Important Factors to Consider before Purchasing Medigap Coverage: Essential Information You Need
Medigap, a type of supplemental insurance, can help individuals cover the costs not covered by Original Medicare. These plans are managed by private insurance companies and can be easily accessed through Medicare.gov.
In 2025, there are ten distinct Medigap plans, each identified by a letter (A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, N). These plans offer various benefits to cater to different medical needs. Some of the expenses covered by these plans include Part A coinsurance and hospital expenses, Part B coinsurance or copayment, first 3 pints of blood, Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment, skilled nursing facility care coinsurance, Part A deductible, Part B deductible, Part B excess charge, foreign travel emergencies (subject to plan limits), out-of-pocket maximum, and more.
Notable insurers offering Medigap plans include Humana, State Farm, AARP by UnitedHealthcare, and Blue Cross Blue Shield. Each of these providers offers different benefits and plans.
However, it's important to note that plans C and F, which covered the Part B deductible, are no longer open to new members. Individuals who qualified for Medicare before this date may still purchase them. New enrollees can opt for Plans D and G, which provide similar benefits without the Part B deductible coverage.
Individuals requiring extensive medical care may find enrolling in a Medigap plan beneficial due to the lack of an out-of-pocket spending cap in Original Medicare, which can lead to high yearly costs. Enrolling in a Medigap plan will increase a person's monthly premium costs.
The coverage for each Medigap plan is uniform nationwide, except in Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. A person can only use a Medigap plan for Original Medicare costs, not Part C plans.
A person can enroll in a Medigap policy during the 6-month open enrollment period starting when their Part B coverage begins at age 65. It's also worth mentioning that the ban on insuring new Medigap plans with the Part B premium ends in 2020.
Enrolling in Medigap should be based on an individual's medical and financial needs and desire for additional peace of mind. The specific Medigap plans depend on a person's age, location, and insurance provider.
If a person wishes to switch from Original Medicare to Part C, they may qualify for a 12-month trial period with their Part C plan during which they cannot lose their Medigap policy.
The average Medigap premium in 2023 was $217. For more information and to obtain a quote, visit Medicare.gov.
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