What Is Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap)?

A Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) plan, sold by private companies, can help pay some of the healthcare costs that Original Medicare doesn’t cover, like co-payments, coinsurance, and deductibles.

If you buy a Medigap policy, Medicare will pay its share of the Medicare-approved amount for covered healthcare costs. Your Medigap policy pays its share.

A Medigap policy is different from a Medicare Advantage Plan. Advantage plans replace Original Medicare, while a Medigap policy supplements your Original Medicare benefits.

What you need to know about Medicare Supplement policies

• You must have Medicare Part A and Part B.
• If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, you can change to a Medicare Supplement plan during a designated enrollment period. You must leave the Medicare Advantage Plan before your Medicare Supplement insurance policy begins.
• You pay a monthly premium for your Medicare Supplement insurance policy in addition to the monthly Part B premium that you pay to Medicare.
• You can buy a Medicare Supplement insurance policy from any insurance company that’s licensed to sell one in your state.
• Any standardized Medicare Supplement insurance policy is guaranteed renewable even if you have health problems. This means the insurance company can’t cancel your Medigap policy as long as you pay the premium.
• Medicare Supplement Insurance policies sold after January 1, 2006 do not include prescription drug coverage. If you want prescription drug coverage, you can purchase a standalone Part D Prescription Drug Plan (PDP).
• You may not purchase a Medigap policy if you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, unless you’re switching back to Original Medicare.

Note: A ✓ means 100% of this benefit is paid. *Only applicants first eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020 may purchase Plans C, F, and high deductible F. This chart shows the benefits included in each of the standard Medicare supplement plans. Some plans may not be available. Every company must make Plan A available.

¹ Plans F and G offer a high-deductible plan in some states. With this option, you must pay for medicare-covered costs (coinsurance copayments and deductibles) up to the deductible amount of $2,870 in 2025 before your policy pays anything. The plan pays 100% of covered services for the rest of the calendar year. High deductible Plans F and G do not cover the separate Foreign travel emergency deductible. High deductible Plan G does not cover the Medicare Part B deductible; however, high deductible Plans F and G count your payment of the Medicare Part B deductible toward meeting the plan deductible.

² Plans K and L pay 100% of covered services for the rest of the calendar year once you meet the out-of-pocket yearly limit and your yearly Part B deductions ($290 in 2025). This limitation does not include charges from your provider that exceed Medicare-approved amounts. Plans C and F have no out-of-pocket except for foreign travel.

³ Plan N pays 100% of the Part B coinsurance except for a copay of up to $20 for some office visits and up to a $50 copay for emergency room visits that don’t result in an inpatient admission.

When can I enroll?

The best time to buy a Medicare Supplement Insurance Policy (Medigap) is during your 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period, which begins on the first day of the month in which you turn 65 and are enrolled in Medicare Part B. The plan is Guaranteed Issue at this time, which means you cannot be denied due to any health issues.

Click here or call 941/704-6343 to contact a licensed agent.

We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent nine organizations which offer 76 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.