Medicare Supplements (Medigap) Plans Guide

Medicare Supplements, also known as Medigap, are insurance plans that help cover your out of pocket medical costs with Medicare A & B. These costs are deductibles, co-insurance, and copay’s not covered by Medicare. Medicare Supplements are popular because they can help you have more security and peace of mind by keeping your out of pocket medical costs low.

Page Contents

These sections appear in order on this page.

Medicare Supplement Benefits
Five Things To Know About Medicare Supplements
How Medicare Supplements Work
Medicare Supplement Letter Plans Comparison Chart & Description
How To Choose A Medicare Supplement
Get Instant Medicare Supplement Rates With Top Insurers
Blog Posts
Medicare Supplement Frequently Asked Questions

Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Key Benefits

More financial security and peace of mind by having low out of pocket medical bills.

Better access to quality healthcare by reducing your financial burden.

Doctor & healthcare choice. Standard plans cover you at any doctor or medical provider that accepts Medicare. There are no networks.

5 Things To Know About Medicare Supplements (Medigap)

To provide a better understanding of Medicare Supplements, here are some important things you should know.

Each plan is represented by a letter, which means the how much coverage you have or how much out of pocket you’re responsible for.
Medicare Supplement Plans are offered by various private insurance companies. The coverage for each letter plan is the same at each insurance company that offers it. Rates and the quality of the company, however, can vary among the insurance providers.
When you have a Medicare Supplement policy it is secondary to Medicare A & B. Medicare receives and approves claims first, then forwards them to your Medicare Supplement insurer. Your plan must pay its part of all Medicare A & B approved claims.
With standard Medicare Supplements, you are covered any doctor or medical provider that accepts Medicare A & B. There are no doctor networks.
Once you have a Medicare Supplement policy, it is guaranteed to renew each year as long as you pay your premium. Your policy can never be canceled based on your age or health.

How Medicare Supplements (Medigap) Work

Medicare A & B is your primary medical insurance.
Medicare processes and approves claims.
Medicare forwards claims automatically through an electronic system to your Medicare Supplement provider.

Your Medicare Supplement insurer receives claims from Medicare.
They process claims based on Medicare’s instructions (Medicare Supplement insurers do not authorize claims themselves).
Claims are paid directly to your doctors and medical providers without paperwork on your part.

Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Plans & Coverage

As mentioned above, each Medicare Supplement Plan is represented by a letter, which means the amount of coverage you get. Medicare Supplement plans cover everything under Medicare A & B, so the amount of coverage you get with them essentially means how much in out of pocket costs you’re responsible for. There are many Medicare Supplement letter plans listed, however, there are only a few that most people choose from. The chart below shows you the coverage for the three most popular Medicare Supplements; Plan F, Plan G, and Plan N.

Top Medicare Supplement Plans Coverage Comparison Chart 2023
Part A & B Costs	Plan F	Plan G	Plan N
Covers All Part A Hospitalization And Nursing Facility Deductibles & Co-insurance	Yes	Yes	Yes
Provides 365 Additional Lifetime Hospital Days Paid At 100% (Over And Above Medicare)	Yes	Yes	Yes
Covers Part B 20% Co-insurance?	Yes	Yes	Yes
Covers Part B Deductible	Yes	No	No
Covers Part B Excess Charges (Amounts Billed By Doctors Over Medicare’s Fee For Service)	Yes	Yes	No
Are There Co-Pays After Deductible?	None	None	$20 Doctor / $50 Emergency Room
Your Annual Out Of Pocket Liability For Part A & B Medical Expenses	Plan F covers all Medicare A & B deductibles & co-insurance, so your annual liability is $0.	Part B Deductible Only Which Is $226 Per Year In 2023 Zero Liability After Deductible	Part B Deductible, $226 In 2023 $20 Doctor Copay / $50 ER Excess Charges If They Occur

*Click Here to compare rates for these plans.

*Click Here for profiles on our top insurance providers.

*Note: Medicare Supplement Plan F is still available for those who started Medicare prior to January 1st 2020. If you started Medicare Part A after this date, it is not available. Inquire with us for details.

Medicare Supplement Plan Descriptions

Medicare Supplement Plan F

Plan F covers 100% of Medicare A & B deductibles & co-insurance. It is the most coverage available, if you’re eligible. Plan F is still available for those who started Medicare Part A prior to January, 2020. If you started Medicare after that, it’s not available to you. The good news for those who want premium coverage is that Plan G is still available. Many of those who still have Plan F as an option have chosen Plan G.

Medicare Supplement Plan G

In recent years, Medicare Supplement Plan G has been the most popular plan. It covers all deductibles & co-insurance under Medicare A & B except the annual Part B deductible, which is $226 a year in 2023. So, if you have a Plan G policy, the annual Part B deductible is the only medical cost you are liable for. You have no deductibles or co-insurance after the deductible is met.

Medicare Supplement Plan N

Plan N is known as the value Medicare Supplement. It provides coverage similar to Plan G and a lower monthly premium. With Plan N, just like Plan G, you are responsible for the annual Part B deductible ($226 a year in 2023). After you meet your annual deductible, with Plan N, you have copays for the doctor and emergency room. With Plan G, you have no copays after the deductible. There is one more difference in coverage between N and G. Plan N does not cover Part B “Excess Charges” if they occur. These are costs when a doctor bills over the fee Medicare pays them for their services. Part B Excess Charges are rare, and when they occur, they are typically minimal. Plan N is a good option for those who want good coverage but also want keep their monthly premium as low as possible.

How To Choose A Medicare Supplement Plan

1. Review & understand how Medicare Supplements work and the coverage for top plans. Remember, there are 3 plans that most people choose from. In reality, 2 of the 3 options are most often chosen; Plan G or Plan N. The plans are very similar with slight differences in coverage and monthly cost.

2. Get a quote. Find out how much you’ll pay for the different plans. Rates are based on your age, zip code, sex, and possibly other factors such as if you smoke or use tobacco. There are also discounts available and we’ll help you maximize them. Click Here to get instant, personalized rates or call us at 512-537-7847.

3. Pull it all together. Weigh the coverage and monthly cost to determine which plan is best for you. If you would like to have more coverage, don’t want to think about copays, and don’t mind paying a little bit more monthly; Plan F or G may be your best option. If you don’t mind copays, don’t go to the doctor too often, and/ or would prefer a lower monthly cost; Plan N might be a better fit for you. Once you know which plan you want, you’ll just need to choose a quality insurance carrier with a competitive rate. We’re here to help. Our service is zero cost and we’ll help guide you to choosing your best option. Just give us a call at 512-537-7847 or Click Here to request information.

Get A Free Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Quote Comparison

Instant, personalized rates with top insurers

Top plans such as G, N, and F

After getting your quote

Call us to confirm your rate and about applying a discount of 5% – 20%. Most people will qualify.

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Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Frequently Asked Questions

When can I sign up for a Medicare Supplement?

If you’re new to Medicare, your open enrollment starts 6 months before you start Medicare and ends 5 months after that month. During this time period you can enroll in any Medicare Supplement policy without health questions. Your coverage will begin the month you start Medicare. If you are outside of your open Medicare Supplement open enrollment period, you can apply anytime, you may just need to answer health questions and have your application underwritten.

How do I sign up for a Medicare Supplement?

It’s easy. Just give us a call or request information. We’ll answer your question, provide you with rates, and make recommendations based on your needs and wants. Then, we can help you enroll in a plan right over the phone.

Will Medicare Supplements cover me at my doctors & medical providers?

Standard Medicare Supplement plans cover you at any doctor that accepts Medicare A & B. If your doctor accepts Traditional Medicare A & B, they should also accept a Standard Medicare Supplement with any insurance provider.

Do Medicare Supplements cover pre-existing conditions?

Coverage for pre-existing conditions varies with different insurance companies. Many Medicare Supplement insurers cover pre-existing conditions from the start of your coverage. Some Medicare Supplement insurers have a waiting period for pre-existing conditions that can be offset if you have maintained coverage.

Will my Medicare Supplement cost me more if I have pre-existing conditions?

No. Premium costs for Medicare Supplements are not based on your health or claims history.

Can Medicare Supplement insurance providers deny coverage for a service or procedure?

No. Medicare Supplements cover their part of the costs for all services provided under Medicare A & B. They do not determine if a service or procedure is covered, Medicare does.

Can I be dropped from a Medicare Supplement policy?

As long as you pay your premium and keep it up to date, no. Once you are covered by a Medicare Supplement policy it is guaranteed renewable each year and you can never be dropped because of your age, health, or claims history.

Do Medicare Supplements cover prescription drugs?

Medicare Supplements cover their part of costs for services provided under Medicare A & B. Medicare A & B only covers certain medications administered to you at a doctors office or in the hospital. To have coverage for medications you take regularly and fill at the pharmacy, you will need a stand alone Part D plan.

If I don’t take any medications or only a couple, do I still need a Part D prescription plan?

It is highly recommended that you enroll in a Part D prescription plan unless you have creditable prescription coverage through another source. If you don’t sign up for a Part D plan when you’re first eligible, and decide to enroll later, you may incur lifetime penalties.

Can my Medicare Supplement rate be increased?

The most common way Medicare Supplements are priced is called “attained age” pricing. This means that once you have a Medicare Supplement, your rates can increase each year based on your age when your policy automatically renews. Your Medicare Supplement rate can also increase based on changes to Medicare and rate increases for all insureds in a particular state. You cannot be singled out for rate increases because of your personal health and claims history.

If I choose a Medicare Supplement plan, can I change it later?

You can change your Medicare Supplement plan. Keep in mind, if you do, you more than likely will need to qualify and answer health questions.

Does it matter which insurance company provides my Medicare Supplement?

Each Medicare Supplement insurance provider is regulated by Medicare and required to provide the benefits and coverage based on your letter policy. Rates, service, and long term stability varies. It is these reasons why you should compare insurance providers and choose a quality option for your coverage.

What happens to my Medicare Supplement if I move?

In most cases, If you move, you can take your Medicare Supplement with you. The coverage and benefits are locked in. The monthly rate you pay, however, may adjust to rates in your new service area.

Will My Medicare Supplement cover me if I’m traveling?

Yes. Medicare Supplements work with Medicare A & B to cover you at any Medicare Approved doctor in the country. This includes when you’re traveling and have an emergency or if you schedule an appointment.

What is the difference between Medicare Supplements and Medicare Advantage?

Medicare Supplements are secondary insurance policies to Medicare A & B. In this case you keep Traditional Medicare as your primary insurance. Medicare Advantage plans, also known as Part C, are when your Medicare is replaced by a private insurance provider. In this case you have one plan package that includes all of your benefits. Inquire with your agent for more details.

If I choose a Medicare Supplement, can I change to an Advantage Plan later and vice versa?

If you start with a Medicare Supplement you can change to an Advantage Plan during your next valid open enrollment period. These occur annually or in special situations. If you start with an Advantage Plan and want to change to a Medicare Supplement later; you may have to answer health questions and qualify.

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We are an independent agency that offers a variety of plans & insurers. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-Medicare to get information on all your options.