Best Medicare Supplement Plans in New York 2024
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New York has over 3.8 million Medicare beneficiaries, making it number four among all states for enrollment. Nearly 1.9 million of those beneficiaries have Original Medicare (Part A and Part B).
New York residents with Medicare Part A and Part B can purchase Medicare Supplement Insurance, or Medigap, to help cover certain out-of-pocket expenses like copays, coinsurance and deductibles left over after Medicare pays for covered services. Over 475,000 people in New York had Medigap coverage as of the end of 2022.
Here’s what you need to know about finding the best Medigap policy for you in New York.
Compare the best Medigap plans in New York
Most popular Medigap plan types in New York
There are 10 standard Medigap plan types available in New York (Plan C and Plan F aren’t available for new Medicare members). However, over 87% of Medigap members in New York are in one of the three most popular types.
Here are New York’s top three most popular Medicare Supplement Insurance plan types:
45% have Medigap Plan F — the most comprehensive coverage of any Medigap plan.
28% have Medigap Plan N — a plan with lower premiums but higher copays.
14% have Medigap Plan G — the highest-coverage option available to new Medicare members.
Medigap Plan F isn’t available to Medicare beneficiaries who became eligible for Medicare on or after Jan. 1, 2020. Medigap Plan G is the most similar option available to all Medicare beneficiaries.
Top Medicare Supplement Insurance companies in New York
The government regulates Medigap plans, but private insurance companies sell them. Here are the five most popular Medicare Supplement Insurance companies in New York as of the end of 2022:
Insurance company | Share of New York Medigap members |
|---|---|
74.5%. | |
10.8%. | |
3. Globe Life Insurance Company of New York | 7.2%. |
4. Excellus BlueCross BlueShield* | 2.6%. |
5. Humana | 1.7%. |
*Anthem and Excellus are independent Blue Cross Blue Shield companies serving different portions of the state. | |
Medicare Supplement Insurance prices in New York
It’s worth comparing companies to find the lowest price for your chosen plan. The benefits of each Medigap plan are standardized, so you get the same Medicare benefits regardless of the company you choose.
Here are the prices for Medigap Plan G and Plan N, the most popular plans available for new Medicare members, from three of the five Medigap companies with the most members in New York. (Anthem and Excellus are not included below because they’re not sold in this location.)
The table below shows price estimates for a 65-year-old female nonsmoker in New York City as filed with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (Note: Some Medigap prices may be higher for males.)
Insurance company | Plan G monthly premiums | Plan N monthly premiums |
|---|---|---|
AARP/UnitedHealthcare | $306. | $241. |
Globe Life Insurance Company of New York | $348. | $329. |
Humana | $527. | $373. |
For reference, here are the lowest premiums available from any company for the two plans in New York City, according to the Medicare plan finding tool:
Medigap Plan G: $302 per month.
Medigap Plan N: $220 per month.
Medicare resources in New York
Health Insurance Information, Counseling, and Assistance Programs (HIICAP): Provides information and free, confidential counseling about Medicare, related health insurance subjects and health care affordability for Medicare beneficiaries.
New York Office for the Aging: Administers programs and services to help older adults live independently in the community for as long as possible.
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.
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 13 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.
This roundup includes only insurance companies that sell Medicare Supplement Insurance in New York.
