How to Compare Medicare Supplement Plans

With 10 standardized plan letters, three different pricing methods, and dozens of insurers competing in each state, knowing how to compare Medicare Supplement plans effectively can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year. Roughly 13 to 14 million Americans carry Medigap policies according to NAIC data, and enrollment has continued to grow as more baby boomers reach age 65. Here is the single most important idea in this whole guide: because federal law standardizes what each plan letter covers, two policies with the same letter cover exactly the same benefits – so your real job is to compare price, pricing method, carrier strength, and service rather than coverage. This guide walks through every plan letter, highlights the cost differences, and helps you identify the best fit for your situation. Figures below reflect 2026 and change every year, so always confirm current numbers at Medicare.gov.

Overview of All Medigap Plan Letters

Federal law standardizes Medigap into 10 plan letters: A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N. (In Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, Medigap is standardized differently, so residents of those states should check their state-specific plans.) Each letter covers a specific combination of Original Medicare cost-sharing gaps. Plans C and F are only available to beneficiaries who became eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020, because those plans cover the Part B deductible – and the MACRA law of 2015 prohibited any Medigap plan sold to newly eligible enrollees from covering that deductible. If you were already eligible for Medicare before that date, you can generally still buy or keep Plan C or Plan F; if you became eligible on or after January 1, 2020, those two plans are closed to you.

When you compare Medicare Supplement plans, remember that a Plan G from Mutual of Omaha covers exactly the same benefits as a Plan G from Cigna or AARP/UnitedHealthcare. The benefits are set by the government, not the insurer. The only variables between companies are premium price, the method used to set and raise that premium, customer service quality, and financial stability. This standardization is what makes comparison shopping straightforward once you understand the plan letters – and it is why an identical Plan G can cost dramatically different amounts from one carrier to the next for no difference in coverage.

What Each Plan Covers

Plans A and B: Basic Coverage

Plan A is the most basic Medigap option. It covers Part A coinsurance and hospital costs for an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits are exhausted, the first three pints of blood, Part B coinsurance or copayment, and Part A hospice care coinsurance. Plan B adds coverage for the Part A hospital deductible (about $1,736 per benefit period in 2026 – verify the current figure at Medicare.gov). Neither plan covers the Part B deductible, Part B excess charges, skilled nursing facility coinsurance, or foreign travel emergencies.

Plans C and F: Legacy Comprehensive Plans

Plans C and F are the most comprehensive options, covering all Medicare cost-sharing gaps including the Part B deductible. Plan F adds Part B excess charge coverage that Plan C lacks. Both plans are closed to anyone who became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. Because these plans no longer accept newly eligible beneficiaries, their risk pools are aging, which tends to drive premiums higher over time – a key reason many advisors steer newer enrollees toward Plan G instead. Monthly premiums for Plan F typically range from roughly $160 to $330 or more for a 65-year-old, though your actual quote depends heavily on your ZIP code, carrier, and rating method. Learn more in our Medicare Plan F guide.

Plan G: The New Standard

Plan G has effectively replaced Plan F as the go-to comprehensive Medigap plan for people newly eligible for Medicare. It covers everything Plan F covers except the Part B deductible. Premiums commonly range from about $120 to $280 monthly, and the annual Part B deductible (about $283 in 2026) is the only routine out-of-pocket cost for covered Part B services. For most beneficiaries, Plan G offers better long-term value than Plan F because the premium savings typically outpace the modest deductible cost – and because Plan G’s risk pool is still open and growing. A high-deductible version of Plan G (HD Plan G) is also available: it charges a much lower monthly premium in exchange for a high annual deductible (roughly $2,800 in 2026, indexed each year) that you pay before the plan begins covering gaps. HD Plan G can suit healthy beneficiaries who want catastrophic-style protection at a low premium. See our full Medicare Supplement Plan G analysis and our Plan F vs Plan G comparison.

Plan D: Solid Mid-Tier Option

Plan D covers the same benefits as Plan G minus Part B excess charges. Premiums are often slightly lower than Plan G, typically in the neighborhood of $110 to $240 per month. Plan D is a reasonable choice if all of your providers accept Medicare assignment, which eliminates the excess charge concern in the first place.

Plan N: Popular Budget-Friendly Choice

Plan N covers most of the same benefits as Plan G but requires copays of up to $20 for office visits and up to $50 for emergency room visits that do not result in admission. It does not cover Part B excess charges. Premiums typically range from about $90 to $210 monthly, making it meaningfully cheaper than Plan G for many people. Plan N is a strong fit if you are relatively healthy, see providers who accept assignment, and are comfortable trading small copays for a lower premium. Explore the tradeoffs in our Medicare Plan N vs Plan G comparison.

Plans K and L: Cost-Sharing Alternatives

Plans K and L take a different approach by covering only a percentage of certain benefits until you hit an annual out-of-pocket limit, after which the plan pays 100 percent of covered services for the rest of the year. Plan K covers 50 percent of most cost-sharing with an annual out-of-pocket limit of $8,000 in 2026. Plan L covers 75 percent with a $4,000 annual limit in 2026. (These limits are set by Medicare and rise most years – confirm the current figures at Medicare.gov.) Premiums are among the lowest of any Medigap plans. These plans suit healthy beneficiaries who want catastrophic protection at the lowest possible premium and can absorb more cost-sharing in a bad year.

Plan M: The Overlooked Option

Plan M covers 50 percent of the Part A hospital deductible and everything else that Plan D covers. It is not widely sold, and availability varies by state. Premiums are moderately lower than Plan D but usually not low enough to attract large enrollment numbers, so many shoppers never see it quoted.

Cost Comparison Across Plan Letters

To effectively compare Medicare Supplement plans, you need to look beyond the monthly premium and consider total annual cost including deductibles, copays, and potential excess charges. The table below shows approximate, illustrative annual figures for a healthy 65-year-old with moderate healthcare usage; your real numbers depend on your state, carrier, age, tobacco use, and rating method, so treat these as ballpark only and verify with live quotes.

*Illustrative only. Premiums vary widely by ZIP code, carrier, age, and rating method; deductible and cap figures are 2026 amounts that change yearly. Confirm everything with current quotes and Medicare.gov.

For a comprehensive cost breakdown, visit our Medigap Cost Comparison Chart.

Three Pricing Methods Insurers Use

How an insurer prices your premium matters as much as which plan letter you choose – arguably more over a long retirement. There are three rating methods allowed under federal and state rules, and two identical Plan G policies can diverge by thousands of dollars over 20 years purely because of the method behind them.

Community-rated (also called no-age-rated): Everyone with the plan pays the same base premium regardless of age. Starting premiums tend to be higher, but they increase only with inflation and medical cost trends, not because you get older. This is often the most predictable method for long-term cost stability.

Issue-age-rated: Your premium is based on your age when you first buy the policy and does not go up simply because you age. Younger buyers lock in lower rates. Premiums still rise with inflation and medical trends, but not because of your birthday.

Attained-age-rated: Your premium increases as you age, on top of inflation and medical trend adjustments. Starting premiums are usually the lowest of the three methods, which makes these policies look cheap at 65, but costs can rise substantially over a 20- to 30-year retirement. Many Medigap policies use attained-age rating, so it is essential to ask which method a quote uses before you judge it on the first-year price alone.

How to Shop and Compare Quotes

Start at the official Medicare.gov Plan Finder / Medigap plan finder, where you can enter your ZIP code and see every plan and insurer available in your area along with their current premiums. This is the authoritative, unbiased starting point. You can also call your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for free, unbiased, one-on-one counseling – SHIP counselors do not sell insurance and can walk you through your specific situation at no cost. Independent insurance brokers who represent multiple carriers can also pull side-by-side quotes and explain the fine print, usually at no direct cost to you, though they earn commissions, so it is worth cross-checking their quotes against Medicare.gov.

When comparing quotes, match the same plan letter across carriers – and remember the coverage is identical, so a higher price buys you nothing extra in benefits. Confirm the rating method (community, issue-age, or attained-age). Check each insurer’s AM Best financial strength rating (many advisors suggest A- or higher) and their NAIC complaint index, which shows how often customers complain relative to the company’s size. Ask how long the carrier has sold Medigap in your state and its history of rate increases. Finally, look for available discounts including nonsmoker, household, annual-payment, and electronic-funds-transfer discounts, which can reduce premiums by roughly 5 to 15 percent.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Medigap plan is the most popular?

Plan G is currently the most popular Medigap plan among new enrollees, according to NAIC market share data. Plan F retains the largest total enrollment, but its pool is closed to newly eligible beneficiaries and slowly shrinking. Plan N is another popular choice for new enrollees who want a lower premium. For help deciding, see our guide on what is the best Medicare Supplement plan.

If the benefits are standardized, why do prices differ so much?

Because insurers set their own premiums, choose their own rating method, and target different customer pools. A Plan G is a Plan G in terms of what it pays, but one company may price it 30 to 50 percent higher than another in the same ZIP code. That is exactly why comparison shopping pays off: you are hunting for the lowest price on identical coverage from a financially strong carrier, not for “better” benefits.

Can I switch Medigap plans after I enroll?

You can apply to switch at any time, but outside your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period, insurers can require medical underwriting in most states – meaning they can charge more or decline you based on your health. Some states offer annual guaranteed-issue windows or “birthday rules” that let you switch without underwriting. Check your state’s rules before assuming you can switch freely.

Do Medigap plans cover dental, vision, or hearing?

No. Medigap plans only cover gaps in Original Medicare coverage. Dental, vision, and hearing benefits require separate insurance policies or discount plans. Medicare Advantage plans sometimes bundle these benefits, which is one reason some beneficiaries choose Advantage over Medigap. Compare the two approaches in our Medigap vs Medicare Advantage guide.

Do I need a Part D plan with Medigap?

Yes, in most cases. Medigap does not cover prescription drugs. You should generally enroll in a standalone Part D plan when you are first eligible to avoid a lifelong late enrollment penalty, unless you have other creditable drug coverage. Learn about drug coverage costs in our Part D donut hole article.

Choosing Your Plan

The right plan depends on your health status, visit frequency, provider choices, budget, and how much price stability you want over the long run. If you want comprehensive coverage with minimal hassle, Plan G is the default recommendation for most newly eligible beneficiaries. If you are cost-conscious and healthy, Plan N delivers strong coverage at a lower premium, and HD Plan G offers an even lower premium in exchange for a high annual deductible. If you want the absolute lowest premium and are comfortable with significant cost-sharing, Plans K or L provide catastrophic protection with defined annual out-of-pocket caps. Whatever plan you choose, try to enroll during your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period, when insurers must accept you regardless of health and offer their best available rate. Above all, because the benefits are standardized, compare on price, rating method, and carrier strength – and verify every current figure at Medicare.gov before you commit. For broader context on healthcare coverage decisions, explore our healthcare policy guide and healthcare costs guide.

Sources

• Medicare.gov – “Costs” and “How to compare Medigap policies” (medicare.gov)
• Medicare.gov – Medigap plan benefit comparison chart, 2026 Plan K/L out-of-pocket limits (medicare.gov)
• CMS – Medicare & You handbook and Medigap standardization rules under MACRA (cms.gov)
• NAIC – Medicare Supplement (Medigap) market and enrollment data (naic.org)
• State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIP) – free, unbiased Medicare counseling (shiphelp.org)