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
Each Medicare Supplement plan, also called a Medigap plan, has the same coverage no matter what company you choose, as long as it has the same letter. Because the coverage is always the same for each plan letter, it's easy to compare the benefits of different Medigap plans.
Our top picks
Other plans
Average costs are for a 65-year-old woman who does not smoke. Rates vary by location, age, gender and other factors.
Our top picks
Average costs are for a 65-year-old woman who does not smoke. Rates vary by location, age, gender and other factors.
Other plans
Plan A | Plan B | Plan C | Plan D | Plan L | Plan M | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | $141 | $179 | $210 | $167 | $112 | $135 |
| Part A coinsurance | ||||||
| Part B coinsurance | 75% | |||||
| Blood (3 pints) | 75% | |||||
| Part A hospice care | 75% | |||||
| Skilled nursing facility | 75% | |||||
| Part A deductible | 75% | 50% | ||||
| Part B deductible | ||||||
| Part B excess charges | ||||||
| Foreign travel emergency | 80% | 80% | 80% | |||
| Out-of-pocket limit | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $3,530 | N/A |
Average costs are for a 65-year-old woman who does not smoke. Rates vary by location, age, gender and other factors.
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All Medigap plans pay for some of your Medicare Part A and B coinsurance. This will reduce or eliminate what you pay for medical care, time spent in a hospital and hospice care. 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 nearly 73% of all Medigap enrollment.
If you expect to need ongoing health treatments or expensive procedures, it's usually cheaper overall to buy a plan with better coverage to reduce or 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.
These plans can be expensive, with an average cost of $148 per month. However, that total annual cost of $1,776 means that you'll eliminate most expenses for doctors, specialists, medical tests and hospital care.
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 this coverage by letter is what's offered 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'd pay the first $1,632 of your hospital bills out of pocket before the plan started 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 $1,632 deductible and any remaining hospital coinsurance bills, eliminating most of your costs.
Medigap Plan C provides good benefits, covering every category of care except Medicare Part B excess charges. However, the plan is only available to those who 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 the doctor or medical provider 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 and 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 they accept the Medicare-approved amount (also called the assignment). If they don't accept the amount, an excess charge of up to 15% will be billed to you, or if you have coverage, it's billed to your Medigap plan.
Medigap Plan D has good overall benefits and will cover your medical copayments for doctors, hospitals, skilled nursing facilities and hospice care. It also covers the Medicare Part A deductible of $1,632, the Medicare Part B deductible of $240 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 enroll if you were eligible for Medicare prior to Jan. 1, 2020. If you don't meet this requirement, 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, $36 more per month than Plan G. However, the only extra benefit is that you'd have coverage for the Medicare Part B deductible of $240. In this case, you'd be paying $432 more per year for Plan G in order to save $240.
If the cost difference between Plan F and Plan G is less than $20 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 $240.
The only plan with better coverage is Plan F, which does cover the $240 deductible for medical care. But Plan F is only available for those who were eligible for Medicare prior to 2020.
Plan G is also a popular plan that's offered by most insurance companies, including low-cost providers. This means you may 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 is the most affordable coverage option. It covers more categories of medical expenses than Plan A, but in most cases, the plan only covers half of your portion of the medical bill.
For example, if you had a medical procedure that cost $1,000, Original Medicare would typically pay 80% or $800. Of the remaining 20%, Plan K would pay half, splitting the bill so that 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 $7,060 to prevent 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 better out-of-pocket maximum of $3,530.
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 $1,632 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 had Original Medicare coverage provided through the government, you'd 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: When compared to Medicare Advantage, Medigap plans are usually best for those who are willing to pay more each month in order to have fewer medical expenses. They're also great for those who want plenty of coverage as they get older, are chronically ill or want to avoid most deductibles or copays.
- Best companies: The best Medicare Supplement providers include AARP/UnitedHealthcare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Mutual of Omaha and Aetna.
- 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'd 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 providers 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.
Determine 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 will eliminate any hospitalization costs within this category of coverage. 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 K | $816 | $0 |
| No Medigap plan | $1,632 | $0-$816 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 | $240 | $0 |
| Plan K | $240 | 10% of costs |
| No Medigap plan | $240 | 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) in order to get better coverage. In turn, the more expensive plan would need to save you $600 in medical costs for it to be worth it.
The rule of thumb is that those who have chronic illnesses or who need ongoing medical care will usually get the best deal by paying more for a plan with better coverage in order to save on medical costs. In contrast, someone with low to moderate medical needs will generally save money by choosing a cheaper plan and paying more for their medical care.
Example situation: Moderate medical needs
If you have moderate medical needs, a cheaper Medigap plan might make sense. For example, in a scenario where someone gets $3,000 worth of medical treatment, the cheaper plan saves them $576 during the year.
Plan G | Plan K | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of plan | $1,776 per year | $924 per year |
| Doctor appointments, tests and other medical care | $240 | $516 |
| Hospitalization and inpatient care | $0 | $0 |
| Yearly total | $2,016 | $1,440 |
In another situation where a person needs ongoing health care and hospitalization, it can be a better deal to get a Medigap plan with more coverage. Here, the person got some hospital care and had $20,000 worth of additional medical treatment. By choosing Plan G, they could save $1,940 during the year.
Plan G | Plan K | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of plan | $1,776 per year | $924 per year |
| Doctor appointments, tests and other medical care | $240 | $2,216 |
| Hospitalization and inpatient care | $0 | $816 |
| Yearly total | $2,016 | $3,956 |
Look for other expense categories
Other Medigap categories of coverage — like skilled nursing, hospice and foreign travel care — 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 provide 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 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.
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.
And 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.
Below are sample costs of what you can expect to pay for these services.
Medigap plan | Skilled nursing facility | Hospice care | Foreign travel emergencies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plan F | $0 | $0 | 20% |
| Plan G | $0 | $0 | 20% |
| Plan K | $0 to $102 | 2.5% of inpatient respite care and up to $2.50 for each prescription | All costs |
| No Medigap plan | $0 to $204 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.
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High-deductible versions of Medigap Plans F and G provide the same level of coverage but require you to pay for the first $2,800 in medical expenses before the Medigap plan will start contributing to your health care costs.
This makes them a great fit for those with low to moderate medical needs who don't want coverage for routine care and do want coverage if they have a medical emergency. These plans have very low prices. But remember that you'll be paying out of pocket for both the insurance plan and the first $2,800 of your medical care.
For example, during routine care, an enrollee would initially have coverage through their Medicare Part B benefits. When getting medical care, they would pay the $240 deductible and 20% for the rest of the medical costs. Then, if a medical incident resulted in $20,000 in medical bills, Medicare Part B would still cover 80% of the cost, leaving $4,000 of the bill unpaid. After your spending toward all deductibles and copays reaches $2,800, the Medigap plan's full benefits will kick in, eliminating any other copayment charges.
-
A Medigap Select plan limits coverage to the insurance company's network of providers. They're typically offered for the more popular plans such as a Medigap Select Plan F or a Medigap Select Plan G.
A Select plan will give you the same coverage as a traditional Medigap plan. However, instead of having coverage for any doctor that accepts Medicare, your coverage is limited to the doctors and hospitals that the insurance company considers in-network. If you're willing to give up some provider flexibility, a Select plan can help you reduce your monthly costs.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the most comprehensive Medicare Supplement plan?
Medigap Plan F is the Supplement plan with the best overall benefits. However, Plan F is only available for those who were eligible for Medicare prior to Jan. 1, 2020. The second-best Supplement plan is Medigap Plan G, which is available to all Medicare enrollees.
How do you pick a Medicare Supplement plan?
First, compare your coverage options based on the Medigap plan letter. This can help you choose the right level of coverage for your situation. Next, you can compare insurance companies to see which insurer offers the best deal in your area.
Do all Medicare Supplement plans pay the same?
No, the amount of coverage for medical services changes based on the Medicare Supplement plan. However, plans of the same letter have the same benefits no matter what company you buy from. So a Medigap Plan G from Humana will pay the same as a Plan G from AARP/UnitedHealthcare.
Why is Medigap so expensive?
A Medigap plan can drastically cut your medical expenses or even eliminate them. By paying more each month for a Medigap plan, many enrollees will have little to no costs for doctor appointments, hospitalization or medical procedures.
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 2024 are from actuarial data for private insurance carriers. Rates are based on a 65-year-old female nonsmoker and 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 enrollment in 2020, as researched by AHIP, a health insurance industry association.
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Invitations for application for insurance may be made through QW Insurance Solutions, LLC ("QWIS"), a separate subsidiary of QuoteWizard, LLC ("QuoteWizard"), a LendingTree subsidiary, or through its designated agents, only where licensed and appointed. QWIS is a non-government licensed health insurance agency and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency. Find licensing information for QWIS.
Callers will be directed to a licensed and certified representative of Medicare Supplement insurance and/or Medicare Advantage HMO, HMO SNP, PPO, PPO SNP and PFFS organizations. Calls will be routed to a licensed insurance agent who can provide you with further information about the insurance plans offered by one or more nationally recognized insurance companies. Each of the organizations they represent has a Medicare contract. Enrollment in any plan depends on contract renewal.
Availability of benefits and plans varies by carrier and location and may be limited to certain times of the year, unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 73 organizations that offer 5,110 products in your area. Contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP), to get information on all of your options.
These numbers provided are not specific to your area, but rather represent the number of organizations and the number of products available on a national basis. We will connect you with licensed insurance agents who can provide information about the number of organizations they represent and the number of products they offer in your service area. Not all plans offer all of these benefits. Benefits may vary by carrier and location. Limitations and exclusions may apply.
Medicare has neither reviewed nor endorsed the information contained on this website.
Medicare supplement insurance is available to people age 65 or older enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B, and in some states to those under age 65 eligible for Medicare due to disability or end stage renal disease.
Medicare Advantage and Part D plans and benefits are offered by these carriers: Aetna Medicare, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Anthem Blue Cross, Aspire Health Plan, Cigna Healthcare, Dean Health Plan, Devoted Health, Florida Blue Medicare, GlobalHealth, Health Care Service Corporation, Healthy Blue, Humana, Molina Healthcare, Mutual of Omaha, Premera Blue Cross, Medica Central Health Plan, SCAN Health Plan, Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, Simply, UnitedHealthcare, Wellcare and WellPoint.
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