Medicare Guide

Medicare Supplement Plan Types

Medicare Supplement plan types are named by letters, but the letters can make the decision look more complicated than it really is. In most states, the letter tells you the basic Medigap benefit design. It does not tell you the premium, the rate history, the company service experience, or whether that plan type is the best fit for how you use care.

Reviewed by Jeremy Weiser, Licensed Insurance Agent since 2007 · Published May 15, 2026 · Last updated August 14, 2026

Quick answer

Medigap plan letters describe standardized benefits, not the best company or the best price.

In most states, a Plan G from one company has the same basic medical benefits as a Plan G from another company. The premium, rate increases, household discounts, underwriting rules, billing, and service can still be different. That is why the plan letter is only the first comparison.

Key takeaways

Medicare Supplement and Medigap mean the same thing.
Most states use standardized Medigap plan letters, but Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin use different systems.
Plan G and Plan N are common modern comparison points for people new to Medicare today.
Plans C and F are generally not available to people who became newly eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020.
The best plan type depends on premium difference, provider use, excess-charge risk, travel needs, and comfort with out-of-pocket exposure.

Plan type snapshot

The plan letters people usually compare first

The letter tells you the benefit design. The full comparison still needs premium, rate history, available discounts, underwriting, company service, and whether the plan type fits your comfort with risk.

Plan G

Broad coverageA common choice for people who want broad Medigap benefits but are new enough that Plan F is unavailable.

Plan N

Copay tradeoffPlan N may lower premium, but it can include certain office or ER copays and does not cover Part B excess charges.

High-deductible G

$2,950In 2026, high-deductible Plan G has this deductible before the policy pays covered Medigap costs.

Plans K / L limits

$8,000 / $4,000In 2026, Plans K and L have these yearly out-of-pocket limits before paying 100% of covered services.

What the Medigap letters actually mean

Medigap plan letters describe benefit designs. They do not describe networks, drug coverage, dental benefits, or company quality. In most states, the standard Medigap letters include A, B, D, G, K, L, M, and N, with Plans C and F available only to certain people. Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin standardize Medigap differently, so the letter comparison works differently there.

Why Plan G is often the modern starting point

Plan G is commonly compared because it covers many of the gaps Original Medicare leaves behind, while leaving the annual Part B deductible to the beneficiary. For people newly eligible for Medicare today, it is often the broad-coverage option people compare first. But a Plan G decision is still not finished until you compare premium, rate history, discount availability, underwriting rules, and the company behind the policy.

Why Plan N deserves a careful look

Plan N may cost less than Plan G in some markets. The tradeoff is that Plan N can include certain office visit or emergency room copays and does not cover Part B excess charges. For someone who rarely sees doctors and has providers who accept Medicare assignment, the tradeoff may feel reasonable. For someone who wants fewer variables, the lower premium may not be worth it.

Why Plan F is not available to everyone

Plan F was historically popular because it covered the Part B deductible along with many other Original Medicare gaps. Medicare.gov notes that Plans C and F are not available to people who became newly eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. People who were eligible before January 1, 2020 — even if they turned 65 later — may still be able to buy Plan F, depending on their situation and state rules.

High-deductible Plan G is a different kind of tradeoff

Some states offer high-deductible Plan G. In 2026, Medicare.gov lists the high-deductible amount at $2,950 before the policy pays covered Medigap costs. This kind of plan can lower the monthly premium, but it asks the person to carry more cost risk before the supplement begins paying. It is not just a cheaper Plan G; it is a different structure.

Plans K and L use cost sharing and yearly limits

Plans K and L do not work like Plan G or Plan N. They cover a percentage of several benefits until the person reaches the plan's yearly out-of-pocket limit and the Part B deductible. Medicare sets those yearly limits each year — Plan K's limit is twice Plan L's — and Medicare.gov lists the current amounts. These plans can make sense for some budgets, but they need more explanation than simply comparing premiums.

Plan M, Plan D, and the less-common letters still matter

Not every useful Medigap comparison is Plan G versus Plan N. Plan D, Plan M, and other letters may appear in certain markets or situations. Availability can vary by state and company. The reason to review the less-common letters is not to make the decision more complicated; it is to make sure a person is not missing a better fit for their premium and risk tolerance.

Standardized benefits do not make every company the same

A standardized Plan G benefit does not make every Plan G equally wise to buy. Carriers can differ on premium, rate history, household discounts, underwriting approach, billing, service, financial strength, and how competitive they tend to stay over time. The plan letter tells you what the policy is supposed to cover. It does not tell you whether the price is likely to age well.

How to choose the right plan type

Start by deciding how much cost sharing you want to keep. Then compare the premium difference between plan letters in your area. Then check provider habits, travel, household discounts, underwriting, and whether Part B excess charges matter where you receive care. The right Medigap plan type is the one where the premium and risk tradeoff still feels good after a bad health year, not just during a healthy one.

Coverage paths

The two big Medicare paths people usually compare

The right answer is not the same for everyone. The better question is which path fits the way you use care.

Broad-coverage route

Plan G is often the first comparison point for people who want strong Original Medicare cost-sharing protection and are not eligible for Plan F. Compare premiums and rate history before assuming every Plan G is equal.

Medicare Plan N vs Plan G Medicare Costs Explained Medicare Part B

Lower-premium tradeoff

Plan N, high-deductible Plan G, and Plans K or L may reduce premiums in some markets, but the person keeps more cost-sharing responsibility. This route needs a clear view of doctor use and risk tolerance.

Medicare Supplement Plan F Medicare Advantage vs Medicare Supplement Changing Medicare Supplements

Timing and underwriting

The plan type you can buy may depend on your Medigap Open Enrollment Period, guaranteed-issue rights, state rules, and health underwriting if you apply later.

Medicare Supplement Enrollment Periods How to Enroll in Medicare When to Enroll in Medicare

Go deeper

Related Medicare guides

Use this page as your Medicare starting point, then jump into the specific topic that matches your situation.

Common questions

Questions people usually ask next

These answers are a starting point. Medicare details can change based on timing, other coverage, and where you live.

Are all Plan G policies identical?

The standardized medical benefits are generally the same in most states, but premiums, discounts, rate history, underwriting, billing, and service can vary by company.

Is Plan N better than Plan G?

Not automatically. Plan N may have a lower premium but includes tradeoffs. The right choice depends on premium difference, doctor use, excess-charge exposure, and comfort with cost sharing.

Can everyone buy Plan F?

No. People newly eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020 generally cannot buy Medigap plans that cover the Part B deductible, including Plan F.

What is high-deductible Plan G?

High-deductible Plan G is a version of Plan G where you pay Medicare-covered costs up to a deductible before the policy pays covered Medigap costs. In 2026, Medicare.gov lists that deductible at $2,950.

Do Medigap plan types include drug coverage?

No. Medigap policies sold after 2005 do not include outpatient prescription drug coverage. People who want drug coverage usually compare a separate Part D plan.

Official references

Sources checked for this guide

These guides are written in plain English, but the 2026 cost figures and coverage rules should stay tied to official Medicare and CMS source material.

Medicare.gov: Compare Medigap plan benefits Medicare.gov: Medigap basics Medicare.gov: How Medigap works Medicare.gov: Get Medigap costs CMS: High-deductible Medigap announcements

About the reviewer

Jeremy Weiser · Licensed Insurance Agent since 2007 · Nevada license #566932

Jeremy Weiser is the CEO and a principal of The Medicare Store and has been a licensed insurance agent since 2007 (Nevada license #566932). With nearly two decades in health and Medicare insurance, he leads the standards behind the guidance The Medicare Store gives every client.

Need help applying this?

Talk with The Medicare Store before you choose.

Medicare decisions depend on your doctors, prescriptions, location, timing, and budget. We can help you compare the options that fit your situation.

Schedule a free meeting Call or text 888-333-5853 More articles