The bottom line: Physicians Mutual stands out from competitors with an “innovative” version of Medigap Plan G. The innovative version adds deductibles for the first few years in exchange for a permanent discount on premiums. But competitors might have better complaint rates and lower premiums for standard plans. Jump to: Full Review
Physicians Mutual Medicare Supplement Insurance pros and cons
Pros
- Innovative plan option: Physicians Mutual’s innovative Plan G might be priced lower than competitors' standard Plan G options.
- Discounts: Living with another adult can mean a sizable discount on premiums.
Cons
- Pricing: Physicians Mutual’s premiums for standard plan types can be on the higher side.
- Customer complaints: Physicians Mutual members file more complaints about the company than average.
Compare against other providers
🔍 AARP/UnitedHealthcare Medigap
» More options in our roundup of the best Medicare Supplement Insurance companies
Compare against other providers
🔍 AARP/UnitedHealthcare Medigap
» More options in our roundup of the best Medicare Supplement Insurance companies
Our full review
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Physicians Mutual Medicare Supplement Insurance rating
Physicians Mutual Medicare Supplement Insurance earned 3 stars out of 5 for overall performance. NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account pricing, coverage options, online quote availability, complaint data and more.
Physicians Mutual Medicare Supplement Insurance plans
Here are the Medicare Supplement Insurance plan types Physicians Mutual offers for any Medicare member:
Medigap Plan A — the basic benefits included in every Medigap plan without any extras.
Medigap Plan G — the highest-coverage option available to new Medicare members. Available as a high-deductible plan and/or an innovative plan with a deductible in certain locations.
Medigap Plan N — a plan with lower premiums but higher copays. Available in states where Physicians Mutual wasn’t approved to offer its innovative version of Medigap Plan G, according to a company representative.
Physicians Mutual also offers Medigap Plan F and the high-deductible version of Plan F (in certain locations) for individuals who were first eligible for Medicare before 2020. Newer Medicare members can't buy these plans from any insurance company.
Physicians Mutual’s plans in Wisconsin fit the state’s standards. (Wisconsin uses a different Medigap plan system than most of the country.)
Physicians Mutual Innovative Plan G
Physicians Mutual offers a unique “innovative” version of Plan G in addition to the standard version. (Innovative plans are plans that have special approval from the insurance commissioner to offer new or different benefits on top of what’s included in the standardized version of a plan.)
Physicians Mutual’s innovative plan has lower premiums, but it adds a deductible for the first three calendar years of the plan. All other benefits are the same.
(You’re also responsible for the Medicare Part B deductible with either standard or innovative Plan G, but standard Plan G doesn’t have its own additional deductible.)
After the third calendar year with the innovative version of Plan G, the deductible goes away, but the lower premiums remain in effect.
How premiums compare
Physicians Mutual says its premiums for innovative Plan G can be more than 25% cheaper compared to the company’s standard Plan G.
When NerdWallet evaluates companies’ premiums, we use a standard set of cities with average premiums, lower premiums and higher premiums. Dallas is the only city in our standard set where Physicians Mutual offers the innovative plan. There, the company’s innovative Plan G was about 19% cheaper than its standard version.
We compared rates for regular and innovative Plan G in a dozen cities on Physician Mutual’s website. Most showed prices around 28% lower for innovative Plan G. A couple had discounts smaller than 25%.
Specifics will vary based on location and other factors. It’s a good idea to check prices and plan offerings for your own area and circumstances to see how they compare.
More Nerdy Perspective
Physicians Mutual isn't one of NerdWallet's top-scoring companies for Medicare Supplement plans — but it does offer some unique options. You could consider Physicians Mutual for the “innovative” plans, which might have lower premiums over the long term. But compare quotes carefully, as other companies’ plans might offer low premiums with fewer compromises. I recommend comparing quotes from at least a few different companies. Also consider working with a licensed insurance agent or broker to find your best fit.
How much does Physicians Mutual Medicare Supplement Insurance cost?
In estimates obtained for this review, Physicians Mutual's Plan G premiums were 33% higher than the cheapest alternative. (For an apples-to-apples comparison, we're using standard plans, not the innovative versions.)
- How we evaluate Medigap companies’ prices
We compare prices in three cities. Each city has different average Medigap premiums:
Los Angeles: Higher costs.
Atlanta: Average costs.
Dallas: Lower costs.
We use Plan G and Plan N for price comparisons. New Medicare members usually pick one of those plan types. Physicians Mutual doesn't offer Plan N in two out of the three locations we analyze, so we're only including Plan G information here.
The sections below show price estimates filed with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Prices are for a 65-year old female nonsmoker. (Note: Some Medigap prices may be higher for males.)
Our tables compare the company’s prices to the cheapest alternative. For example, Physicians Mutual's best price for Plan G in Los Angeles is next to the lowest price from any company on Medicare.gov for the same plan.
Plan G
Physicians Mutual price | Medicare.gov lowest price | |
|---|---|---|
Los Angeles | $187. | $162. |
Atlanta | $175. | $120. |
Dallas | $139. | $101. |
For comparison, Physician’s Mutual’s innovative Plan G is available for $113 per month in Dallas. That’s $26 below the standard version (including household discounts for each). (Innovative versions weren’t available in Los Angeles or Atlanta.)
Physicians Mutual Medigap discounts
Above-average discounts
Discounts can help you save on your Medigap premiums. We often see “household” discounts offered to people living with at least one other adult.
Physicians Mutual offered a roughly 11% household discount in all three locations priced for this review. It’s a “roommate” discount, so you don’t need to live specifically with a spouse to qualify.
Discount amounts and availability may vary according to factors such as your location, household status and how you apply for a policy.
Physicians Mutual member complaints
38% more complaints than average
Physicians Mutual’s complaint rates aren’t good. Its members file complaints about their plans 38% more often than the average for all Medigap companies. That’s according to 2022 to 2024 data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC.
Physicians Mutual's spending on care
79.6% for member benefits
Physicians Mutual plans spent about 79.6% of premiums on member benefits, according to the most recent annual data. (The other 20.4% went to overhead expenses like administrative costs, marketing, salaries and commissions.) For comparison, the average for all companies is 83.9%.
Medicare Supplement Insurance providers must report data on the premiums they collect and how much they spend to provide benefits for members. The minimum required by law for individual Medigap policies is 60%.
Additional benefits
Medigap plans are standardized, but companies can offer extras on top of the Medicare benefits. Here are examples of added perks that might be available from Physicians Mutual:
A “second chance” option to switch from one Medigap plan type to another within the first two years without medical underwriting.
Coverage for certain preventive services available either built into the plan or as an added "Preventive Benefits Plus" rider (with an additional cost), depending on the state.
Silver&Fit fitness benefits are available in certain states — generally as part of the added-cost preventive benefits rider.
Availability and terms vary by state and the Physicians Mutual subsidiary that underwrites the plan. Review plan materials to see what’s available in your location.
Physicians Mutual Medicare Supplement Insurance service area
Physicians Mutual offers Medicare Supplement Insurance plans in 30 states and Washington, D.C. Depending on the state, plans might be sold under the Physicians Mutual, Physicians Life or Physicians Select brand.
Physicians Mutual covers nearly 160,000 Medigap beneficiaries. Its share of the total Medicare Supplement Insurance market is about 1%.
Compare Medicare Supplement Insurance companies
Get more information below about some of the major Medicare Supplement Insurance companies. These insurers offer Medigap plans in most states, but specifics may vary depending on your location.
Find the right Medicare Supplement Insurance plan
Because Medigap plans are standardized, you can get precisely the same Medicare benefits from any company offering the plan. So when you shop, keep these considerations in mind to find the best policy to fit your needs:
Is your preferred plan available? Health insurance companies don’t always sell every plan, so check who sells the plan you want to buy in your area.
What are the premiums? Prices for the same plan can vary between companies, so check to find the most competitive rates.
Will your premiums change over time? Most policies cost more as you age, but some companies offer policies that let you lock in a price when you sign up.
Are there extras? Medigap plans’ core benefits are standardized, but in certain cases, some companies include such perks as discount programs or gym memberships.
If you have additional questions about Medicare, visit Medicare.gov or call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227, TTY 877-486-2048).
- "Innovative" plan might be priced lower than competitors' plans.
- Sizable discount on premiums for living with another adult.
- High premiums for standard plan types, on average.
- High complaint rates.
Article sources
NerdWallet writers are subject matter authorities who use primary, trustworthy sources to inform their work, including peer-reviewed studies, government websites, academic research and interviews with industry experts. All content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness and relevance. You can learn more about NerdWallet's high standards for journalism by reading our editorial guidelines.
- 1.Physicians Mutual. Get Affordable Medicare Supplement Insurance. Accessed Jul 29, 2025.
- 2.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Find a Medigap Policy That Works For You. Accessed Jul 29, 2025.
- 3.National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Company Complaint Index. Accessed Jul 29, 2025.
- 4.National Association of Insurance Commissioners. 2023 Medicare Supplement Insurance Experience Reports (Direct Premiums Earned; Direct Claims Incurred). Accessed Jul 29, 2025.
- 5.Code of Federal Regulations. Title 42, Part 403, Section 215. Accessed Jul 29, 2025.
- 6.National Association of Insurance Commissioners. 2023 Medicare Supplement Loss Ratios. Accessed Jul 29, 2025.
Medicare Supplement Insurance ratings methodology
NerdWallet’s Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) ratings are based on pricing, discounts, plan types offered, complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, consumer experience, additional perks and benefits, and more. To calculate each health insurance company's rating, we adjusted the scores to a curved 5-point scale, rounded to the nearest half star.
NerdWallet reviewed 15 Medicare Supplement Insurance companies based on highest enrollment and greatest online search volume. At the national level, our scored reviews include companies covering about two-thirds of all Medigap beneficiaries. At the state level, our research includes at least one of the two largest Medigap insurance companies in 48 of the 50 states, plus Washington, D.C.
These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best coverage and rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines and full ratings methodology for Medicare Supplement Insurance.
Insurer complaints methodology
We examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. To assess how insurers compare to one another, the NAIC calculates a complaint index each year for each subsidiary, measuring its share of total complaints relative to its size, or share of total premiums in the industry. To evaluate a company’s complaint history, we calculated a similar index for each insurance company, weighted by market shares of each subsidiary. We score companies based on this index of how many complaints the company receives relative to its market share. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC.
Compare Medigap plans
Insurance company | NerdWallet rating | Plan types offered | NAIC complaint rate | Premium discounts available | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BEST OVERALL | |||||
5.0/5 | A, B, C, F, G, K, L and N. | Far fewer than expected | Above average | (844) 939-0223 / TTY 711 Call UnitedHealthcarefrom UnitedHealthcare | |
BEST FOR EXTRA BENEFITS | |||||
 (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet | 4.5/5 | A, F, G and N. | Close to expected | Average | (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet |
BEST FOR PREMIUM DISCOUNTS | |||||
4.0/5 | A, F, G and N. | Far fewer than expected | Above average | on NerdWallet | |
BEST FOR MEMBER SATISFACTION | |||||
 (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet | 4.0/5 | A, C, D, F, G and N. | Far fewer than expected | Below average | (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet |