Medicare Supplements (Medigap) Plans
Medicare Supplement Insurance, also called Medigap, helps pay the costs that Original Medicare leaves behind, such as deductibles, coinsurance, copayments, extra hospital days, and skilled nursing facility coinsurance. Some plans also cover emergency care when you travel outside the country.
Medigap plans are sold by private insurance companies, but the benefits are standardized by federal law. There are 10 plans, each named by a letter, and a Plan G from one company covers exactly the same benefits as a Plan G from any other company. That means the main differences between companies are price, customer service, and how much their rates go up over time. Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin standardize their plans differently.
The chart below shows what each plan covers.
Medicare Supplement Insurance
Medigap Plans Compared
Swipe to see all plans
| Benefits | A | B | C | D | F* | G* | K | L | M | N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part A coinsurance and hospital costs (up to 365 extra days) | ||||||||||
| Part B coinsurance or copayment | 50% | 75% | † | |||||||
| Blood (first 3 pints) | 50% | 75% | ||||||||
| Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment | 50% | 75% | ||||||||
| Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance | 50% | 75% | ||||||||
| Part A deductible$1,736 in 2026 | 50% | 75% | 50% | |||||||
| Part B deductible$283 in 2026 | ||||||||||
| Part B excess charges | ||||||||||
| Foreign travel emergency (up to plan limits) | 80% | 80% | 80% | 80% | 80% | 80% | ||||
| Yearly out-of-pocket limit2026 limits | $8,000 | $4,000 |
* Plans F and G also come in a high-deductible version. You pay Medicare-covered costs up to the deductible ($2,950 in 2026) before the plan pays.
Plans C and F are available only if you were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020.
Plans K and L pay 100% of covered services for the rest of the year once you reach the yearly out-of-pocket limit ($8,000 for Plan K and $4,000 for Plan L in 2026) and the Part B deductible.
† Plan N pays 100% of Part B coinsurance, except up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for ER visits that don’t result in an inpatient admission.
The 10 Standardized Medigap Plans
Medigap Plan A
Plan A covers the basic benefits every Medigap plan includes: Part A coinsurance and an extra 365 hospital days, Part B coinsurance, the first three pints of blood, and hospice coinsurance. It does not cover any deductibles.
Medigap Plan B
Plan B includes the basic benefits plus the Part A hospital deductible.
Medigap Plan C
Plan C covers both the Part A and Part B deductibles, skilled nursing coinsurance, and foreign travel emergencies. It is only available to people who were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020.
Medigap Plan D
Plan D covers everything Plan C does except the Part B deductible.
Medigap Plan F
Plan F covers every gap in Original Medicare, including the Part B deductible and excess charges. Like Plan C, it is only available to people who were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020. A high-deductible version is also available.
Medigap Plan G
Plan G covers everything Plan F does except the Part B deductible, making it the most complete plan available to people new to Medicare. A high-deductible version offers lower premiums in exchange for a higher deductible.
Medigap Plan K
Plan K pays 50% of most cost-sharing and has a yearly out-of-pocket limit. After you reach the limit, it pays 100% of covered services for the rest of the year.
Medigap Plan L
Plan L pays 75% of most cost-sharing and has a lower yearly out-of-pocket limit than Plan K.
Medigap Plan M
Plan M pays half of the Part A deductible and does not cover the Part B deductible or excess charges, in exchange for a lower premium.
Medigap Plan N
Plan N covers everything Plan G does except Part B excess charges, and you pay up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for emergency room visits that do not lead to an admission. It is a popular lower-premium alternative to Plan G.
Who Can Buy a Medigap Plan
To buy a Medigap plan, you must have both Medicare Part A and Part B. You keep paying your Part B premium along with your Medigap premium. Medigap plans work only with Original Medicare, so you cannot use one with a Medicare Advantage plan. Each plan covers one person, so spouses need separate policies, and Medigap does not include drug coverage, so most people also add a Part D plan.
The Best Time to Buy
Your Medigap Open Enrollment Period lasts six months, starting the first month you are 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. During this window, insurance companies must sell you any plan they offer at their best available rate, regardless of your health. After it ends, most states allow companies to ask health questions and decline you or charge more.
Why People Choose Medigap
Medigap gives you predictable costs and freedom of choice. Depending on the plan, you pay little or nothing when you get care, you can see any doctor or hospital in the country that accepts Medicare with no network or referrals, and your coverage stays the same from year to year. Medigap plans are guaranteed renewable, so the company cannot cancel your policy because of your health as long as you pay your premium, and your plan stays with you if you move to another state.
The trade-off is a higher monthly premium than many Medicare Advantage plans. Compare both options on our Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap page, or see every Medigap plan side by side on our plan comparison page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Medigap plan is the most popular?
For people new to Medicare, Plan G is the most popular because it covers everything except the Part B deductible. Plan N is a common choice for those who want a lower premium.
Do all companies charge the same price for the same plan?
No. Benefits are identical, but premiums vary by company, age, ZIP code, and pricing method, so it pays to compare.
Can I switch Medigap plans later?
You can apply to switch at any time, but outside your open enrollment period the company may ask health questions. Some states give extra rights to switch plans each year.
