How Medigap Is Different From Medicare Advantage

This is the most common point of confusion we untangle for clients, so let's be direct about it:

  • Medigap supplements Original Medicare. You stay in Original Medicare; the policy pays after Medicare pays.
  • Medicare Advantage replaces how you receive Medicare. A private plan administers your benefits with its own network and copays.
  • You cannot have both at the same time. It's one route or the other.

With Medigap, you can see any doctor or hospital in the country that accepts Medicare - no networks, no referrals, no prior authorization from a private plan for Medicare-covered services. That freedom is Medigap's defining feature. The trade-off is a monthly premium that's typically higher than a Medicare Advantage premium, and the fact that Medigap plans don't include drug coverage - you'll add a standalone Part D plan for that. For a full side-by-side, see Medicare Advantage vs. Medicare Supplement.

Medigap Plans Are Standardized - That's Good News for You

In most states, Medigap plans come in standardized lettered versions: A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N. Standardized means Plan G from one insurance company has exactly the same coverage as Plan G from any other company. The benefits are set by law; only the premium and the company's service differ. (Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin standardize their plans differently.)

That turns Medigap shopping into a two-step decision: pick the plan letter that fits your needs, then find the carrier offering that letter at a strong premium with a history of stable rates in your state. The second step is where an independent agency earns its keep - we compare rates across multiple carriers, not just one.

The Plans Most People Choose Today

  • Plan G is the most comprehensive plan available to people who became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. It covers essentially everything Original Medicare doesn't - hospital deductibles and coinsurance, the Part B 20% coinsurance, skilled nursing coinsurance, Part B excess charges, and emergency care during foreign travel (up to plan limits) - with one exception: you pay the annual Part B deductible yourself ($283 in 2026 ). After that deductible, covered services typically cost you nothing.
  • Plan N trades a lower monthly premium for modest cost-sharing: you pay the Part B deductible, copays of up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for emergency room visits that don't result in admission, and any Part B excess charges (rare, and prohibited entirely in some states). For people who don't visit doctors constantly, Plan N's premium savings can outweigh the copays.
  • Plan F covers everything Plan G covers plus the Part B deductible, but it's only available to people who were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020. If you already have Plan F, you can keep it.
  • Plans K and L offer partial coverage (50% and 75% of most benefits, respectively) with annual out-of-pocket limits - $8,000 for Plan K and $4,000 for Plan L in 2026 - at lower premiums.

What Medigap Costs

Premiums vary by plan letter, carrier, state, age, tobacco use, and the carrier's pricing method. As a general range, Plan G premiums commonly run between roughly $100 and $250 per month depending on your age and location, with Plan N typically lower. Remember to budget for the full picture: your Part B premium ($202.90 standard in 2026 ), your Medigap premium, and a standalone Part D premium.

One more pricing detail worth asking about: carriers price policies as "community-rated," "issue-age-rated," or "attained-age-rated," and that choice affects how your premium behaves as you get older. Our agents will explain which methods the carriers in your state use.

The Single Most Important Timing Rule in Medigap

Your Medigap Open Enrollment Period is the six-month window that starts the month you're both 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. During this window, carriers must sell you any plan they offer regardless of your health history - no medical underwriting, no denial for pre-existing conditions, no premium surcharge for health status.

Outside that window, in most states, carriers can require medical underwriting and can decline coverage or charge more based on health (some states have additional guaranteed-issue rules - another thing our licensed agents track state by state). If you're approaching 65 or newly enrolled in Part B and think Medigap might be your route, this window is the moment to act. See Turning 65: Your Medicare Checklist.

Is Medigap Right for You?

Medigap tends to fit people who want maximum provider freedom and maximum cost predictability, who travel frequently or split time between states, who have ongoing health needs involving multiple specialists, or who simply want to budget a fixed monthly amount and rarely think about medical bills again. People who prioritize a low (often $0) monthly premium and extra benefits like dental and vision may lean toward Medicare Advantage. There is no universally correct answer - there's the right answer for your health, budget, doctors, and travel patterns.

MegaCare's licensed agents quote Medigap plans from multiple carriers in your state, explain the rating methods behind the premiums, and handle your enrollment - at no cost to you.

Call 888-918-6920 TTY: 711, Mon-Fri 9am-6pm EST

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Does Medigap cover prescription drugs?

    No. Medigap policies sold today don't include drug coverage. Most Medigap enrollees pair their policy with a standalone Part D plan.

  • Can I be turned down for Medigap?

    Not during your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period, and not in certain guaranteed-issue situations. Outside those, carriers in most states can underwrite and may decline or surcharge based on health.

  • Does Medigap have networks?

    No. Medigap works with any provider in the U.S. that accepts Medicare.

  • Is Plan F still available?

    Only to people who were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020. For everyone newer, Plan G is the closest equivalent.

  • Can I switch from Medicare Advantage to Medigap?

    You can return to Original Medicare during valid enrollment windows and apply for Medigap, but outside protected situations you may face medical underwriting. Certain "trial right" rules protect people who try Medicare Advantage for the first time and switch back within 12 months - ask our agents whether you qualify.

  • Do Medigap premiums increase?

    They can, based on the carrier's rating method, inflation adjustments, and group claims experience. Carriers differ meaningfully in rate stability, which is a factor we weigh when recommending carriers - not just the first-year price.

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