Medigap Cost Comparison Chart in 2026: Premiums by Plan Letter

Premiums for Medigap policies vary dramatically by plan letter, insurer, state, and age, which is why a clear Medigap cost comparison chart is one of the most valuable tools in your Medicare planning toolkit. Illustrative monthly premiums can range from under $40 for a high-deductible plan to well over $350 for the most comprehensive coverage. This guide provides ballpark cost data for every plan letter in 2026, explains the factors that drive those costs, and helps you project your total annual spending under each option. Treat every dollar figure below as an estimate, not a quote — the only way to know your real price is to request quotes for your exact ZIP code and age, and to verify current federal figures at Medicare.gov.

This article is independent educational information, not insurance advice. FMHC does not sell insurance and is not affiliated with Medicare, CMS, or any insurer.

How Medigap Is Standardized

Before comparing prices, it helps to know what you are actually comparing. In most states, Medigap (Medicare Supplement) coverage is standardized by the federal government into lettered plans — Plans A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N, plus high-deductible versions of Plans F and G. Because the benefits inside each letter are set by law, a Plan G from one carrier covers exactly the same things as a Plan G from any other carrier. Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin standardize their plans differently, so residents of those states should use their state-specific charts.

The practical takeaway: when two insurers quote different prices for the same letter, you are not getting different coverage — you are simply paying a different company for identical benefits. That is why shopping around matters so much, and why a medigap cost comparison chart is useful only when it is paired with real quotes.

2026 Medigap Premium Ranges by Plan Letter

The following ranges are illustrative estimates of approximate monthly premiums for a 65-year-old nonsmoker enrolling during their Medigap Open Enrollment Period, drawn from state insurance department rate filings and published market data. They are not quotes. Your actual premium depends on your ZIP code, age, sex, tobacco use, the carrier, the rating method, and any discounts you qualify for. Use these figures to understand the relative cost of each plan, then get quotes for your own situation.

Plan A: about $85 to $210 per month. Plan B: about $105 to $240 per month. Plan C (available only to those eligible for Medicare before 2020): about $155 to $320 per month. Plan D: about $115 to $250 per month. Plan F (available only to those eligible before 2020): about $165 to $345 per month. High-Deductible Plan F (pre-2020 eligible only): about $35 to $85 per month. Plan G: about $125 to $290 per month. High-Deductible Plan G: about $30 to $80 per month. Plan K: about $45 to $125 per month. Plan L: about $65 to $180 per month. Plan M: about $100 to $220 per month. Plan N: about $95 to $220 per month.

This medigap cost comparison chart shows that the most popular plans, G and N, sit in the middle of the cost spectrum while offering some of the strongest coverage available to new enrollees. Again, these are estimates; the same plan can cost noticeably more or less than the range above depending on where you live.

Plans That Are Closed to New Enrollees

An important cost-and-eligibility rule: Plans C and F — and High-Deductible Plan F — are closed to anyone who first became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. These plans cover the Part B deductible, and a federal law (MACRA) prohibits newly eligible beneficiaries from buying plans that do so. If you became eligible before that date, you can generally still enroll in or keep Plan C or F. Everyone else should focus on Plan G, Plan N, or High-Deductible Plan G, which deliver comparable protection without the Part B deductible coverage. This is why Plan G has effectively replaced Plan F as the flagship comprehensive plan for new enrollees.

Total Annual Cost Estimates

Monthly premiums alone do not tell the full cost story. To compare plans accurately, account for deductibles, copays, coinsurance, and potential Part B excess charges. For 2026, the Part A deductible is $1,736 per benefit period, the Part B deductible is $283, and the standard Part B premium is $202.90 per month (higher for higher incomes) — and note that you pay the Part B premium separately no matter which Medigap plan you choose. Here are illustrative total annual cost estimates for a beneficiary with moderate healthcare usage; verify the federal figures at Medicare.gov, as they change every year.

Plan G: roughly $1,783 to $3,763 total (about 12 months of premiums plus the $283 Part B deductible, which you pay yourself). Plan N: roughly $1,423 to $2,923 total (12 months of premiums, the $283 Part B deductible, plus an estimated $100 to $200 in office and emergency-room copays, and any Part B excess charges). Plan F (pre-2020 eligible only): roughly $1,980 to $4,140 total, with essentially all out-of-pocket cost-sharing covered. Plan K: about $540 to $1,500 in premiums, plus cost-sharing up to that plan’s annual out-of-pocket limit. Plan L: about $780 to $2,160 in premiums, plus cost-sharing up to its (lower) annual limit. High-Deductible Plan G: about $360 to $960 in premiums plus the annual high-deductible amount (about $2,900 for 2026, verify) before coverage begins. The K and L out-of-pocket limits are adjusted by CMS each year, so confirm the current figures before relying on them.

For a full breakdown of what each plan covers, see our Compare Medicare Supplement Plans Guide.

What Drives Your Medigap Premium

Because benefits are fixed by letter, the price differences come entirely from how each carrier prices risk. Five factors matter most.

Rating Method (How Age Is Priced)

Most Medigap insurers use attained-age rating, which means your premium increases as you get older. A plan that costs $140 per month at age 65 might cost $200 at age 75 and $280 or more at age 85, even before medical-inflation adjustments. Over a 20-year retirement, attained-age rating can add 60 to 100 percent to your original premium.

Issue-age-rated plans lock your base rate at the age you enroll; medical inflation still applies, but age-related increases do not. Community-rated plans charge everyone the same base rate regardless of age. Community-rated and issue-age plans usually start higher but tend to be cheaper over a long retirement. Any thorough medigap cost comparison chart should account for the rating method, not just the starting premium — ask each carrier which method it uses before you compare quotes.

Location

Medigap premiums vary substantially by state and even by county. According to the American Association for Medicare Supplement Insurance, the same Plan G policy from the same insurer can cost 40 to 60 percent more in one state than another. Areas with higher healthcare costs, older populations, or fewer competing insurers tend to have higher premiums. As an illustration, Plan G premiums for a 65-year-old often start below $120 in states like Ohio, Iowa, and Missouri, while in parts of New York, Connecticut, and Florida the same plan can start at $200 or higher. State-specific guides provide more granular data: see our coverage of Medicare Supplement Plans in PA, Plans in Maryland, and Plans in California.

Tobacco Use

Many carriers charge tobacco users more — commonly 10 percent or higher — and conversely offer nonsmoker discounts. If you use tobacco, expect quotes at the upper end of the ranges above, and shop carefully because the tobacco surcharge varies a great deal by carrier.

Medical Underwriting

Timing dramatically affects both your price and whether you can be approved at all. During your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period (which starts when you are 65 or older and enrolled in Part B), you have a guaranteed right to buy any Medigap plan the carrier sells at the best available rate, with no health questions. Outside that window — and outside limited “guaranteed issue” situations — carriers in most states can use medical underwriting, meaning they can charge you more or decline coverage based on your health. That is why enrolling during open enrollment is one of the most important cost decisions you will make.

Carrier Pricing and Discounts

Each insurer sets premiums based on its operating costs, claims experience, risk-pool demographics, and profit targets. Many carriers also offer discounts that meaningfully reduce your cost. Nonsmoker discounts of 5 to 10 percent are common. Household discounts, available when two or more people in the same household hold policies from the same insurer, typically save 5 to 7 percent. Some companies discount for paying annually, enrolling online, or using automatic bank draft. Stacking is possible with some carriers — a nonsmoking couple paying annually from the same insurer could save 15 to 20 percent versus the standard rate. Over a decade, that adds up to thousands of dollars, so always ask about every available discount when you request quotes.

Comparing Medigap to Medicare Advantage Costs

Medicare Advantage plans often advertise $0 premiums, which makes them look dramatically cheaper than Medigap. However, Advantage plans carry their own out-of-pocket costs — copays, coinsurance, and an annual maximum out-of-pocket limit that can exceed $9,000 for in-network care (CMS sets the cap annually, so verify the current figure). If you use a significant amount of healthcare, your total spending under Medicare Advantage could exceed what you would pay under Medigap plus a standalone Part D drug plan.

The comparison depends heavily on your healthcare usage and your priorities around provider networks. Healthy beneficiaries who use few services may spend less with Medicare Advantage. Beneficiaries with chronic conditions or frequent specialist visits often find Medigap more predictable and, with any doctor who accepts Medicare, more flexible. Our Medigap vs Medicare Advantage guide examines this tradeoff in detail.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do premiums vary so much between insurers for the same plan?

Because benefits are standardized, the differences come from each insurer’s operating costs, claims experience, risk-pool demographics, rating method, and profit targets. A company with a younger, healthier enrollee pool can charge lower premiums; a company with a strong brand may charge more for perceived value and convenience. Identical coverage at different prices is exactly why comparison shopping pays off.

How often do Medigap premiums increase?

Most insurers adjust premiums annually. Increases have commonly run in the low-to-mid single digits in percentage terms in recent years, though some carriers in competitive markets have held rates flatter and others have raised them more. You can review your insurer’s rate-increase history through your state’s insurance department website before you buy.

Is a high-deductible Medigap plan worth considering?

High-Deductible Plan G (and High-Deductible Plan F, for those still eligible) carries a very low premium, often $30 to $80 per month, but you must meet an annual deductible — about $2,900 for 2026 (verify at Medicare.gov, as CMS sets it each year) — before the plan pays anything. These plans suit very healthy beneficiaries who want catastrophic protection at minimal monthly cost. If you have even moderate healthcare usage, a standard Plan G or Plan N often costs less in total.

Can I use this chart to compare plans in my specific area?

This chart provides illustrative national ranges only. For precise premiums in your ZIP code, use the Medicare.gov plan finder or request quotes from an independent broker who represents multiple carriers. Our 10 best supplemental insurance companies guide can help you decide which carriers to request quotes from.

Do premiums ever decrease?

It is uncommon but not unheard of. Some insurers have reduced premiums in states where they are growing market share or where claims experience beat projections. More commonly, premiums rise, but sometimes at a slower rate than medical inflation.

Using This Data to Make Your Decision

Start by identifying the plan letter that matches your coverage needs. Then request quotes from three to five insurers for your ZIP code and age, and compare total annual costs — not just monthly premiums. Factor in the rating method, available discounts, and historical rate-increase trends, and enroll during your Medigap Open Enrollment Period whenever possible to lock in guaranteed-issue pricing. For most new beneficiaries, Plan G and Plan N represent the best combination of coverage and value. Use our Plan N vs Plan G comparison to decide between them, and confirm all federal figures at Medicare.gov before you commit.

Sources

• Medicare.gov — 2026 Medicare costs: Part A deductible ($1,736), Part B deductible ($283), standard Part B premium ($202.90); Medigap basics and plan finder
• CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) — standardized Medigap plan chart; Plans C and F closed to those newly eligible on or after January 1, 2020; high-deductible plan design and annual deductible amount
• NAIC (National Association of Insurance Commissioners) — Medigap rating methods (attained-age, issue-age, community-rated) and rate-increase context
• KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation) — Medigap enrollment and premium variation analysis
• American Association for Medicare Supplement Insurance (AAMSI) — state-by-state premium variation for identical plans