Medicare Supplement (Medigap)
Predictable costs with the freedom to see any Medicare doctor
Overview
Original Medicare doesn't pay all of the cost for covered services & supplies. Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policies — sold by private insurance companies & standardized by the federal government — help pay some of the remaining costs like copayments, coinsurance, & deductibles.
What Medigap is
Medicare Supplement Insurance — usually called Medigap — is a private policy that works alongside Original Medicare Parts A & B. Medicare pays its share of an approved medical claim first, & your Medigap plan then pays part or all of the remaining costs, such as deductibles, coinsurance, & copayments.
Because Medigap benefits are standardized by the federal government (Plans A, B, D, G, K, L, & N), the coverage inside a specific plan letter is identical from one carrier to the next. Only the price, customer service, & carrier reputation vary.
What Medigap covers
Depending on the plan letter you choose, a Medigap policy can help pay for:
- Part A hospital coinsurance, plus an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits are exhausted
- Part B coinsurance or copayments (usually 20%)
- The first 3 pints of blood
- Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment
- Skilled nursing facility coinsurance
- The Part A hospital deductible
- Part B excess charges (Plan G)
- Foreign travel emergency care up to plan limits
Who is eligible
- Must be enrolled in Medicare Part A & Part B
- Best time to apply is during your 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period, which begins the month you turn 65 & are enrolled in Part B
- Outside that window, most carriers require medical underwriting & may decline coverage
- Not available to anyone currently enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan
Why someone chooses Medigap
Medigap is built around freedom & predictability. You can see any doctor or hospital in the U.S. that accepts Medicare, referrals aren't required for specialists, & — outside of your monthly premium — most beneficiaries have very few surprise costs. It's often the right fit for people who travel, split time between states, or want the smallest possible out-of-pocket exposure.
Important benefits & limitations
- Plan G & Plan N are the most popular choices in Florida
- High-deductible Plans F & G are available with a 2026 deductible of $2,950 before benefits begin
- Plans C & F are only available to those first eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020
- Medigap does not include prescription drug coverage — you'll typically add a standalone Part D plan
- Medigap Select policies may limit hospital services to a specific geographic area
- You can't have Medigap & a Medicare Advantage plan at the same time
Enrollment tip
During your 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period, insurance carriers cannot refuse to sell you a policy, charge you more because of health problems, or make you wait for coverage to start. Applying outside that window may require answering health questions.
Key highlights
- Standardized federal benefits — Plans A, B, D, G, K, L, N (Plans C & F only for those first eligible before 2020)
- Pairs with Original Medicare Parts A & B
- See any doctor or hospital in the U.S. that accepts Medicare
- No referrals needed for specialists
- High-deductible Plans F & G available with a 2026 deductible of $2,950
- Plan G & Plan N are the most popular choices in Florida
What it covers
Part A hospital coinsurance
All standardized Medigap plans cover Part A hospital coinsurance plus an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits are exhausted.
Part B coinsurance or copay
Plans A, B, D, G, & F pay 100%; Plans K & L pay 50% / 75% respectively; Plan N pays 100% after small copays.
Blood (first 3 pints)
Covered on every standardized plan; Plans K & L cover 50% / 75%.
Part A hospice coinsurance
Covered on every plan; Plans K/L cover 50% / 75%.
Skilled nursing facility coinsurance
Covered on Plans D, G, K (50%), L (75%), N, C, & F.
Part A deductible
Fully covered by Plans B, D, G, N, C, & F; 50% by Plan K & 75% by Plan L.
Part B deductible
Only Plans C & F cover it (available only to those first eligible before 2020).
Part B excess charges
Covered 100% by Plans G & F.
Foreign travel emergency
80% up to a $50,000 lifetime maximum on Plans D, G, N, C, & F, after a $250 annual deductible.
Standardized Medigap benefits at a glance
| Benefit | A | B | D | G | K | L | N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part A hospital coinsurance + 365 extra days | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Part B coinsurance / copayment | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 50% | 75% | 100%* |
| Blood (first 3 pints) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 50% | 75% | ✓ |
| Part A hospice coinsurance | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 50% | 75% | ✓ |
| Skilled nursing facility coinsurance | — | — | ✓ | ✓ | 50% | 75% | ✓ |
| Part A deductible | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 50% | 75% | ✓ |
| Part B deductible | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Part B excess charges | — | — | — | 100% | — | — | — |
| Foreign travel emergency | — | — | ✓ | ✓ | — | — | ✓ |
| Out-of-pocket annual limit | — | — | — | — | $8,000 | $4,000 | — |
*Plan N pays 100% of the Part B coinsurance but you pay up to $20 for some office visits & up to $50 for ER visits that don't result in inpatient admission. Plans C & F are only available to people first eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020, & cover the Part B deductible. High-deductible Plans F & G require you to pay $2,950 in 2026 before benefits begin. Medigap Select plans may limit hospital services & doctors to a geographical area.
Frequently asked questions
Does Medigap include prescription drugs?+
No. You'll typically add a standalone Part D drug plan alongside your Medigap policy.
When's the best time to enroll?+
During your 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period, which starts the month you turn 65 & enroll in Part B — no medical underwriting during this window.
Can I have both Medigap & Medicare Advantage?+
No. If you join a Medicare Advantage plan, you can't use or be sold a Medigap policy.
Are Plan F & Plan C still available?+
Only if you were first eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020. Everyone else typically chooses Plan G or Plan N, which cover almost everything Plan F did except the Part B deductible.
Explore other Medicare options
Jump directly to any other Medicare plan type — no need to head back to the homepage.
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