Is Medicare Supplement the same as Medigap?

Yes, "Medicare Supplement" and "Medigap" are two names for the same product. They are private insurance policies that help pay the costs Original Medicare doesn't cover, like deductibles, coinsurance, and copays.

Why is Plan G the most popular Medigap plan today?

Plan G is the most comprehensive Medigap plan available to people who became Medicare-eligible on or after January 1, 2020. (Plan F, which was even more comprehensive, was discontinued for new enrollees on that date.) Plan G covers everything Plan F did except the Part B deductible. For many people, Plan G's combination of full coverage on most expenses and a slightly lower premium than Plan F makes it the best value.

When is the best time to buy a Medigap policy?

The best time is during your Medigap Open Enrollment Period , a 6-month window that starts the first month you're both 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. During this window, insurers cannot deny you coverage or charge more based on your health history. Buying outside this window often means going through medical underwriting, which can result in denial or higher rates if you have pre-existing conditions.

Does Medigap cover prescription drugs?

No. Medigap plans sold today do not include prescription drug coverage. To have drug coverage, you need to enroll in a stand-alone Medicare Part D plan in addition to your Medigap policy.

Are Medigap plans the same across insurance companies?

The benefits within each lettered plan are standardized by the federal government. Plan G from one insurer covers exactly the same things as Plan G from another. What differs is the price , the insurer's customer service and rate-increase history, and sometimes additional perks. That's why it's important to compare prices across multiple carriers for the same lettered plan.

Can I switch from a Medicare Advantage plan to a Medigap plan later?

You can, but in most states you'll need to go through medical underwriting if you missed your Medigap Open Enrollment Period. There are some specific Special Enrollment Periods that allow guaranteed-issue rights, for example, if a Medicare Advantage plan leaves your area. A licensed agent can walk you through whether you qualify.

Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Plans Explained

What is a Medicare Supplement plan?

A Medicare Supplement plan is private insurance that "supplements" your Original Medicare (Parts A and B) by helping pay costs that Medicare leaves to you: deductibles, coinsurance, and copays.

The plans are also called Medigap, since they fill the gaps in Medicare. The benefits are federally standardized: Plan G from any carrier covers exactly the same set of benefits as Plan G from any other carrier. What varies is the monthly premium, the insurer's rate-increase history, and sometimes extras like household discounts.

Medigap pairs with Original Medicare and works nationwide, there are no networks. Any provider that accepts Medicare assignment accepts your Medigap policy.

The lettered plans

Medigap plans are identified by letters. The most relevant ones today:

Plan G, the most comprehensive plan available to people who became Medicare-eligible on or after January 1, 2020. Covers everything except the Part B deductible. The most popular plan among new enrollees.
Plan N, lower monthly premium than Plan G in exchange for small copays at office visits and ER trips (waived if you're admitted), plus the Part B deductible and any Part B excess charges.
Plan F, the most comprehensive plan historically, but no longer available to people who became Medicare-eligible on or after January 1, 2020. If you were eligible before that date and have Plan F, you can keep it.
Plans A, B, C, D, K, L, M, other lettered options with different combinations of cost-sharing. Less commonly chosen by new enrollees today.
High-Deductible Plans G and F, much lower monthly premium in exchange for paying a high annual deductible before benefits start. Can be a good fit for healthy enrollees who want catastrophic protection.

Note for residents of Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin: Medigap plans in those states are standardized differently.

The Medigap Open Enrollment Period

The single most important rule about Medigap: buy during your Medigap Open Enrollment Period if you possibly can.

Your Medigap Open Enrollment Period is a 6-month window that starts the first month you're both age 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare Part B. During this window, insurers must:

Sell you any Medigap plan they offer at the same price as healthy enrollees
Cover pre-existing conditions (with limited exceptions if you didn't have prior creditable coverage)
Not charge you more based on your health status

Outside this window, and outside specific guaranteed-issue Special Enrollment situations, insurers in most states can use medical underwriting to decide whether to accept you and at what price. If you have pre-existing conditions, this can mean significantly higher premiums or outright denial.

What Medigap doesn't cover

Medigap plans do not cover:

Prescription drugs (you need a separate Part D plan)
Routine dental, vision, or hearing care
Long-term care (custodial care in a nursing home)
Private-duty nursing
Care outside the U.S. (some plans cover limited foreign emergency care)

If you want dental, vision, or hearing benefits, you'd typically buy a separate stand-alone plan or look at Medicare Advantage plans that include those benefits.

How Medigap costs are priced

Insurers can price Medigap policies in one of three ways:

Community-rated, same price for everyone regardless of age
Issue-age rated, the price is set based on your age when you buy; doesn't increase with age
Attained-age rated, premium increases as you get older

Most plans in most states are attained-age rated. All policies can also have rate increases due to inflation regardless of the rating method. Asking about an insurer's rate-increase history is a smart move.

Who Medicare Supplement works well for

People who want to see any doctor or hospital nationwide that accepts Medicare
People who travel frequently or split time between states
People who prefer very predictable, low cost-sharing at the point of service
People who use a lot of healthcare and want to minimize surprise bills
People who don't mind paying a higher monthly premium for that predictability

See our Medicare Supplement vs. Advantage comparison for a deeper comparison.

Medicare Supplement plans, explained.