Medicare Supplement plans – also called Medigap plans – are numbered A-N. Each lettered plan covers a different set of gaps in Medicare. This article is here to help you understand the basics of each plan, and if you would like more details for any plan, we have other articles that go more in depth on individual plans. To make it even easier, we’ve added an easy-to-read comparison chart just below.
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services updates their Medigap plans comparison chart every year, though a plans benefits do not typically change from year to year.
Some Medicare Supplement plans will cost more money and, in turn, offer you more coverage. Other plans may be cheaper, meaning you will have less complete coverage. Each individual person has different health needs and a different budget, so compare the plans and find the best one for you.
To start, first take a look at the Medigap plans comparison chart below.
Are Medigap Plans Part of Medicare?
No, Medigap plans are offered by private insurance companies. Original Medicare will not always cover 100% of your medical costs, so Medigap plans cover the remainder of the out-of-pocket costs that Medicare leaves up to you, the beneficiary, to cover.
Different Medigap Plans
In total, there are 12 different Medigap plans, lettered A-N. As was mentioned earlier, more expensive plans have more benefits, while cheaper plans leave more gaps in your coverage.
Some plans are split into the generic offering and the High Deductible offering. The High Deductible plans will have cheaper monthly premiums in exchange for higher deductibles. However, the coverage benefits for the generic plan and the High Deductible plans are the exact same.
Medigap Plan A
Plan A is the most basic coverage offering of all Medigap plans. With that said, Plan A will still cover the 20% of your outpatient treatments that Medicare does not cover. Covering the remainder of your outpatient treatments is possibly the most important benefit of all Medigap plans.
Every Medigap insurance carrier is legally required to offer Plan A. However, in certain states, Plan A may not be offered to people under the age of 65 and on Medicare disability.
Medigap Plan B
Plan B offers the same coverage as Plan A, but Plan B also covers the Medicare Part A hospital deductible. Be sure not to confuse Medigap Plan B with Medicare Part B. Part b is a part of Original Medicare that pays for outpatient medical costs.
Medigap Plan C
Plan C is one of the more comprehensive plans in terms of coverage. Plan C covers everything except Medicare excess charges, though these charges can be pretty steep. Plan C pays both your Plan A and Plan B deductibles and the 20% you owe to cover all outpatient expenses. Plan C is a popular plan.
Medigap Plan D
Plan D offers a lot of benefits, but it does not cover your Part B deductible, and it does not cover Medicare excess charge. Because of these holes in coverage, Plan D is one of the least popular plans. Do not confuse Plan D with Medicare Part D. Part D is your drug coverage.
Medigap Plan F
Plan F is the most popular Medigap plan on the market because it covers all charges that you would normally pay. Under Plan F, you will have no out-of-pocket costs for covered services. People love this plan because, with no out-of-pocket costs, Plan F brings a deep sense of security.
There is also a high deductible Plan F. Under the high deductible plan, you get all the benefits of Plan F, but you exchange lower monthly premiums for a higher deductible.
One thing to note is that Plan F is no longer available to new Medicare enrollees because it was phased out in 2020. If you were enrolled in Medicare before 2020, however, you may be able to switch to Plan F.
Medigap Plan G
Plan G has been growing in popularity since the phasing out of Plan F. Plan G covers nearly everything that Plan F covers, except for the Part B deductible. Plan G tends to offer highly competitive premium rates, which can make it a better plan for its value than Plan F.
As with Plan F, Plan G also offers a high deductible version. Again, you exchange lower monthly premiums for a higher deductible.
Medgap Plans K, L, and M
These three plans have been grouped together because they are the least popular of all Medigap plans. Customers rarely seek these plans, so many carriers don’t even offer Medigap Plans K, L and M.
All three plans offer partial coverage of certain benefits. For example, Plan K will cover 50% of most items, while Plan L covers 75% of most items. The only real benefit of these plans is their rates.
Medigap Plan N
Plan N is a newer plan, having been created in 2010. Under Plan N, you have to pay copays for certain things like doctor and E.R. visits, but you have lower premiums in exchange. Plan N also does not cover Medicare excess charges. Our experience with Plan N is that people like the small premiums but can find paying the small charges and bills to be annoying.
Remember, under Plan N, you must pay copays for doctor and E.R. visits, but you get lower premiums. If you’re looking for affordability while still having a pretty solid amount of coverage, Plan N might be for you.