Medicare supplement
plans, explained plainly.

A Medicare supplement, or Medigap, plan is private insurance that pays some or all of the out-of-pocket costs Original Medicare leaves behind — deductibles, copays and coinsurance. It works alongside Original Medicare (Parts A and B), not instead of it, and does not include prescription drug coverage.

Medigap works alongside Original Medicare, so you can see any provider nationwide who accepts Medicare, with no networks or referrals; Medicare Advantage replaces Original Medicare with a private plan that usually uses a local network and often costs less in premium. Medigap generally means more predictable costs and more portability; Medicare Advantage often means a lower premium with narrower provider choice — the right fit depends on your health, budget and how much you travel.

New Medicare enrollees can choose from Plans A, B, D, G, K, L, M and N, including a high-deductible version of Plan G. Plans C and F are only available if you became eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020; Plan H (along with E, I and J) was discontinued in the 2010 federal standardization and isn't sold to anyone today.

Only if you were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020 — federal law closed Plan F (and Plan C) to anyone who became eligible on or after that date. If you qualify, a licensed agent can tell you whether F is still sold in your state.

Outside your one-time Medigap open enrollment period or a guaranteed-issue situation, yes — insurers can generally use medical underwriting to decline you or charge more based on your health. Applying during your initial enrollment window, or when you have a guaranteed-issue right, avoids underwriting entirely.

No. Medigap plans don't include prescription drug coverage, so most people pair a Medigap plan with a standalone Part D drug plan.

No. This is an independent educational and referral site, not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government, the federal Medicare program, or Medicare.gov. We explain how Medicare supplement insurance generally works and connect you with independent licensed agents.