plan provides coverage for all categories except the Medicare Part B deductible, which is currently $283.
The only plan with better coverage is Plan F, which does cover the $283 deductible for medical care. But Plan F is only available if you were eligible for Medicare prior to 2020.
Plan G is also a popular plan that's offered by most insurance companies, which lets you shop around for a low rate. You might be able to find rates for Plan G that are cheaper than other plans with less coverage, such as Plans D and B.
Medigap Plan K has the cheapest average rates. It’s a decent option if you’re on a budget, but it generally only covers half of your share of medical bills.
For example, if you had a medical procedure that cost $1,000, Original Medicare would typically pay 80% or $800. Of the remaining 20%, or $200, Plan K would pay half. You would pay $100 and the Medigap plan would pay $100.
Plan K is a cheap way to get some coverage and reduce your medical expenses. But keep in mind that your medical costs will vary based on how much health care you use, because only a portion of the Part B coinsurance is covered. The plan also has an out-of-pocket limit of $8,000. After you’ve paid that amount, Plan K will pay 100% of your covered bills. The limit prevents a situation when you need lots of medical care and your portion of the medical bills keeps adding up.
Medigap Plan L also covers a portion of medical charges, similar to Plan K. However, Plan L's benefits are at 75% for many categories, whereas Plan K's benefits are at 50%.
This means that with Plan L, a $1,000 medical bill would be split so that Original Medicare pays 80% of the costs, or $800. The remaining $200 is then split so that the Medigap plan pays $150, and you would pay $50. Plan L also has a much lower out-of-pocket maximum of $4,000.
Medigap Plan M is a midrange plan where the level of coverage falls between the cheapest and best options.
The plan covers coinsurance for hospitalization, medical care, hospice, skilled nursing facilities and 80% of medical emergencies during foreign travel.
Plan M is most similar to Plan N, except that Plan M only covers half of the Part A deductible. That means if you need hospitalization or inpatient care, the first $1,736 of the medical bills will be split between you and the Medigap plan before the Medigap plan pays all remaining coinsurance costs.
Medigap Plan N is another midrange plan. It has slightly better benefits than Plan M but worse benefits than Plan G.
Plan N has full coverage for the Part A deductible, whereas Plan M only covers half of the deductible. However, Plan N doesn't cover the Part B excess charges that are covered by Plan G. This makes Plan N a good alternative for those who want the high benefits of Plan G but are willing to forgo that coverage category in order to save on monthly costs.
Importantly, Plan N does charge some other copays for some medical care. You could pay up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for emergency room care that doesn't lead to being admitted to the hospital.
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Medicare Supplements: The basics
Medicare Supplement plans are also called Medigap plans because they fill in the coverage gaps left by Original Medicare (Parts A and B).
If you only have Original Medicare, you typically pay about 20% of your medical costs. By adding on a supplemental plan from a private insurance company, you can reduce or eliminate many medical expenses.
- Who they're good for: Medigap plans are usually best if you need an average to high amount of medical care, and if you’re willing to pay more each month to have fewer medical expenses. They're also great if you want plenty of coverage as you get older, are chronically ill or want to avoid most deductibles or copays.
- Best companies: The best Medicare Supplement companies include AARP/UnitedHealthcare, Blue Cross Blue Shield and Mutual of Omaha.
- Coverage: Medigap provides good coverage with a range of plan options. With a Medigap plan, you're covered for any doctor who accepts Medicare, and most benefits are for the same procedures covered by Original Medicare.
- Prescription drugs: Medigap plans don't cover prescriptions. For that, you need to buy a separate Medicare Part D plan.
- Add-ons: Typically, Supplement plans don't include as many add-on benefits as a Medicare Advantage plan. However, major companies are increasingly offering perks for Medigap enrollees like a wellness package for fitness, dental and vision.
How to compare Medigap plans
Comparing Medicare Supplement plans can help you choose the best medical coverage for your situation and help you save money.
Estimate your Original Medicare expenses
To reduce how much you pay for most health care services, consider how well the Medigap plan covers the Medicare Part A and B deductibles and copayments.
For most people, medical care and hospitalization are the two most common categories of health care expenses. They're also usually the categories that lead to the largest medical bills. That's why the most important step in choosing your Medigap policy is to compare plans based on how they cover hospitalization and medical care.
Medicare Part A deals with hospitalization costs. If your Supplement plan covers 100% of the Part A deductible and copayments — as with Plan F and Plan G — that could eliminate any hospitalization costs. With a cheaper option like Plan K, your costs will be reduced, but you'll still have some out-of-pocket medical expenses to reach the Part A deductible.
Your costs for hospitalization
Medigap plan | Part A deductible | Part A copayments |
|---|---|---|
| Plan F | $0 | $0 |
| Plan G | $0 | $0 |
| Plan N | $0 | $0 |
| Plan K | $1,736 | $0 |
| No Medigap plan | $1,736 | $0-$868 per day |
As a reminder, the deductible is the amount of medical care you pay for initially, before the insurance plan starts paying for some of your care. The copayments are the portion of medical costs you're responsible for after you meet your deductible.
Medicare Part B covers medical services like doctor appointments, specialists and medical tests. A Medigap plan's coverage for the Part B deductible and copayments will determine if these costs are eliminated or how much they're reduced. For example, Medigap Plan G covers 100% of the Part B copayments, so you won't pay anything for these medical services after you meet your deductible. In contrast, Plan K will reduce your Part B copayments, but it won't eliminate them.
Your costs for medical care (doctors, tests, etc.)
Medigap plan | Part B deductible | Part B copayments |
|---|---|---|
| Plan F | $0 | $0 |
| Plan G | $283 | $0 |
| Plan N | $283 | $0 |
| Plan K | $283 | 10% of costs |
| No Medigap plan | $283 | 20% of costs |
Keep in mind that coverage for the Part B deductible isn't available to new enrollees. This benefit is only available with Plans F and C, the two options that were discontinued for new enrollees after 2020. However, the deductible is a fixed cost of only a few hundred dollars each year. So even though paying this deductible is an added expense, it won't have as much of an impact on your wallet as the coverage for the Part B copayments.
Determine your total annual costs
When comparing plans, the goal is to find the right level of coverage to match your expected medical needs. You can do that by looking at your total annual costs for both the insurance plan and any expected health care. Then, choose the plan that's the best deal.
The most effective strategy is to find the tipping point between the options you're considering.
For example, if one plan costs $100 per month and another costs $150, you would be spending $50 more per month ($600 per year) to get better coverage. That means the more expensive plan would need to save you $600 in medical costs for it to be worth it.
If you have a chronic illness or need ongoing medical care, you’ll usually get the best deal by paying more for a plan with better coverage so you can save on medical costs. In contrast, if you have low to moderate medical needs, you’ll generally save money by choosing a cheaper plan and paying more for your medical care.
Example situation: Moderate medical needs
If you have moderate medical needs, a cheaper Medigap plan might make sense. For example, if you get $3,000 worth of medical treatment in a year, the cheaper plan saves you $844.
Plan G | Plan K | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of plan | $2,160 per year | $1,044 per year |
| Doctor appointments, tests and other medical care | $283 | $531 |
| Hospitalization and inpatient care | $0 | $0 |
| Yearly total | $2,443 | $1,599 |
In another situation where you need ongoing health care and hospitalization, it can be a better deal to get a Medigap plan with more coverage. In this example, you need some hospital care and have $20,000 worth of additional medical treatment. By choosing Plan G, you could save $1,900 during the year.
Plan G | Plan K | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of plan | $2,160 per year | $1,044 per year |
| Doctor appointments, tests and other medical care | $283 | $2,255 |
| Hospitalization and inpatient care | $0 | $868 |
| Yearly total | $2,443 | $4,167 |
Look for other expense categories
Other Medigap categories of coverage — like foreign travel care, skilled nursing and hospice — may be an important part of your decision if you expect to need these services or if you're at risk of needing these services.
For example, if you spend time traveling abroad, you can focus on Medigap policies that give you coverage for emergency care during foreign travel. If this category of coverage is important to you, consider Medigap Plan C, D, F, G, M or N.
Original Medicare rarely covers emergency health care outside of the country. But some Medigap plans will pay 80% of the bill for a medically necessary emergency. There's usually a $250 deductible and a lifetime limit of $50,000. The coverage is also limited to if the emergency starts within the first 60 days of your trip, making it a good benefit for those who often travel abroad but not applicable for long-term travelers or expats.
If you expect to need care at a skilled nursing facility, you'll get the best coverage with Medigap Plan C, D, F, G or N. These plans cover 100% of the Medicare Part A deductible and the skilled nursing coinsurance.
If you expect to be entering hospice, you'll get the best coverage with Medigap Plan B, C, D, F, G or N. These plans cover 100% of the Medicare Part A deductible and the Part A hospice coinsurance.
Keep in mind that Original Medicare (Part A) already covers most hospice services, so although a Medigap plan can further reduce your expenses, it won't have as big of an impact on your wallet as coverage for hospitalization or nursing homes.
Having a plan with good coverage for nursing home care is especially important to help relieve the burden on your family. If you're seriously ill or elderly and your family is helping care for you, a Medigap plan can help relieve some of the pressure, both financially and in terms of your care.
For example, if the Medicare-approved cost for respite care is $100 per day, your cost after Original Medicare would be $5 per day. That would add up to $150 for a month.
Medigap plan | Skilled nursing facility | Hospice care | Foreign travel emergencies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plan F | $0 | $0 | 20% |
| Plan G | $0 | $0 | 20% |
| Plan N | $0 | $0 | 20% |
| Plan K | $0-$109 | 2.5% of inpatient respite care and up to $2.50 for each prescription | All costs |
| No Medigap plan | $0-$217 per day | 5% of inpatient respite care and up to $5 for each prescription | All costs |
Consider staying in-network or having a high deductible
There are two more ways you can lower the cost of your Medigap plan, but they come with trade-offs. These options aren't available in all locations, and they're not offered by all providers.
Medigap Plans F and G both have high-deductible options. These plans give you the same level of coverage as regular Plans F and G but require you to pay for the first $2,950 in medical expenses before the Medigap plan will start contributing to your health care costs.
High-deductible Medicare Supplement plans can be a good fit if you have low to moderate medical needs. Because of the deductible, you won’t have much coverage for routine medical care, but you will have coverage for an emergency.
These plans have very low prices. The high-deductible version of Plan G costs an average of $52 per month, and the high-deductible version of Plan F costs an average of $58 per month. But remember that you'll be paying out of pocket for both the insurance plan and the first $2,950 of your medical care. The $2,950 comes from your portion of medical bills after Original Medicare has paid.
For example, if you need to go to the doctor, you’ll pay the $283 Part B deductible. That counts toward your $2,950 deductible for a high-deductible Medigap plan. You’ll keep paying 20% of your medical bills until you reach $2,950, when your Medigap plan starts paying.
A Medigap Select plan requires you to go to certain doctors to have coverage, unlike regular Medicare Supplement plans that let you go to any doctor that takes Medicare. Select plans are typically offered for the more popular plans such as a Medigap Select Plan F or a Medigap Select Plan G.
A Select plan gives you the same coverage as a traditional Medigap plan but has less flexibility. If you're okay with that, or if all your doctors are in the plan’s network, a Select plan can help you keep your monthly costs down.
Frequently asked questions
Which Medigap plan do most people choose?
Plan G is the most common Medigap plan because it offers the best coverage for new Medicare enrollees. Almost 4 in 10 active Medicare Supplement plans are Plan G.
What is the downside to Medicare Supplement plans?
Medicare Supplement plans can be expensive. However, if you need medical care often, the cost is often worth it. That’s because Medigap plans can reduce or eliminate your medical bills and help you save money overall.
What is the most cost-effective Medicare Supplement plan?
Plan K has the lowest average rate, at $87 per month. But Plan N, which costs $137 per month on average, is a better option for most people. It’s still cheaper than most other plans, but it has good coverage that pays for a large share of your medical bills. High-deductible Plans F and G are also cheap options, but they require you to pay $2,950 of your medical bills before they’ll begin covering your care.
Sources and methodology
Medicare Supplement policy details are based on data from Medicare.gov and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Medigap plan costs for 2026 are from cost data for private insurance companies. Rates are based on a 65-year-old woman who does not smoke. Rates are for the initial enrollment period, when health status isn’t used to set rates. The numbers include average costs from states that have age-based price increases and states where age is not used to determine rates.
Popularity data is for 2023, as researched by AHIP, a health insurance industry association.
About the Author
Senior Writer
Talon Abernathy is a ValuePenguin Senior Writer who specializes in health insurance, Medicare and Medicaid. He's also contributed to other insurance verticals including home, renters, auto, motorcycle and flood insurance.
Talon came to ValuePenguin in 2023. Since his arrival, he's helped to expand the site's health insurance-related content offerings. He enjoys helping readers understand the ins and outs of America's all too complicated health insurance landscape.
Before coming to ValuePenguin, Talon worked as a freelance writer. His prior work has touched on a broad range of personal finance-related topics including credit-building strategies, small business incorporation tactics and creative ways to save for retirement.
Insurance tip
In many parts of the country, you can qualify for a free Silver health insurance plan if you meet certain income requirements. Government subsidies in the form of premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions may mean you'll pay nothing for coverage.
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