Medicare Supplement plans (Medigap)

A Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan works alongside Original Medicare to pay most of the deductibles, copays, and 20% coinsurance that Medicare leaves you responsible for. There are no networks — if a provider accepts Medicare anywhere in the country, your Medigap plan works. That's the freedom people pay a monthly premium to keep.

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Coverage guide

What this page is about

Medicare Supplement, also called Medigap, is private coverage that works after Original Medicare. This page focuses only on Supplements — Plan G, Plan N, underwriting, rate increases, doctor freedom, and why Medigap is usually chosen for predictability rather than extra perks.

How it differs from Medicare Advantage

Medigap does not replace Medicare. Original Medicare remains primary, and the Supplement pays some or most of your remaining Medicare-approved costs. There are no dental bundles or OTC cards, but there is also no private plan network for Medicare-covered care.

Plan G and Plan N are standardized — benefits are the same across carriers with the same letter.
You can see any doctor nationwide who accepts Medicare.
Premiums are usually higher than Advantage but out-of-pocket surprises are usually lower.

What it usually covers

Part A hospital deductible and coinsurance depending on the plan letter
Part B coinsurance after Medicare pays its share
Skilled nursing coinsurance and foreign travel emergency benefits on many plans
Plan G generally covers all Medicare-approved gaps except the Part B deductible

What it usually does not cover

Prescription drugs — you need a separate Part D plan
Routine dental, vision, hearing aids, or long-term care
Services Medicare itself does not approve
Late enrollment or underwriting approval if you apply outside protected windows

Best fit

People who want nationwide doctor freedom
Frequent travelers and snowbirds
Clients who prefer predictable medical costs over extras
People enrolling during their Medigap Open Enrollment window or a guaranteed-issue right

Usually not the right fit

Someone who cannot comfortably pay the monthly premium
People mainly shopping for dental, vision, OTC, or gym perks
Clients who missed their protected window and cannot pass underwriting
Someone who is comfortable with a managed-care network and wants the lowest monthly premium

Because Medigap benefits are standardized, the real work is comparing rate history, household discounts, underwriting rules, and whether Plan G, Plan N, or another letter fits your risk tolerance.

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How it works

1You keep Original Medicare. Part A + Part B stay your primary coverage — Medicare pays first on every claim.
2Medigap picks up the leftovers. The plan pays the Part A deductible, the Part B 20% coinsurance, and (Plan G) the Part B deductible.
3Any doctor that accepts Medicare. No networks, no referrals. Coverage travels with you nationwide.
4Add a standalone Part D. Medigap doesn't cover drugs — you enroll in a separate Part D plan for prescriptions.

How the money flows on a $10,000 hospital bill

Plan G covers everything Original Medicare leaves except the $257 (2025) Part B deductible.

How Medigap works with Original Medicare

Medicare pays its share of a covered service first (typically 80% of the Medicare-approved amount for Part B). Your Medigap plan then pays some or all of what's left, depending on which lettered plan you chose. You never touch the network question — Medicare's rules apply nationwide.

Medicare pays first, Medigap pays second, you pay any remainder
Works with any provider who accepts Medicare — no network restrictions
Guaranteed renewable — the carrier can't drop you for using the plan or getting sick
Doesn't include prescription drugs — you'll add a standalone Part D plan
Doesn't include dental, vision, or hearing — those are separate policies

The plans that actually matter in 2025

Medigap plans are standardized by the federal government and labeled by letter. Plan G from Aetna covers exactly the same things as Plan G from Mutual of Omaha or Cigna — the difference is price, service, and rate-increase history. Only three plans are worth serious consideration for most new-to-Medicare enrollees.

Plan G — the gold standard. Covers everything Medicare leaves behind except the small annual Part B deductible ($257 in 2025). After that, $0 out-of-pocket on Medicare-covered services.
Plan N — lower premium than G. You pay small copays ($20 office visit, $50 ER waived if admitted) and any excess charges from providers who don't take Medicare assignment.
High-Deductible Plan G — lowest premium of the three. You pay first-dollar costs up to the deductible (~$2,870 in 2025), then Plan G kicks in. Great for healthy people who want catastrophic-only protection.

Why the enrollment window is so important

You get a one-time, 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period that starts the month you're 65 AND enrolled in Part B. During this window, no carrier can decline you, charge more, or exclude coverage based on your health. Miss it — and in most states — you'll answer health questions to switch plans later, and carriers can decline you.

6-month window, one time only, tied to Part B enrollment (not your birthday)
Guaranteed-issue rights also apply in specific 'trial right' situations
A handful of states (CT, MA, ME, NY) allow year-round guaranteed issue with different rules
Missed window = future switches typically require medical underwriting

Who Medigap fits best

Medigap is the right call for people who value predictability and freedom over the lowest possible premium.

You travel, split time between states, or want any-Medicare-provider access
You want to know your worst-case medical year in advance (basically the Part B deductible for Plan G)
You see specialists at out-of-area hospitals or teaching institutions
You're willing to pay a higher premium ($120–$250+/month) to avoid copays and prior authorizations
You want your plan to work the same way at age 85 as it did at 65

What we do for you

We shop Plan G, Plan N, and High-Deductible Plan G across every carrier licensed in your state, factor in each carrier's rate-increase history (not just today's price), and enroll you with the carrier that's still likely to be competitive five years from now. We also pair you with the right Part D plan and answer the questions your family asks you.

Plan G vs. Plan N vs. High-Deductible G

The three Medigap plans we recommend most in Georgia and Florida.

Feature	Plan G	Plan N	High-Deductible G
Typical monthly premium (age 65)	$135–$180	$110–$140	$45–$75
Part A deductible ($1,676)	Paid	Paid	You pay until $2,870 met
Part B deductible ($257)	You pay	You pay	You pay
Part B 20% coinsurance	Paid	Paid (small copays)	Paid after deductible
Office / ER copays	None	$20 office, $50 ER	None after deductible
Part B excess charges	Covered	Not covered	Covered
Foreign travel emergency	80% up to $50k	80% up to $50k	80% up to $50k
Best for	Predictable, most-coverage buyers	Healthy budget-conscious buyers	Younger 65s and reserve-heavy retirees

Example costs

Sample Plan G rates from carriers we appoint with in the Atlanta metro.

65 y/o female, non-smoker, Fulton County GA — Plan G

$135–$165/mo

≈$1,620–$1,980/yr

70 y/o male, non-smoker, Cobb County GA — Plan N

$115–$150/mo

≈$1,380–$1,800/yr + small copays

65 y/o couple, Broward County FL — High-Deductible G

$55–$85/mo each

Worst case: $2,870 deductible + premium

Ranges are typical 2025 examples for illustration only — request a personalized quote for exact pricing.

Common questions

Do I still need a Part D drug plan with Medigap?

Yes. Medigap covers medical costs only — no prescriptions. You'll pair it with a standalone Part D plan. Skipping Part D triggers a permanent late-enrollment penalty if you enroll later without other creditable drug coverage.

Can I switch Medigap plans later?

Yes, but outside your initial 6-month window most states require medical underwriting. Some states (CA, MO, OR, WA, and others) have annual guaranteed-issue windows or 'birthday rules' that let you switch to an equal or lesser plan without underwriting.

Which carrier is best?

The lowest premium today isn't always the lowest in five years. We look at each carrier's historical rate-increase pattern, financial ratings, and customer service track record — not just this month's quote.

What's the difference between Medigap and Medicare Advantage?

Medigap works with Original Medicare and pays what Medicare doesn't — any provider, higher premium, minimal out-of-pocket. Advantage replaces Original Medicare with a private plan — network-based, low or $0 premium, copays as you use care. They're opposite trade-offs.

Will my Medigap premium go up every year?

Almost always yes — carriers file annual rate increases based on claims, age, and inflation. That's why we prioritize carriers with a stable pricing history over the lowest first-year quote.

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