Medicare Supplement Comparison: What You Need to Know
A Medicare supplement comparison starts with one simple fact: Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) covers roughly 80% of approved costs, leaving you responsible for the rest. Medigap policies sold by private insurers fill those gaps, but they differ in price, benefits, and flexibility. Picking the wrong plan can mean thousands of dollars in extra expenses, so understanding the trade-offs matters more than chasing the lowest monthly premium.
- Medicare Supplement Comparison: What You Need to Know
- How Medicare Supplement Plans Work
- Plan F vs. Plan G vs. Plan N: The Core Trade-Offs
- Plan F
- Plan G
- Plan N
- Medicare Supplement Comparison Table
- Where the Plans Fall Short
- How to Choose Between the Plans
- Pricing Models and What They Mean
- Switching Plans Later
- Final Takeaway
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This guide walks through the standard plans, what they pay, where they fall short, and how to weigh cost against coverage when your health needs and budget shift.
How Medicare Supplement Plans Work
Medigap policies are standardized by letter, and every insurer that sells the same letter plan must offer identical core benefits. That standardization makes a Medicare supplement comparison straightforward on paper: Plan F covers the same Part A and Part B deductibles and coinsurance as every other Plan F, regardless of the company. Where plans differ is in price, provider networks, and extra perks like foreign travel emergency coverage.
You can only buy a Medigap policy if you are enrolled in Original Medicare. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, you cannot use Medigap, and if you try to sell you one, it is likely a scam. The six-month Medigap open enrollment period starts on the first day of the month you turn 65 and are enrolled in Part B. During that window, insurers cannot deny you or charge more based on health history.
Plan F vs. Plan G vs. Plan N: The Core Trade-Offs
Most Medicare supplement comparisons center on three popular plans because they balance cost and coverage in different ways. Plan F is the most generous but is no longer available to people who became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. If you are already enrolled, you can keep it; if you are not, you will need to look at Plan G or another option.
Plan F
- Covers all Medicare Part A and Part B cost-sharing, including the Part B deductible.
- No out-of-pocket doctor visits or emergency room copays after Medicare pays.
- Highest monthly premium among standard plans.
Plan G
- Covers everything Plan F covers except the Part B deductible, which you pay out of pocket each year.
- Typically several hundred dollars per year cheaper than Plan F in premiums.
- For many people, the premium savings outweigh the single annual deductible.
Plan N
- Covers most cost-sharing but requires copays for doctor office visits (usually $0 to $20) and emergency room visits (usually $50, unless you are admitted).
- Does not cover the Part B deductible.
- Lowest premiums among the three, but you pay more each time you see a provider.
Medicare Supplement Comparison Table
The table below compares the standard benefits, out-of-pocket responsibilities, and typical cost profile for the three most common Medigap plans. Premiums vary by ZIP code, age, sex, and tobacco use, so the ranges are illustrative.
| Attribute | Plan F | Plan G | Plan N |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part A deductible covered | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Part B deductible covered | Yes | No | No |
| Part B coinsurance (20%) covered | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Doctor visit copay | $0 | $0 | Usually $0–$20 |
| Emergency room copay | $0 | $0 | Usually $50 (waived if admitted) |
| Foreign travel emergency coinsurance | 80% up to plan limit | 80% up to plan limit | 80% up to plan limit |
| Typical annual premium range | $1,800–$3,500+ | $1,400–$3,000+ | $900–$2,200+ |
| Available to new Medicare enrollees | No (if first eligible 2020 or later) | Yes | Yes |
Where the Plans Fall Short
Medigap policies do not cover everything. They do not pay for long-term care, vision or dental exams, hearing aids, eyeglasses, or private-duty nursing. They also do not cover services Medicare denies, and if a claim is denied, the Medigap insurer is not obligated to pay it. Prescription drug coverage is never included; you need a standalone Part D plan or a Medicare Advantage plan with drug benefits.
Another important limitation is that Medigap plans do not cover care you receive outside the United States except in limited emergencies. If you travel frequently, check the foreign travel benefit and any lifetime dollar cap on those claims.
How to Choose Between the Plans
The right choice depends on how often you see doctors, whether you have a large emergency fund, and how much you are willing to trade predictability for a lower premium.
If you visit your doctor frequently or want to avoid surprise bills, Plan G or Plan F gives you the most predictable experience, because there are no copays after Medicare pays. Plan G is usually the better value for people who can handle the Part B deductible once a year. Plan N makes sense if you rarely go to the doctor or emergency room and prefer a lower monthly bill, but you should be comfortable paying small copays at the point of service.
Pricing Models and What They Mean
Insurers price Medigap policies in one of three ways. Community-rated pricing charges the same premium regardless of age, so your premium does not go up as you get older. Issue-age-rated pricing sets your premium based on how old you are when you buy the policy and does not increase with age, but it is higher if you buy at age 65 than if you buy at age 70. Attained-age-rated pricing starts lower but rises as you age, which can make it the most expensive over time.
The cheapest plan in your area at age 65 may not be the cheapest at age 75, so a Medicare supplement comparison should include a look at the pricing structure, not just the first-year quote.
Switching Plans Later
You can switch Medigap plans after enrollment, but you lose your guaranteed-issue rights unless you have a qualifying life event, such as moving out of a plan's service area or losing other coverage. If you switch from one plan to another, the new company can use medical underwriting, which means they can deny you or charge more based on your health. Because of this, many people stay in their current plan rather than risk being turned down.
If you currently have Plan F and want to switch to Plan G, for example, the new insurer can ask about your health history. That is why the Medicare supplement comparison should include a review of your current health and whether you are comfortable with the risk of a denial or higher premium when changing coverage.
Final Takeaway
A Medicare supplement comparison is really a comparison of how much risk you are willing to carry and how predictable you need your healthcare costs to be. Plan F offers the most coverage but is off the table for most new enrollees. Plan G is the most popular replacement, covering everything except the Part B deductible. Plan N lowers the premium but adds copays you will pay each time you see a provider. The best plan is the one that aligns with how often you use care, how much you can afford at the point of service, and whether you are comfortable with the possibility of premium increases as you age.