Medicare Supplement Plan C: What It Covers and Costs

Among the ten standardized Medigap plan letters, Medicare Supplement Plan C holds a unique and now-historical position. It offers comprehensive coverage that includes the Part B deductible, a benefit that federal law no longer allows new Medicare enrollees to buy. If you became eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020, Plan C remains an option worth understanding. If you became eligible on or after that date, Plan C is not available to you, but this article will help you understand what alternatives provide nearly identical protection. All dollar figures below reflect the 2026 Original Medicare cost-sharing amounts published by Medicare; confirm current numbers at Medicare.gov before making any decision.

What Plan C Covers

Plan C covers virtually all of the cost-sharing that Original Medicare leaves behind. The specific benefits include the Part A hospital deductible ($1,736 per benefit period in 2026), Part A coinsurance for hospital stays beyond 60 days, skilled nursing facility coinsurance for days 21 through 100 ($217 per day in 2026), the Part B annual deductible ($283 in 2026), Part B coinsurance (generally the 20 percent of the Medicare-approved amount that you would otherwise owe), the first three pints of blood, hospice care coinsurance or copayments, and 80 percent of eligible foreign travel emergency care up to plan limits.

The inclusion of the Part B deductible is what sets Medicare Supplement Plan C apart from Plan G. With Plan C, your out-of-pocket cost for Medicare-covered services is effectively reduced to your monthly premiums (your Plan C premium plus your Part B premium), because the plan absorbs the deductibles and coinsurance Original Medicare would otherwise charge. You do not pay the $283 Part B deductible, and most other cost-sharing is covered. However, Plan C does not cover Part B excess charges, which is a benefit included in Plans F and G. Excess charges can apply when a provider does not accept Medicare assignment and bills up to 15 percent above the Medicare-approved amount. For a full comparison of all plan letters, see our Medicare Supplement plan comparison.

Who Can Buy Plan C

The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) of 2015 prohibited the sale of Medigap plans that cover the Part B deductible to beneficiaries who become newly eligible for Medicare starting January 1, 2020. This affects Plans C and F, the two letters that pay that deductible. If you turned 65 before January 1, 2020, or qualified for Medicare due to disability before that date, you can generally still buy Plan C where carriers offer it. If your Medicare eligibility began on or after January 1, 2020, Plan C is closed to you.

This is the single most important point to understand about Plan C: it is a legacy plan. If you are shopping for your first Medigap policy and you aged into Medicare recently, no insurer can sell you Plan C, no matter what an older brochure or a friend’s experience might suggest. For those who remain eligible, Plan C is still available from carriers that choose to offer it, but the pool of Plan C enrollees is a closed group that only shrinks over time because no new members can join. That closed-pool dynamic has real implications for future premiums, which we discuss below. Our healthcare policy guide covers the broader regulatory context behind these rules.

Plan C Costs and Premiums

Unlike the standardized benefits, Plan C premiums are not set by the government and vary widely from one insurer and one person to the next. Your premium depends on your age, gender, ZIP code, tobacco use, the carrier you choose, the rating method the carrier uses (community-rated, issue-age-rated, or attained-age-rated), and any household or enrollment discounts. Because of this, published “typical” price ranges can be misleading. The only reliable way to know what Plan C will cost you is to request personalized quotes from several carriers licensed in your state, or to use your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for free help comparing them.

What you can count on is the relationship between plans rather than an exact dollar figure. Because Plan C covers the $283 Part B deductible and Plan G does not, Plan C from the same insurer generally carries a somewhat higher monthly premium than Plan G. That raises a straightforward question: is the extra premium you pay for Plan C larger or smaller than the $283 you would otherwise pay out of pocket for the Part B deductible once per year? In many cases, the additional annual premium for Plan C exceeds $283, which means Plan G leaves you with lower total spending even though you pay the deductible yourself. Some beneficiaries still value the simplicity of near-zero costs at the point of service and are willing to pay for that predictability. For a deeper look at pricing structures and rating methods, visit our Medicare Supplement plans cost article.

The Risk Pool Problem

One of the most significant concerns with Plan C is the aging risk pool. Because no new enrollees have been allowed since 2020, the Plan C population grows older every year. As the average age of enrollees rises, average claims rise with it, and that pressure tends to push premiums higher over time. This is the same dynamic affecting Plan F, the other legacy plan that covers the Part B deductible. It is often described as a “closed block” of business, and closed blocks historically see steeper rate increases than open plans that can attract younger, healthier members.

Industry filings and analyses tracked by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and state insurance departments suggest that legacy Plans C and F have experienced above-average premium increases in a number of states in recent years. Exact increases differ by carrier and state and change every year, so treat any specific percentage you see with caution and verify it against your own renewal notices. Beneficiaries currently on Plan C should monitor their premiums closely and consider whether switching to Plan G might save money over time. The coverage difference is small, essentially just the $283 Part B deductible plus Plan G’s added Part B excess-charge protection, but the long-run premium difference can be meaningful.

Plan C vs Plan G

Plan G is the closest alternative to Plan C and is available to all Medicare beneficiaries regardless of when they became eligible. Plan G covers everything Plan C covers except the Part B deductible. Plan G also covers Part B excess charges, which Plan C does not. In other words, Plan G actually provides broader protection than Plan C in one area, while leaving you responsible for a single, predictable annual deductible.

The practical benefit difference between the two plans is the $283 Part B deductible, which you pay once per calendar year under Plan G before the plan begins covering your Part B coinsurance. Whether Plan G costs you less overall depends on the premium gap between the two plans from the carriers available to you. Because Plan C premiums tend to rise faster as its closed pool ages, the case for choosing or switching to Plan G generally strengthens over time. For most eligible beneficiaries, comparing actual Plan C and Plan G quotes side by side is well worth the effort. Our Plan G guide provides comprehensive details.

Plan C vs Plan N

Plan N is another popular alternative that typically carries a lower premium than Plan C. Plan N covers most of what Plan C covers but does not include the Part B deductible or Part B excess charges, and it requires modest copayments of up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for emergency room visits that do not result in an inpatient admission. In exchange for accepting those small copays and the annual deductible, Plan N enrollees generally pay lower monthly premiums.

Whether Plan N saves you money compared with Plan C depends on the premium difference where you live and on how often you use care. For beneficiaries in good health who visit their doctors a moderate number of times each year, the lower premiums can more than offset the copays and deductible, making Plan N an excellent value. For those who see specialists frequently or expect excess charges, the math can be closer. As always, compare real quotes rather than assumptions, and factor in your expected usage. Learn more in our Plan N guide.

Should You Switch From Plan C?

If you currently hold a Medicare Supplement Plan C policy, the question of whether to switch depends on several factors. First, review your premium trend. If your Plan C premiums have been rising faster than Plan G premiums from competing carriers, the financial case for switching strengthens each year. Second, consider your health. Switching plans outside your Medigap Open Enrollment Period requires medical underwriting in most states, which means an insurer can review your health history and decline you or charge more. If you have significant health conditions, you may not be approved, so never cancel your current coverage until a new policy is fully in force.

Some states offer protections that make switching easier. California, Oregon, Idaho, and several others have “birthday rules” that allow eligible enrollees to change to an equal or lesser plan within a set window each year without new medical underwriting, though the specifics vary by state and change periodically. Connecticut, New York, and Massachusetts have broader continuous or annual guaranteed-issue protections. Because these rules differ and are updated over time, confirm the current protections in your state before acting. Contact your state SHIP counselor for free, unbiased advice specific to your situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Plan C still a good plan?

Plan C provides excellent coverage, but its relative value has narrowed compared with Plan G because premiums on the closed Plan C block tend to rise faster. If you can keep Plan C at a rate that is only modestly higher than a comparable Plan G, it may still be worthwhile. If your premium gap is widening year over year, comparing Plan G quotes is usually the smarter financial move.

Can I buy Plan C if I am new to Medicare in 2026?

No. Plan C is not available to anyone who became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. The most comprehensive Medigap plan available to newly eligible beneficiaries is Plan G, which covers everything except the $283 Part B deductible (2026 amount).

Does Plan C cover prescription drugs?

No. Like all Medigap plans sold after 2005, Plan C does not include prescription drug coverage. You need a separate Medicare Part D plan for drugs, and most beneficiaries pair their Medigap plan with a standalone Part D plan. For help with drug costs, see our article on Medicare Extra Help.

Why did the government close Plan C to new enrollees?

MACRA eliminated first-dollar Medigap coverage (plans that pay the Part B deductible) for newly eligible beneficiaries to encourage cost awareness. The rationale was that when beneficiaries have at least some out-of-pocket exposure, they may make more cost-conscious healthcare decisions. Plans C and F were the two plans affected by this change.

How do I switch from Plan C to Plan G?

Apply for Plan G with a carrier of your choice. If you are outside your Medigap Open Enrollment Period, you will typically need to pass medical underwriting unless your state offers guaranteed-issue or birthday-rule protections for switching. Only after the new policy is confirmed and in effect should you cancel your Plan C. Never cancel your existing plan before your new coverage is guaranteed.

Making an Informed Choice

Medicare Supplement Plan C remains a solid coverage option for the beneficiaries who are still eligible for it, but its financial attractiveness has declined as the closed risk pool ages and premiums drift upward. If you are eligible and currently enrolled, monitor your premiums annually and compare them against Plan G quotes from competing carriers. If you are new to Medicare and therefore ineligible for Plan C, Plan G provides nearly identical protection plus Part B excess-charge coverage, and Plan N offers a lower-premium alternative for healthier beneficiaries. Whatever you choose, compare several carriers, ask about every available discount, and use your state SHIP program for free guidance. Explore all your options through our Medigap plans overview.

Sources

• Medicare.gov — Medicare costs and Medigap (Medicare Supplement Insurance) plans
• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS.gov) — 2026 Medicare Parts A & B premiums and deductibles
• National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC.org) — Medigap rate and market information
• Your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) — free, unbiased Medicare counseling