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CJ Karrer
Writer · Reviewed by Richard ChanUpdated Jun 12, 2026
5 min read
Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans help cover out-of-pocket costs that Original Medicare does not, such as copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles.
Medigap Plan F and Plan G are historically the most comprehensive options, covering the Medicare Part B excess charges and most other out-of-pocket gaps.
Due to changes in Medicare law, Medigap Plan F is no longer available to beneficiaries who became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020.
Navigating healthcare expenses can feel overwhelming, especially when you are living on a fixed income. If you currently rely on Original Medicare, you might be looking into a Medigap (or ?Medicare Supplement?) plan to help keep your out-of-pocket costs predictable and manageable.
Currently, there are 10 standardized Medigap plans available across most of the country: Plans A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N. Because these plans are strictly regulated by the government, the benefits for each letter category remain identical regardless of where you buy them. For instance, a Plan G sold by one insurance provider offers the exact same core benefits as a Plan G sold by another. Insurers aren?t legally required to offer every single plan, but if they sell Medigap policies at all, they must at least offer Plan A.
Because Medigap plan benefits are entirely standardized, your main considerations when comparing the same letter plan across different insurers will be pricing and the company?s customer service reputation.
The primary purpose of a Medigap policy is to shield you from the ?gaps? left behind by Original Medicare?namely, the deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance that can otherwise drain your savings. By paying a monthly premium to a private insurer, you effectively transfer the risk of those unpredictable medical bills to them. Keep in mind that this premium is paid in addition to your standard Medicare Part B premium. For covered services, a Medigap plan steps in to absorb most, or sometimes all, of those remaining out-of-pocket expenses.
As mentioned, there are 10 Medigap plans currently available to new enrollees (Plans A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N), each offering a distinct tier of coverage. Older plans like E, H, I, and J are no longer sold, though beneficiaries who purchased them in the past are permitted to keep their original coverage.
| Plan A | Plan B | Plan C | Plan D | Plan F* | Plan G* | Plan K | Plan L | Plan M | Plan N | |
| Part A coinsurance and hospital costs up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits are used up | Y | ?Y | ?Y | ?Y | ?Y | ?Y | ?50% | ?75% | ?Y | ?Y |
| Part B coinsurance or copayment | Y | ?Y | Y? | Y? | ?Y | ?Y | ?50% | 75% | Y | ?Y*** |
| Blood (first 3 pints) | Y | Y? | ?Y | Y? | Y? | ?Y | ??50% | 75% | Y | ?Y |
| Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment | Y | Y? | Y? | ?Y | ?Y | ?Y | ??50% | 75% | Y | ?Y |
| Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance | ? | ?? | ?Y | ?Y | ?Y | Y? | ??50% | 75% | Y | ?Y |
| Part A deductible | ? | ?Y | ?Y | ?Y | ?Y | Y? | ??50% | 75% | 50% | Y |
| Part B deductible | ? | ? | ?Y | ?? | ?Y | ?? | ? | ?? | ?? | ?? |
| Part B excess charge | ? | ?? | ?? | ?? | ?Y | Y | ?? | ? | ?? | ?? |
| Foreign travel exchange (up to plan limits) | ? | ? | ?80% | 80% | 80% | 80% | ? | ?? | ?80% | 80% |
| Out-of-pocket limit** | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $6,940 in 2026 | $3,470 in 2026 | N/A | N/A |
Notes: Y = Yes, ? = Not Covered
* Plans F and G also 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 $2,700 in 2026 before your policy pays anything. (Plans C and F aren?t available to people who were newly eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020.)
** For Plans K and L, after you meet your out-of-pocket yearly limit and your yearly Part B deductible, the Medigap plan pays 100% of covered services for the rest of the calendar year.
*** Plan N pays 100% of the Part B coinsurance, except for a copayment of up to $20 for some office visits and up to a $50 copayment for emergency room visits that don?t result in inpatient admission.
When trying to decide which route to take, it can be incredibly helpful to know what your peers are choosing. According to recent data from the AHIP Center for Policy and Research, the most frequently selected plans line up as follows:
| Plan type | % of total Medicare Supplement enrollees |
| Plan F | 46% |
| Plan G | 27% |
| Plan N | 10% |
| Plan C | 4% |
| Plan I | 2% |
| Plan A | 1% |
| Plan B | 1% |
| Plan D | 1% |
| Plan K | 1% |
| Plan L | < 0.5% |
| Plan M | < 0.5% |
| Other | 6% |
*Includes high-deductible Plan F.
** Includes high-deductible Plan G.
Source: AHIP Center for Policy and Research analysis of the NAIC
Medicare Supplement Insurance Experience Exhibits, for the Years
Ended December 31, 2017; December 31, 2018; December 31,
2019 and December 31, 2020.
Historically, Plan F held the crown as the most sought-after Medigap policy. Known for being the most comprehensive option on the market, it allowed enrollees to essentially zero out their covered Original Medicare out-of-pocket costs, creating immense peace of mind.
However, federal legislation dramatically shifted the landscape. To reduce unnecessary healthcare utilization, Congress mandated that Medigap plans covering the Medicare Part B deductible could no longer be sold to individuals who became newly eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. This effectively meant that Plans F and C were taken off the table for new enrollees.
In the wake of this change, Plan G has emerged as the logical successor. Because it offers the next most comprehensive safety net?covering everything Plan F did except the Part B deductible?it has seen a surge in enrollment. Even before the rule change, Plan G was a robust second choice, and alongside Plan N, it represents the modern standard for broad, reliable coverage.
While Plan F long dominated the market as the go-to safety net for Medicare beneficiaries, the 2020 legislative changes mean it is no longer an option for those newly entering the Medicare system. Moving forward, Plan G is positioned to be the new gold standard for those seeking maximum predictability in their healthcare costs, with Plan N standing by as a highly viable alternative.