What a Medicare Supplement includes
A Medicare Supplement (also called Medigap) is private insurance designed to help pay certain Original Medicare deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance. You still have Part A and Part B. You generally need a separate Part D plan for prescriptions.
Standardized plan letters
In most states, Medigap benefits are standardized by letter. Plan G and Plan N are the letters most new Medicare beneficiaries compare today. Plan F is generally not available to people who became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020.
When you can buy with fewer health questions
Federal guaranteed-issue rights are strongest during your Medigap Open Enrollment — typically the 6 months after you are 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. Outside that window, insurers in many states may use medical Health questions a Medicare Supplement company may ask. The company can charge more or decline the application. Some windows do not allow those questions.. California has additional rules that can matter; a licensed agent can explain what applies to you.
Premiums are not the only number
Premiums vary by company, ZIP code, age, and tobacco use. Compare the letter’s benefits, household discounts, and rate history. No page on this site can tell you which company or letter is “best. ” Whether Original Medicare plus a Medicare Supplement fits better than Advantage is a different page: Medicare Supplement vs Advantage.