Compare Medigap Plans

According to the most recent data from Mark Farrah Associates, Plan F was the most popular Medigap plan, accounting for 41.2% of medigap enrollees. Plan G was the second most popular, at 31.1%. Plans M and N were the next popular choices, at 9.9%.

However, a plan being popular shouldn’t be your primary reason for purchase. You should be researching which Medigap plan is most popular for an individual with your specific needs, not in general.

Mary Johnson, a Social Security and Medicare policy analyst for The Senior Citizens League spoke to RetireGuide about which Medigap policy would best suit new enrollees. “Plan G is a great choice for people enrolling for the first time. Of the plans open to new enrollees, it is the most comprehensive.”

Below are the best Medigap plans for those looking for extensive coverage, affordable premiums and the best options for new enrollees.

While Plans C and F offer extensive coverage, such as being the only plans to cover the Part B deductible, they are no longer available to people who were newly eligible for Medicare on or after Jan. 1, 2020. If you already have a Plan C or F plan, you can keep your coverage.

If you’re looking for a plan with comparable coverage to Plan C or F — consider Plan G. The difference in coverage is that Plan G doesn’t cover the Part B deductible, and you’re likely to get a more affordable premium.

Plan D has similar coverage to Plan C. The only differences are that Plan D doesn’t cover the Part B deductible and the excess charges that nonparticipating doctors are allowed to charge their Medicare patients.

You should consider your specific coverage needs when selecting a Medigap plan. For example, if you’re likely to need skilled nursing care in the future, find a Medigap plan with this coverage included. You should also compare premium quotes from multiple insurers.

Below are some coverage options to consider when considering a Medigap policy.

There are 10 possible, standardized Medigap plans that insurance companies can choose to sell. Each plan helps provide a different level of coverage for Original Medicare’s potential out-of-pocket costs.

But, if they sell any Medicare supplemental insurance plan, they must also offer Medigap Plan A and either Plan C or Plan F. State laws may require insurers to sell other plans, too.

Compare all ten Medigap policies benefits and potential premiums to see what could fit your needs.

There are high deductible versions of Plan F and Plan G. In 2023, the annual deductible amount for these plans is $2,700. The Plan F and Plan G high-deductible premiums could range from $51 to $94, according to the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The price estimates were formulated for a 65-year-old nonsmoking woman looking for coverage in Florida.

If you live in Massachusetts, Minnesota or Wisconsin, policies are different from other Medigap plans in the United States.

All three states require Medigap plans to offer the same basic benefits.

Wisconsin also requires coverage of 40 home health care visits in addition to those covered by Original Medicare. Massachusetts also includes an additional 365 days of hospitalization costs after Medicare coverage ends.

Beyond that, the offerings can vary from state to state.

Massachusetts offers three plans: Core Plan, Supplement 1 Plan and Supplement 1A Plan. Supplement 1 Plan covers the Medicare Part B medical insurance deductible, however the Supplement 1A does not.

Minnesota offers a Basic Plan and Extended Basic Plan. The Extended Basic Plan notably includes coverage for the Part A inpatient hospital deductible and the Medicare Part B deductible which the Basic Plan does not cover. Both provide 80% coverage for emergency care during foreign travel.

Wisconsin offers only a Basic Plan, but there are versions known as “50% and 25% Cost-Sharing Plans” similar to standardized Plans K and L. There is also a plan with a high deductible available. The deductible is $2,340 per year in 2022. 2023 numbers are not currently available.