Medigap Plan Selector

Medigap plans look confusing because they are sold by letter. The letter is the only thing that sets the benefits. This selector asks what you want that coverage to do, and how much you want to pay each month for it.

Why the letter is the whole story

Medigap benefits are standardized by law. Plan G from one company covers the same gaps as Plan G from another. What differs is the price, the service, and how fast rates rise. So the real work is picking a letter, then shopping that letter.

What the letters trade against each other

• Fuller letters leave you little to pay after Medicare, and cost more each month.
• Middle letters ask for a small share of some visits in return for a smaller premium.
• Leaner letters cover less of the early costs and suit people who rarely need care.

Timing is the part people miss

You get a six month Medigap open enrollment window. It starts when your Part B coverage starts. In that window no health questions are asked. After it closes, most companies may review your health before they accept you. California also has a birthday rule. Each year around your birthday you may move to a plan with equal or lesser benefits.

Rates also rise over time. Most companies raise them with your age, with claims in your area, or both. Ask how a company has raised rates in the past, not only what it charges today. A plan you cannot afford in ten years is not the plan you want.

What your answers suggest

• Want the most complete coverage: a fuller letter, if the premium fits your budget for years.
• Fine with small copays: a middle letter often costs less across a whole year.
• Travel often: any Medigap works with any provider in the country who takes Medicare.

What a supplement does not do

A supplement follows Original Medicare. It pays its share of what Medicare approves, and nothing beyond that. So it adds no dental, vision, hearing, or fitness benefits. It also needs no network, because any provider who takes Medicare takes your supplement. Many people add separate dental coverage to fill that gap.

None of that is a recommendation. Rates, letters offered, and health review rules vary by company and by area and can change. Bring your budget, your health history, and your travel plans to a licensed agent. Read more in our Medigap guide and the Plan G and Plan N comparison. Verify the standard benefits for each letter at medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.