Medicare
Supplement 
Insurance, Made
Simple

Medicare Supplement Insurance, also called Medigap, is private insurance that works with Original Medicare. It can help pay certain out-of-pocket costs left after Medicare pays its share, including deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance. You generally must have Medicare Part A and Part B to purchase a Medigap policy.

Coverage depends on the lettered plan you select. Medigap plans may help cover costs such as the Part A hospital deductible, Part A and Part B coinsurance, skilled nursing facility coinsurance, and certain other Medicare-covered expenses. Some plans also provide limited foreign-travel emergency coverage. Medigap does not replace Original Medicare—Medicare pays first, and the supplement helps with covered remaining costs.

Yes. In most states, Medigap plans are identified by letters, such as Plan G or Plan N. The benefits of the same lettered plan are standardized regardless of the insurance company offering it. For example, Plan G from one company provides the same standardized medical benefits as Plan G from another company. Premiums, customer service, household discounts, and pricing methods can still differ.

Plan G generally offers more comprehensive coverage of the costs left by Original Medicare after you meet the annual Part B deductible. Plan N typically has a lower premium but may require copayments for certain office and emergency room visits, and it does not cover Part B excess charges. The better fit depends on your budget, healthcare usage, and comfort with potential out-of-pocket costs.

Your one-time, six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period generally begins the first month you are age 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare Part B. During this period, you can purchase any Medigap policy offered to you without being denied or charged more because of health conditions. Additional protections or enrollment opportunities may be available depending on your circumstances and state.

You can apply to change plans, but approval is not always guaranteed. Outside your Medigap Open Enrollment Period or a guaranteed-issue situation, an insurance company may ask health questions, charge a different premium, or deny the application. State-specific switching rights may also apply. Do not cancel your existing policy until your new coverage has been approved and you have decided to keep it.

Medigap policies sold today do not include outpatient prescription drug coverage. If you have Original Medicare and want prescription coverage, you can enroll in a separate Medicare Part D plan. Your prescriptions, dosage, pharmacy, and total estimated costs should be reviewed when comparing Part D options.

No. Medicare Supplement works only with Original Medicare and cannot be used to pay Medicare Advantage premiums, deductibles, copayments, or coinsurance. If you are considering changing between these coverage options, carefully review the enrollment periods and your ability to obtain a Medigap policy before ending existing coverage.

With Original Medicare, you can generally receive care from any provider in the United States who accepts Medicare. Your Medigap policy can then help with covered costs according to its benefits. Some Medigap plans also include limited emergency coverage when traveling outside the United States. Review the specific policy and benefit limitations before relying on it for international travel.

Plans with the same letter generally provide the same standardized medical benefits, regardless of the insurance company offering them. However, premiums, pricing methods, household discounts, customer service and future rate increases may differ by company and location.