Where to shop for Medigap?
You can shop for Medigap policies directly through private insurance companies, via licensed insurance agents, or by using the official Medigap Policy Finder on Medicare.gov.
Where to shop for Medigap insurance?
You can compare and shop for standardized Medigap policies directly through the Official Medicare Plan Finder.
Where to Shop
- Official Medicare Tool: Use the Medicare Medigap Policy Finder to see what lettered plans (A through N) are available in your specific ZIP code and which private insurance companies sell them.
- Top National Insurers: Major carriers like AARP/UnitedHealthcare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Cigna/HealthSpring offer competitive supplement options across many states.
- Independent Brokers: Agencies like Boomer Benefits or Midwest Medigap compare rates across multiple private carriers at no extra cost.
- State Resources: Contact your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for free, unbiased counseling on local policy costs and rules.
What to Keep in Mind
- Standardized Benefits: Plan G from one company offers the exact same medical benefits as Plan G from another company.
- Shop by Price: Because benefits are identical, price is the primary difference between identical lettered plans sold by different insurers.
What are common complaints about Medigap plans?
Common complaints about Medigap (Medicare Supplement) plans center around rising costs, strict enrollment rules, and lack of extra perks.
High and Rising Costs
- Steep monthly premiums: Medigap plans cost more each month than zero-dollar or low-premium Medicare Advantage alternatives.
- Unpredictable rate hikes: Premiums often rise every year due to inflation and aging. Attained-age policies can trigger sharp price jumps as you get older.
- No extra benefits: Plans do not include routine dental, vision, or hearing care.
Missing Coverage
- No prescription drugs: Medigap policies sold today exclude prescription drug coverage. You must buy a separate Medicare Part D plan.
- No help for non-approved services: Medigap only covers costs for services that Original Medicare first approves. If Medicare denies a service, the supplement pays nothing.
Inflexibility and Underwriting
- Difficult to switch plans: Outside your initial 6-month open enrollment window, changing companies or plans usually requires passing health questions (medical underwriting).
- Risk of denial: Insurers can reject applicants or charge higher rates based on pre-existing health conditions. This makes moving from Medicare Advantage back to Medigap a difficult "one-way street".
What is the highest rated Medicare supplemental insurance?
AARP/UnitedHealthcare is widely considered the highest-rated and most popular overall provider for Medicare Supplement (Medigap) insurance.
Top-Rated Providers
- AARP/UnitedHealthcare: Ranks best overall due to its nationwide availability across all 50 states, strong brand recognition, and consistently low consumer complaint numbers.
- State Farm: Earns top marks for financial stability (A++ AM Best rating) and a long-term track record of slow, stable year-over-year premium increases.
- Mutual of Omaha: Highly rated for financial strength (A+ AM Best rating) and extensive availability in 49 states, though its rates can occasionally run higher than competitors.
- USAA: Holds an elite A++ financial strength rating from AM Best, though enrollment is restricted exclusively to active-duty military, veterans, and their eligible family members.
Understanding Medigap Ratings
- Standardized Benefits: By federal law, Medigap plans with the same letter (such as Plan G or Plan N) offer identical basic medical benefits regardless of which company sells them.
- Choosing a Carrier: Because coverage is identical, ratings are usually based on customer service, complaint histories from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), and how much premiums increase over time.
What is the typical cost of a good Medicare supplemental plan?
A good, popular Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan typically costs between $100 and $300 per month, with a national average of around $217 per month.
Costs of Popular Plans
- Plan G (Most popular for new enrollees): Averages $140 to $180 per month. It covers nearly all out-of-pocket costs except the annual Part B deductible.
- Plan N (Lower premium option): Averages $110 to $140 per month. It has lower monthly costs, but you pay small copays for certain doctor and emergency room visits.
- High-Deductible Plan G: Averages $50 to $55 per month. You pay a $2,950 deductible before coverage starts.
- Plan F (Most comprehensive): Averages $185 to $228 per month. Note: Only available if you were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020.
Factors That Change Your Cost
- Location: Prices vary widely by state and zip code.
- Age: Rates often increase as you get older depending on how the private insurer prices the plan.
- Tobacco Use: Smokers often pay 10% to 20% more.
- Pricing Method: Plans can be priced by your current age (attained-age), your age when you first buy it (issue-age), or the same price for everyone in the area (community-rated).
You can review specific options and compare providers using the official Medicare Medigap Tool.
When to Shop for a Medicare Supplement?
What is the disadvantage of Plan G?
The primary disadvantage of Medicare Supplement Plan G is that it does not cover the Medicare Part B deductible ($283 in 2026), which you must pay out of pocket before coverage begins.
📉 Key Disadvantages of Plan G
- 📌 Part B Deductible: You pay the first $283 out of pocket.
- 📌 Higher Premiums: Costs more monthly than alternatives like Plan N.
- 📌 No Extra Benefits: Excludes routine dental, vision, hearing, and prescription drugs.
- 📌 Rate Increases: Subject to annual premium hikes driven by inflation and age.
📊 Comparing Plan G Drawbacks
| Feature | Regular Plan G | High-Deductible Plan G |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Premium | Higher ($160–$170 avg.) | Lower ($60–$70 avg.) |
| Initial Out-of-Pocket | Part B Deductible ($283) | High Deductible ($2,950) |
| Rate Hike Risk | Higher historical increases | Lower stable increases (2–3%) |
Which Medicare Supplement insurance company is best for 2026?
The best Medicare Supplement (Medigap) insurance company for 2026 depends on your personal budget and needs, but NerdWallet ranks State Farm, AARP/UnitedHealthcare, and Cigna as the top overall choices for the year.
Because Medigap benefits are standardized by the federal government, a specific plan (such as Plan G) offers the exact same medical coverage no matter which company sells it. The right choice comes down to monthly cost, customer service, and rate stability.
Top Medigap Carriers for 2026
- State Farm: Ranks highest for customer satisfaction and low complaint rates, making it a great pick if you want small annual price increases and simple policies.
- AARP/UnitedHealthcare: Serves as the largest Medigap provider in the nation. It offers wide availability, extra perks like the SilverSneakers fitness program, and strong brand familiarity.
- Cigna (HealthSpring): Frequently stands out for offering some of the lowest initial monthly premiums, though some policyholders report higher complaint rates regarding billing or service.
- Mutual of Omaha: Known as a gold standard in the industry, offering great household discounts, fast underwriting approval, and stable risk pools, though year-over-year price jumps can sometimes be large.
How to Choose the Right Company
- Compare Quotes: Rates for the exact same plan vary drastically by ZIP code and age. Always get multiple quotes in your area.
- Check Financial Strength: Look for companies with high financial ratings (such as A or better from A.M. Best) so you know they can pay claims reliably.
- Review Rate History: Ask an agent how much a company typically raises its rates each year after the first year.
What is the average Medigap premium in 2026?
The overall average Medigap (Medicare Supplement) monthly premium in 2026 is approximately $149.50, though most standard plans range between $100 and $300 per month depending on your choice of plan, age, and location.
Average Premiums by Popular Plan Type
Costs vary significantly depending on the specific standardized letter plan you choose:
- Plan G (Most popular for new enrollees): Averages $120 to $250 per month (around $142–$180 for a 65-year-old).
- Plan N (Lower premium with small copays): Averages $85 to $190 per month (around $112–$140 for a 65-year-old).
- Plan F (Legacy full-coverage plan for those eligible before 2020): Averages $150 to $350 per month.
- High-Deductible Plan G: Averages $30 to $70 per month.
Factors Affecting Your Premium
- Age: Plans often use "attained-age" pricing, meaning premiums increase as you get older.
- Location: State regulations and local healthcare costs heavily influence regional averages. For detailed figures, you can check guides like the Average Cost of Medigap Plans on The Senior List or review comparisons via US News Health.
- Discounts: Tobacco use, household discounts, and gender can also alter your individual rate.
Is Medigap really worth it?
Medigap is generally worth the extra monthly cost if you prioritize unrestricted doctor choice and complete financial predictability over lower upfront premiums.
Without supplemental coverage, Original Medicare leaves you exposed to an uncapped 20% coinsurance on Part B services.
✅ When Medigap Is Worth It
- No network limits: See any doctor accepting Medicare nationwide.
- No prior authorizations: Care decisions rest solely with your physician.
- Predictable expenses: Monthly premiums replace surprise catastrophic medical bills.
- Frequent travel: Coverage applies smoothly across all US states.
⚠️ When Medigap Might Not Fit
- Tight monthly budgets: Premiums add up alongside Part B and Part D costs.
- Excellent baseline health: Healthy individuals may overpay for unused coverage.
- Desire for extra perks: Missing dental, vision, and gym benefits.
- Comfort with networks: Medicare Advantage offers lower zero-premium alternatives.
💡 Core Trade-Offs to Evaluate
- Financial Protection
- Shields against massive cancer or surgery coinsurance.
- Eliminates annual out-of-pocket maximum fears.
- Ongoing Expenses
- Requires steady monthly premium payments.
- Subject to regular annual rate increases.
What percentage of Medicare beneficiaries have Medigap?
About 20% to 23% of all total KFF Medicare beneficiaries have a Medigap (Medicare Supplement Insurance) policy.
When looking specifically at people enrolled in traditional (Original) Medicare rather than Medicare Advantage, about 43% have Medigap coverage.
Coverage Breakdown
- Total Medicare Population: Roughly 12.2 million to 14.1 million people (20% to 23%) rely on Medigap out of all total beneficiaries.
- Traditional Medicare Population: Roughly 43% of beneficiaries who choose traditional Part A and Part B use Medigap to help cover deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance.
- Other Supplemental Sources: The remaining traditional Medicare beneficiaries get extra coverage through employer-sponsored plans (about 29%) or Medicaid (about 14%), while roughly 13% have no extra coverage at all.