Compare Medigap Plans: Plan G, Plan N, K, L, M and the Legacy C and F

Medigap is also called Medicare Supplement insurance. It is sold by private insurance companies. It may help pay some costs that Original Medicare leaves behind, such as certain deductibles, coinsurance and copayments. Medigap works alongside Original Medicare. It does not replace it.

Medigap plans are labeled with letters. In most states, a plan with the same letter offers the same basic benefits no matter which company sells it. Massachusetts, Minnesota and Wisconsin standardize Medigap differently, so the letters may not apply the same way there. Carriers may differ in price, service and how they rate their plans.

Not every letter is sold to everyone. People newly eligible for Medicare can generally buy Plans A, B, D, G, K, L, M and N, plus high-deductible Plan G. Plans C and F, and high-deductible F, are available only to people who became eligible before January 1, 2020. Plans E, H, I and J were discontinued and are not sold today. If you are searching for Medigap Plan H, that is why it is hard to find.

Many people begin by comparing Plan G and Plan N. Plan G is often described as a broad plan that leaves few cost-sharing gaps once the Part B deductible is met. Plan N is often described as having somewhat different cost-sharing, such as possible copays for some visits. Each person weighs these differences in their own way.

High-deductible Plan G is another option some people look at. It pairs a deductible you pay first with Plan G benefits afterward. Plans K and L share costs with you up to an annual out-of-pocket limit. Plan M has its own mix of shared costs. Plan F, where available to those who qualify, has traditionally been seen as the most comprehensive of the older plans.

Many people also weigh Medigap against Medicare Advantage. Medigap may let you use any provider nationwide that accepts Medicare, with no network or referrals, and its cost-sharing tends to be predictable. Trade-offs may include generally higher monthly premiums, possible medical underwriting outside open enrollment or guaranteed issue, a separate Part D plan for drugs, and no routine dental, vision or hearing. Medicare Advantage often has lower premiums, an annual out-of-pocket maximum, extra benefits and drug coverage in many plans. Its trade-offs include networks, prior authorization and copays. Neither is right for everyone.

A Medigap agent is a licensed professional who may help you sort through the plan letters. Agents who work with several companies may be able to show you more than one option. A Medigap agent can also explain how the rules work where you live. Call 1-800-MEDIGAP for more information.

A first conversation is usually relaxed. The agent may ask about your doctors, how often you see them, your prescriptions and what budget feels comfortable. They may also ask when you became eligible for Medicare, because that can affect which letters are open to you.

Good questions to ask include: Which plan letters can I buy? Does my state have open enrollment or guaranteed issue rules that apply to me? How do the plans I'm considering differ in cost-sharing? How might a separate drug plan fit in? Confirm current rules with Medicare.gov, your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), or a licensed agent.