Medicare supplement plans: Compare Medigap coverage and costs

Medicare supplement plans, also called Medigap, can help cover the deductibles, copays, and coinsurance that original Medicare doesn't pay. In most states, benefits for each plan letter are standardized, so comparing quotes means looking closely at premiums, pricing methods, rate history, and discounts. Medigap also lets you see any provider nationwide that accepts Medicare.

Key takeaways

• During your six-month Medigap open enrollment period, insurers generally can't use your health to deny coverage or charge higher rates.

• Premiums for the same plan letter can differ by hundreds of dollars a year between insurers.

• The pricing method matters as much as the starting premium because it determines whether your rate climbs as you age.

• Compare quotes for the same plan letter using the same applicant information so the numbers line up.

Is a Medicare supplement plan right for you?

Medicare supplement plans can be a strong fit if you use original Medicare and want more predictable medical costs and broad access to doctors. Because Medigap works with original Medicare, you generally aren't limited to a provider network and can get care from Medicare-participating providers across the country.

It suits people who travel or spend part of the year in another state, and people who would rather pay a set amount each month than face bills that change with the care they get. You pay for that predictability in the premium, so it's a weaker fit if the lowest possible monthly cost is your priority.

Can you use your doctors with Medicare supplement insurance?

Medigap policies don't have provider networks. If a doctor, hospital, or lab accepts original Medicare, your policy works there, in any state. You also don't need a referral to see a specialist, and you don't need to check a directory before you book an appointment.

The question to ask is whether a provider accepts Medicare assignment. A provider who accepts assignment takes Medicare's approved amount as full payment, and most providers do. A small number treat Medicare patients without accepting assignment and, in many cases, can bill up to 15% above the Medicare-approved amount. The additional amount is called a Part B excess charge.^[1] Whether your policy pays that charge depends on your plan letter. A few providers opt out of Medicare entirely, and Medicare pays nothing toward their care.

Medigap plan comparison: Plan G vs. Plan N

Insurers sell 10 Medigap plan letters, and most people new to Medicare choose between two. The choice comes down to whether you'd rather pay a set amount every month or a smaller amount plus a few charges when you see a doctor.

Plan G vs. Plan N: Side-by-side comparison

Here are the key differences between Plan G and Plan N.

_{Benefits are standardized under federal law and are the same for every insurer that sells the plan. Figures are from the CMS guide Choosing a Medigap Policy, March 2026.^[3] The Part B deductible changes each year. Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin standardize plans differently, and some states prohibit Part B excess charges. "May be a better fit if" is an editorial assessment, not a recommendation for every applicant.}

Standard Plan G vs. high-deductible Plan G

High-deductible Plan G covers the same benefits as standard Plan G, but only after you pay $2,950 in Medicare-covered costs in 2026. Until you reach that amount, you pay those costs yourself, and the Part B deductible counts toward the total.

The premium is much lower, but you take on more of the cost if you need care. A year with little care costs you the premium and not much more. A year with a hospital stay costs you the premium plus up to $2,950 before the policy pays anything.

For people willing to pay more out of pocket before coverage kicks in, high-deductible Plan G can offer a lower monthly premium. If a bill that size would be a problem, the standard Plan G costs more each month and caps what you pay when you use care. Not every insurer sells the high-deductible version in every state, so check what is available where you live.

_{The $2,950 deductible is the 2026 amount set by CMS and changes each year.^[3] Medicare-covered costs you pay, including the Part B deductible, count toward it. Not every insurer sells high-deductible Plan G in every state. "May be a better fit if" is an editorial assessment, not a recommendation for every applicant.}

When can you enroll in Medicare supplement insurance?

You can apply for Medicare supplement insurance throughout the year, but your enrollment rights determine how an insurer can respond. Medigap open enrollment gives you a six-month window in which insurers generally must offer you coverage without factoring your health into your eligibility or premium. After that period, medical underwriting may apply unless you qualify for a guaranteed-issue right.

_{Enrollment rules are from the CMS guide Choosing a Medigap Policy, March 2026.^[3] The guaranteed-issue situations shown are examples of federal rights, and the full list has specific deadlines, most within 63 days of losing coverage. Some states provide additional rights, such as annual open enrollment or birthday rules. Check with your state insurance department.}

Can you switch Medicare supplement plans later?

You can apply for a different Medigap policy at any time. You're not permanently locked into a particular plan letter or insurance company after you enroll.

Being allowed to apply doesn't mean the new insurer must accept your application. Outside your open enrollment period, and unless you qualify for a guaranteed-issue right, the insurer may use medical underwriting. That means it can ask health questions, charge a higher premium in some cases, or decline your application.

Medicare supplement rates: How much does Medigap cost?

Each insurance company sets its own Medigap premiums, so the same plan letter can cost hundreds of dollars more or less depending on where you buy it and who you buy it from.

Sample Medicare supplement rates

The ranges below are for a nonsmoker buying a new policy, shown in three states with different rate levels. Your own quote can land outside these ranges depending on your ZIP code and the company you apply to.

_{Rates are from the Medicare.gov Medigap plan finder for Franklin County, Ohio; Harris County, Texas; and Hillsborough County, Florida, retrieved September 21, 2026.^[4] Ranges show the lowest and highest monthly premiums listed for a nonsmoker buying a new policy at each age, before discounts. Premiums vary by ZIP code, sex, tobacco use, pricing method, and insurer, and they change during the year. Actual quotes vary.}

What affects Medicare supplement rates?

Several factors affect what you pay for Medicare supplement insurance:

• Where you live: Medigap plans are regulated and priced state by state, and prices vary by ZIP code within a state. The same Plan G can cost noticeably more in one metro area than in another.

• Your age: Most insurers price by age, but not all in the same way. The method your insurer uses determines whether your premium climbs as you get older.

• Tobacco use: Insurers can charge more if you use tobacco, and some ask about it on the quote form before you apply.

• Your plan letter: Plans that leave you with lower out-of-pocket costs generally have higher premiums.

• The company: Two insurers can quote different prices for the same plan letter in the same ZIP code.

• Discounts: Household, autopay, and other discounts can reduce your premium, depending on the insurer.

How Medicare supplement pricing methods work

A Medigap policy's rating method is set when you buy it and generally remains the same for as long as you keep the policy. The method determines whether your premium may increase because you get older, separate from any rate increase the insurer applies more broadly to policyholders.

Insurers don't always show the method on a quote. Ask which one a policy uses, or check the outline of coverage (the summary an insurer has to give you before you apply). In a few states, regulators require every insurer to use the same method, so it may not be something you can shop for where you live.

Medigap plans generally use one of three pricing methods:

_{Pricing method definitions are from the CMS guide Choosing a Medigap Policy, March 2026.^[3] Premiums under all three methods can rise for reasons other than age, such as inflation and claims costs. Some states require insurers to use one method, so the choice may not be available where you live. Ask the insurer which method a policy uses before you apply.}

How to compare Medicare supplement quotes

To compare Medicare supplement quotes accurately, use the same plan letter, applicant information, and coverage start date for each insurer. Then review the premium along with the factors that can affect what you pay over time.

What you need to get Medicare supplement quotes

Most Medigap quotes require your date of birth, ZIP code, tobacco-use status, plan letter, and requested coverage start date.

You may need more information when you apply. Have your Medicare number and Part A and Part B effective dates available. If you are leaving employer coverage or Medicare Advantage, you may also need the date that coverage ends.

What to compare besides the monthly premium

The monthly premium is an important part of the comparison, but it doesn't show how the policy's price will change over time. Review the same information for each insurer before you choose a policy. Only the premium and the effective date appear on the quote itself. The other three come from the insurer or an agent when you ask.

_{This list is a starting point, not a complete checklist. A licensed agent or your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) can help you compare policies at no cost.}

Rate increases are filed state by state and by plan, so a company's national average won't tell you much about your own bill. Ask for the increase history on the plan letter you want in your state over the past five years. Those filings are public in most states, and your state insurance department can direct you to them.

How Affordably works

Getting Medicare supplement quotes through Affordably takes four steps.

1

Choose your plan letter

Pick the plan you want to price, such as Plan G or Plan N. Benefits are the same at every insurer, so you're comparing price, not coverage.

Plan G Plan N High-deductible G

2

Enter your details once

Add your ZIP code, date of birth, and tobacco use one time, instead of filling in the same form for each company.

ZIP code 32162 Date of birth 04/12/1960 Tobacco use No

3

Compare quotes side by side

See quotes from every company that sells that plan where you live. We filter for availability, rate history, and discount terms first.

Same Plan G, side by side

4

Get help with the details

For medical underwriting, leaving Medicare Advantage, or different plan letters for you and your spouse, a licensed agent can work through it with you.

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Medicare supplement companies to compare

Several insurers sell Medicare supplement plans, and which companies and plan letters you can buy depends on where you live. We reviewed 9 insurers selling Medigap in 40 or more states. The four in this table met three conditions: wide state availability, average rate increases under 10% per year over the past three years, and household discounts available to more than a spouse.

_{Plan availability and rate-increase trends are from NerdWallet's 2026 Medicare Supplement reviews.^[5] Discount terms are from each insurer's website as of October 2026; amounts and eligibility vary by state. Plans C, F, and high-deductible F are not shown; they are open only to people first eligible for Medicare before 2020. "Best for" is an editorial assessment based on documented features, not a claim that an insurer is best for every applicant.}

Compare Medicare supplement quotes with Affordably

Not every insurer licensed in your state belongs on your shortlist, so we filter for availability, rate history, and discount terms before showing you anything to compare.

Choose the plan letter you want, enter your ZIP code, date of birth, and tobacco use one time, and see quotes from every company that sells that plan where you live.

Comparing is free, and requesting a quote doesn't commit you to a policy. For a more complex situation (medical underwriting, leaving Medicare Advantage, or different plan letters for you and your spouse), a licensed agent can work through it with you.

Need help choosing a plan?

Free help comparing Medigap quotes, pricing methods, and discounts with a licensed agent.

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Medicare quotes FAQs

These answers cover some of the most common questions people have when comparing Medicare supplement quotes.

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