Compare Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans

You can fill the gaps in Original Medicare with supplemental Medicare coverage. Here are your options.

Updated Mar 8, 2024 · 1 min read Written by Kate Ashford, CSA® Lead Writer

Kate Ashford, CSA®
Lead Writer | Medicare, retirement, personal finance

Kate Ashford is a writer and NerdWallet authority on Medicare. She is a certified senior advisor (CSA)® and has more than 20 years of experience writing about personal finance. Previously, she was a freelance writer for both consumer and business publications, and her work has been published by the BBC, Forbes, Money, AARP, LearnVest and Parents, among others. She has a degree from the University of Virginia and a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism. Kate has appeared as a Medicare expert on the PennyWise podcast by Lee Enterprises, and she's been quoted in national publications including Healthline, Real Simple and SingleCare. She is based in New York.

Assigning Editor

Holly Carey
Assigning Editor | Medicare

Holly Carey joined NerdWallet in 2021 as an editor on the team responsible for expanding content to additional topics within personal finance. She currently leads the Medicare team. Previously, Holly wrote and edited content and developed digital media strategies as a public affairs officer for the U.S. Navy. She is based in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Fact Checked Co-written by Alex Rosenberg Lead Writer

Alex Rosenberg
Lead Writer | Medicare, health care, legislation

Alex Rosenberg is a NerdWallet writer focusing on Medicare and information technology. He has more than 10 years of experience researching and writing about health care, insurance, technology, data privacy and public policy. His research has supported lawmakers in the Wisconsin State Legislature as well as health systems and national health authorities in the U.S. and more than 10 other countries. He is based in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

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Nerdy takeaways

Most states have 10 standardized Medicare Supplement Insurance plan types with letter names.
Plans F, G and N are the most popular Medicare Supplement Insurance plan types.
Plan F offers the most coverage of the standardized types, but it’s not available to new Medicare members.
For people who turned 65 in 2020 or later, Plan G is the highest-coverage Medigap plan type available.

Medicare Supplement Insurance, or Medigap , is health insurance that helps pay for costs that aren’t covered by Original Medicare, like certain copayments, coinsurance or deductibles .

Medicare Supplement Insurance operates as additional — not primary — insurance coverage. You must have Medicare Part A and Part B to buy a Medigap plan. The plans differ in terms of what they cover, out-of-pocket limits and premiums.

These policies are sold by private health insurance companies, and the plans are standardized, so Medigap Plan G from one company in New York will offer the same coverage as Medigap Plan G from a different company in Ohio [0]

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services . Choosing a Medigap Policy. Accessed Feb 27, 2024.

Still deciding on the right carrier? Compare Medigap plans

Compare Medicare Supplement plans

If you’re considering a Medigap policy, it helps to understand what each plan covers. There are 10 standardized Medigap plans available in most states, and they differ in terms of coverage for services, out-of-pocket limits and premium costs. ( Massachusetts , Minnesota and Wisconsin use different standards.)

The best plan for you depends on where you live, your health and potential health care needs, your financial situation and your tolerance for risk. This table breaks down the 10 standard Medigap plan types into categories so you can learn more about which plans might be the best fit for you:

Get details on Medicare Supplement Insurance options

Basics plus some extras

Lower premiums, but higher copays

Lowest premiums — partial coverage

No longer for sale to new Medicare members

Which Medicare Supplement plan has the highest coverage?

Your highest-coverage Medigap option depends on your age-based Medicare eligibility date:

If you became eligible before 2020, Medigap Plan F has the most coverage.

If you became eligible in 2020 or later, you generally can’t buy Plan F, so Plan G is your highest-coverage option.

What Medicare Supplement plan is most popular?

Just three Medicare Supplement Insurance plans cover more than 80% of all Medigap beneficiaries. Here are the most popular plan types as of the end of 2021 [0]

AHIP . The State of Medicare Supplement Coverage. Accessed Feb 27, 2024. Plan F covers 41% of members. Plan G covers 32% of members. Plan N covers 10% of members.

Medicare Supplement Insurance plan comparison chart

Here’s a Medicare Supplement Insurance plan comparison chart to help you see what's covered by each plan type, according to Medicare.gov [0]

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services . How to Compare Medigap Policies. Accessed Feb 27, 2024.

Medigap plans that cover it

Part A coinsurance and hospital costs up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits are used up.

A, B, C, D, F*, G*, K, L, M, N.

Part B coinsurance or copayment.

A, B, C, D, F*, G*, M, N**.

Blood (first 3 pints).

A, B, C, D, F*, G*, M, N.

Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment.

A, B, C, D, F*, G*, M, N.

Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance.

Part A deductible.

K and M cover 50%.

Part B deductible.

Part B excess charge.

Foreign travel exchange (deductible and limitations apply).

C, D, F*, G*, M and N** cover at 80%.

N/A for all other plans.

* In some states, Plans F and G have a high-deductible plan option . That means you must pay for Medicare-covered costs (coinsurance, copayments, deductibles) up to the deductible of $2,800 in 2024, at which point your coverage will kick in.

* * Plan N pays 100% of the Part B coinsurance, except for a copayment of up to $20 for some office visits and a copayment of up to $50 for emergency room visits that don’t lead to inpatient admission.

*** For Plans K and L, once you meet your out-of-pocket yearly limit and your yearly Part B deductible, the plan pays 100% of covered services for the remainder of the year.

Choose a Medicare Supplement Insurance company

Because Medicare supplement plans are standardized, your coverage is the same no matter what company you use. But there’s still good reason to shop around.

Factors such as pricing, customer service and plan types offered can help determine the best Medicare Supplement companies for you.

Shopping for Medigap plans? We have you covered.

MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT , or Medigap, is private health insurance that covers “gaps” in traditional Medicare coverage. Compare options from our Medigap roundup .

Best for Medigap plan options

Best for member satisfaction

Best for premium discounts

Best for extra benefits

When to enroll in Medicare Supplement Insurance

Ideally, you should buy Medicare Supplement Insurance during your Medigap open enrollment period [0]

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services . When Can I Buy a Medigap Policy?. Accessed Feb 27, 2024.

This period happens only once. It starts once you’re 65 and enrolled in Medicare Part B, and lasts for six months. (If you're still working after 65 and covered by a group employer plan that is deemed creditable coverage, your six-month period starts after you’ve ended active employment or no longer have that insurance.)

Medigap policies are cheapest and easiest to get during this open enrollment period because insurance companies aren’t allowed to factor your health or medical history into your price. After the period ends, the prices may go up or you may be denied coverage due to your health status or medical history.

In some states, insurance companies sell Medigap plans to those under 65 who are living with a disability and are eligible for Medicare. You can find more information through your State Health Insurance Assistance Program , or SHIP.

If you have additional questions about Medicare, visit Medicare.gov or call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227, TTY 877-486-2048).

The parts of Medicare

Read more about the different parts of Medicare and what they cover.

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Kate Ashford is a certified senior advisor (CSA)® and personal finance writer at NerdWallet specializing in Medicare and retirement topics. See full bio.

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