Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) covers certain copays, coinsurance or deductibles associated with Medicare Part A and Part B. In most states, there are 10 standardized Medigap plan types with letter names. The plan types differ in terms of what they cover and what they cost.
A few Medigap plan types are by far the most popular. Plans F, G and N cover 85% of all Medicare Supplement Insurance beneficiaries. These three plans offer more coverage than other plan types, which means they’re also among the more costly plan options.
Compare Medicare Supplement plans
The best Medicare Supplement plan type for you might depend on where you live, your health and potential health care needs, your financial situation and your tolerance for risk. This table breaks down the 10 standard Medigap plan types into categories based on common features:
| Get details on Medicare Supplement plan options | |
| If you want... | Consider... |
| Basic benefits | |
| Basics plus some extras | |
| Highest coverage | |
| Lower premiums, but higher copays | |
| Lowest premiums — partial coverage | |
| No longer for sale to new Medicare members | |
Because Medigap plan types are standardized, each plan type offers the same Medicare benefits everywhere and from every company. So once you’ve chosen a plan type, you can use factors like price and customer service to find the best Medicare Supplement Insurance companies for you.
Compare Medigap plans
| Insurance company | NerdWallet rating | Plan types offered | NAIC complaint rate | Premium discounts available |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A, C, D, F, G and N | Far fewer than expected | Below average | ||
| A, B, C, F, G, K, L and N | Far fewer than expected | Above average | ||
| A, F, G and N | Far more than expected | Above average | ||
| A, F, G and N | Far fewer than expected | Above average |
Which Medicare Supplement plan has the highest coverage?
Your highest-coverage Medigap option depends on your age-based Medicare eligibility date:
- If you became eligible before 2020, Medigap Plan F has the most coverage.
- If you became eligible in 2020 or later, you generally can’t buy Plan F, so Plan G is your highest-coverage option.
What Medicare Supplement plan is most popular?
Medigap Plan F is the most popular plan type, but its lead is shrinking because people who became eligible for Medicare in 2020 or later can’t enroll in Plan F (or Plan C). Plan G, the closest alternative, may soon take the number one spot.
Here are the most popular Medicare Supplement plan types by share of enrollment as of the end of 2022:
- Plan F: 39%.
- Plan G: 36%.
- Plan N: 10%.
There’s a sharp drop-off in popularity after Plan N — no other letter-named plan type has more than a 3% share of Medigap enrollment.
Medicare Supplement Insurance plan comparison chart
Here’s a Medicare Supplement Insurance plan comparison chart to help you see what's covered by each plan type, according to Medicare.gov:
| Medigap benefit | Medigap plans that cover it |
|---|---|
| Part A coinsurance and hospital costs up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits are used up. | A, B, C, D, F*, G*, K, L, M, N. |
| Part B coinsurance or copayment. | A, B, C, D, F*, G*, M, N**. K covers 50%. L covers 75%. |
| Blood (first 3 pints). | A, B, C, D, F*, G*, M, N. K covers 50%. L covers 75%. |
| Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment. | A, B, C, D, F*, G*, M, N. K covers 50%. L covers 75%. |
| Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance. | C, D, F*, G*, M, N. K covers 50%. L covers 75%. |
| Part A deductible. | B, C, D, F*, G*, N. K and M cover 50%. L covers 75%. |
| Part B deductible. | C, F*. |
| Part B excess charge. | F*, G*. |
| Foreign travel exchange (deductible and limitations apply). | C, D, F*, G*, M and N** cover at 80%. |
| Out-of-pocket limit***. | K: $7,060 in 2024 ($7,220 in 2025). L: $3,530 in 2024 ($3,610 in 2025). N/A for all other plans. |
| * In some states, Plans F and G have a high-deductible plan option. That means you must pay for Medicare-covered costs (coinsurance, copayments, deductibles) up to the deductible of $2,800 in 2024, at which point your coverage will kick in. ** Plan N pays 100% of the Part B coinsurance, except for a copayment of up to $20 for some office visits and a copayment of up to $50 for emergency room visits that don’t lead to inpatient admission. *** For Plans K and L, once you meet your out-of-pocket yearly limit and your yearly Part B deductible, the plan pays 100% of covered services for the remainder of the year. | |
Shopping for Medigap plans? We have you covered.
| MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT, or Medigap, is private health insurance that covers “gaps” in traditional Medicare coverage. Compare options from our Medigap roundup. | |
| Best overall | Best for plan availability |
| Best for low prices | Best for premium discounts |
When to enroll in Medicare Supplement Insurance
Ideally, you should buy Medicare Supplement Insurance during your Medigap open enrollment period.
This period happens only once. It starts once you’re 65 and enrolled in Medicare Part B, and lasts for six months. (If you're still working after 65 and covered by a group employer plan that is deemed creditable coverage, your six-month period starts after you’ve ended active employment or no longer have that insurance.)
Medigap policies are cheapest and easiest to get during this open enrollment period because insurance companies aren’t allowed to factor your health or medical history into your price. After the period ends, the prices may go up or you may be denied coverage due to your health status or medical history.
In some states, insurance companies sell Medigap plans to those under 65 who are living with a disability and are eligible for Medicare. You can find more information through your State Health Insurance Assistance Program, or SHIP.
If you have additional questions about Medicare, visit Medicare.gov or call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227, TTY 877-486-2048).
The parts of Medicare
Read more about the different parts of Medicare and what they cover.
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- 1. AHIP. The State of Medicare Supplement Coverage. Accessed Nov 13, 2024.
- 2. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. How to Compare Medigap Policies. Accessed Nov 13, 2024.
- 3. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. When Can I Buy a Medigap Policy?. Accessed Nov 13, 2024.
