Choosing Medigap starts with two questions: which Medicare cost-sharing expenses you want covered, and whether you can buy the policy under protected enrollment rules. The lowest quoted premium is only useful if the coverage and enrollment terms fit your situation.
Confirm that Medigap fits your Medicare coverage
Medigap is private supplemental insurance used with Original Medicare. It helps pay specified deductibles, coinsurance and copayments; it does not supplement Medicare Advantage. Modern Medigap policies do not include prescription drug coverage, so evaluate Part D separately. Routine dental and vision care and long-term custodial care generally are not covered. Start with Medicare's Medigap basics.
Protect your enrollment opportunity
The federal six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period starts in the first month you are at least 65 and enrolled in Part B. Insurers cannot use medical underwriting to deny a policy during that period. A pre-existing-condition waiting period can still apply in some circumstances.
This window does not repeat each autumn. Outside it, an insurer may deny an application or charge more unless guaranteed issue rights or state protections apply. Federal law generally does not require insurers to sell Medigap to people under 65. Verify your situation with your state insurance department before ending existing coverage. See Medicare's enrollment guidance.
Compare Plan G and Plan N carefully
| Feature | Standard Plan G | Plan N |
|---|---|---|
| Part B deductible | You pay | You pay |
| Part B excess charges | Covered | Not covered |
| Office and emergency visit copayments | Covered Part B coinsurance | Up to $20 for some office visits; up to $50 for emergency visits without inpatient admission |
The Part B deductible is $283 in 2026. High-deductible Plan G is a different option, with a $2,950 deductible in 2026 before the policy pays. Plan G does not pay every possible medical expense. These benefit distinctions come from the official Medigap comparison chart.
Compare equivalent policies and real quotes
In most states, policies with the same letter provide the same standardized basic benefits, although premiums differ. Massachusetts, Minnesota and Wisconsin standardize plans differently. Plans C and F are not available to people newly eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. Check the Medigap eligibility and standardization rules before comparing names.
Ask insurers for written quotes using the same coverage start date and benefit option. Record the premium, how it changes with age, available discounts and whether those discounts expire. Compare annual premiums plus likely uncovered expenses. A hypothetical $30 monthly premium difference is $360 a year; weigh that amount against the costs you would retain under the cheaper policy.
Check providers and your complete budget
Confirm that your clinicians accept your Medicare arrangement, especially if considering a Medicare SELECT policy with network restrictions. Add the Medigap premium to Part B, any Part D premium and other recurring health costs. Keep a separate allowance for services outside the policy's benefits.
Before submitting an application, confirm your protected enrollment rights, effective date and any waiting period. Keep written acceptance and coordinate the end of an old policy with the start of the new one. This is especially important when changing coverage: an attractive quote does not by itself establish that the insurer has accepted you.
View changes from the September 2026 update
- Updated the Part B deductible and Plan G versus Plan N comparison.
- Clarified the one-time Medigap enrollment period and state protections.
- Removed blanket coverage claims and unsupported premium examples.
