Support for Your Medicare Coverage
Explore Coverage Beyond Original Medicare.
Original Medicare covers many healthcare services but does not pay all expenses. A licensed agent can help you review your benefits and provide information about Medicare Supplement plans that may help cover eligible out-of-pocket costs.
Support for Your Medicare Coverage
Explore Coverage Beyond Original Medicare.
Original Medicare covers many healthcare services but does not pay all expenses. A licensed agent can help you review your benefits and provide information about Medicare Supplement plans that may help cover eligible out-of-pocket costs.
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Getting the Right Medicare Coverage Is Easier Than You Think.
Talk to a Licensed Agent
You can speak with a licensed insurance agent who can help you review your Medicare coverage options based on your individual needs. The agent may discuss your prescriptions, preferred doctors, and coverage priorities to help you understand plans available in your area. There is no obligation to enroll, and the goal is to provide information so you can make an informed decision.
Compare Available Options
After learning more about your situation, the agent can review plan options available in your local market that may fit your coverage needs and budget. Because plan availability, benefits, and rules can vary by state and service area, you will be shown options specific to where you live. This allows you to compare available plans and benefits side by side so you can better understand how each option works before making a decision.
Enroll When You’re Ready
If you choose to move forward, the agent can assist you with the enrollment process and answer questions along the way. Enrollment is always your choice, and you can take the time you need to feel comfortable selecting coverage.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Medicare Costs & Supplements
We Have Answers & Agents Ready To Walk You Through Every One Of Them.
What is Medicare, and how does it work?
Medicare is federal health insurance for individuals age 65 or older, and younger people with certain disabilities. It consists of three primary parts:
- Part A (Hospital Insurance): Covers inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care, and hospice.
- Part B (Medical Insurance): Covers doctor visits, outpatient services, and durable medical equipment.
- Part D (Prescription Drug Coverage): Covers self-administered medications through private insurance plans.
Watch the video for a breakdown of Medicare Parts A, B, C & D
What is a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Plan?
Original Medicare (Parts A and B) typically pays about 80% of your medical costs. A Medigap policy is private insurance that “fills the gaps,” paying for your 20% coinsurance, copayments, and hospital deductibles.
Watch the video to learn more about the Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Plan
When am I eligible to enroll in a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Plan?
Your primary window is the Medigap Open Enrollment Period. This is a one-time, 6-month window that begins the first day of the month you are 65 or older AND enrolled in Medicare Part B.
During these 6 months, you have a “guaranteed issue right.” This means insurance companies cannot use medical underwriting, cannot refuse to sell you a policy, and cannot charge you more for pre-existing conditions like diabetes or heart disease.
You can apply for a Supplement at any time of the year, but in most states, you will be subject to medical health questions (underwriting) and could be denied or charged more based on your health history.
Do I need to sign up for Medicare at 65 if I’m still working?
If you have “creditable” coverage through an employer with 20 or more employees, you can often delay Part B without penalty. However, most people still enroll in Part A at 65 because it is usually premium-free.
Note: You must stop HSA contributions at least 6 months before your Medicare coverage begins to avoid tax penalties.
What is “creditable” coverage?
Creditable coverage is health insurance that is expected to pay out, on average, at least as much as the standard Medicare prescription drug plan (Part D). This is a critical designation because having it allows you to delay Medicare enrollment without facing late penalties later.
Common examples of creditable coverage include:
- Employer or Union Group Health Plans: Plans from a current employer (or a spouse’s current employer) with 20 or more employees.
- VA Health Care: Coverage provided through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
- TRICARE: Health care programs for active-duty service members, retirees, and their families.
- COBRA: While COBRA is often considered “creditable” for Part D (prescription drugs), it is not considered creditable for Part B (medical). If you have COBRA, you must sign up for Part B within 8 months of leaving your job to avoid a lifetime penalty.
Every year in September or October, your insurance provider is required by law to send you a “Notice of Creditable Coverage.” You should keep these documents in your records, as Medicare may ask for proof of this coverage when you eventually decide to enroll.
What is the Part B Late Enrollment Penalty?
If you miss your initial enrollment window without having creditable coverage, your Part B premium increases by 10% for every 12-month period you waited. This penalty is permanent and added to your monthly premium for life. In 2026, the standard premium is $202.90.
What is a Part B “Excess Charge”?
If a doctor does not “accept assignment” (meaning they don’t agree to Medicare’s specific payment amount as full payment), they are allowed to charge up to 15% above the Medicare-approved rate. This 15% is the “Excess Charge.” Plan G covers this 100%, while Plan N does not. While these charges are rare in many states, they can occur with certain specialists or in specific regions.
Which Medicare Supplement is “best”?
Determining which Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan is “best” depends on your preference for predictable monthly costs versus lower premiums with more out-of-pocket responsibility.
Because these plans are standardized by the federal government, the coverage for a specific letter (e.g., Plan G) is identical regardless of which insurance company you choose. The only differences are the monthly premium and the company’s reputation for customer service and rate stability
Plan G: The most popular. You pay the annual Part B deductible, then the plan covers 100% of all other Medicare-approved medical costs.
Plan N: Offers lower premiums. You pay the Part B deductible plus small copays (up to $20 for office visits; $50 for ER). It does not cover “Excess Charges.”
Plan F: The only plan that covers the Part B deductible. It is only available to those eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020.
High-Deductible G & F: These offer the exact same coverage as their standard versions but only after you pay a higher annual deductible ($2,950). These have the lowest monthly premiums. Note: High-Deductible F is only available to those eligible for Medicare before 2020.
Plans K & L: “Cost-sharing” plans. They pay a percentage of your costs (50% or 75%) until you hit a yearly out-of-pocket maximum.
Why do Supplement rates go up?
Rates increase due to medical inflation, the overall claims experience of the insurance company’s “pool” of members, and, in the case of Attained-Age plans, simply because you got a year older.
What makes one company better than another?
Since Medigap benefits are standardized by law (a Plan G is the same everywhere), you should choose based on:
- Rate Increase History: Does the company have a track record of stability?
- Financial Strength: Are they rated “A” or better by A.M. Best?
- Household Discounts: Do they offer a discount if you live with another adult?
Does Medicare cover dental, vision, and hearing?
No. Original Medicare and Medigap do not cover routine dental, vision, or hearing. We recommend a separate DVH policy to cover these services.
Can I get a Medicare Supplement Plan if I have diabetes?
Yes. During your one-time 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period, you are guaranteed coverage regardless of health. If you apply after that window, you may have to pass “medical underwriting,” and the company can review your history (like Diabetes) to decide your rate or eligibility.
Can I switch to a lower-priced plan later?
Yes, but in most states, you must pass a health questionnaire to switch. If you are in good health, we can often shop for a different carrier to lower your monthly premium for the exact same coverage.
Can I switch Medigap Plans anytime, or do I have to wait for an Enrollment Period?
There is no annual window to switch Medigap plans the way there is with Medicare Advantage or Part D. In most cases, you won’t have a right under federal law to switch Medigap policies unless you’re within your 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period or you qualify for a specific guaranteed issue right. Some states have created extra protections, though. For example, several states have “birthday rules” that allow Medigap enrollees to switch to a plan with equal or lower benefits around their birthday each year, without answering health questions.
If I switch Medigap Plans, will I have to answer health questions?
Outside of your Medigap Open Enrollment Period, the insurance company is allowed to deny you a policy if you don’t meet their medical underwriting requirements. There are exceptions. If you have guaranteed issue rights, you will not need to answer health questions. These rights are triggered by certain life events, like losing employer coverage or your plan leaving your area.
If my premium goes up, can I shop around without losing my coverage?
You can look around, but you need to be careful about the order of things. When you get a new Medigap policy, you have 30 days to decide if you want to keep it. Do not cancel your first Medigap policy until you have decided to keep the second one. Keep in mind that if you are outside your 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period and do not have guaranteed issue rights, you may not be able to switch, or you may have to answer medical questions and be charged a higher premium.
If I have a Medigap Plan, do I still need a separate Prescription Drug Plan (PDP)?
Yes. Medigap only helps cover the out-of-pocket costs that come with Original Medicare, like copays and deductibles. It does not include prescription drug coverage. For that, you need to sign up for a standalone Medicare Part D plan separately. If you skip Part D when you are first eligible and decide to join later, you could face a late enrollment penalty that gets added to your premium.
Watch this video to learn more about Medicare Drug Plans
Can I keep my Medigap Plan forever?
In almost all cases, you can keep your plan for life. Any Medigap policy is guaranteed renewable as long as you continue to pay your monthly premium, meaning your carrier cannot cancel your policy even if your health declines. Insurers can only cancel a Medigap policy under specific circumstances, such as failure to pay premiums, misrepresentation on your application, or if the insurance company goes bankrupt. As long as you pay your premiums and are honest on your application, your coverage stays in place.
Do I need to keep my red, white, and blue Medicare card?
Yes. If you have a Medigap policy, you must show both your Medicare card and your Supplement card at every appointment.
Can I have a Supplement and a Medicare Advantage Plan?
No. It is illegal to have both. You must choose between the “Medigap Path” (highest freedom, fixed costs) or the “Advantage Path” (lower premiums, network restrictions).
Watch the video to learn about Medicare Advantage vs Medicare Supplement
What happens if I start with Plan N to save money, but then I get a chronic illness?
You can keep your Plan N indefinitely. As long as you pay your premiums, the insurance company cannot cancel your coverage due to a change in your health. However, if you later want to switch to Plan G to eliminate the $20 copays or “Excess Charges,” you will likely have to pass medical underwriting. If your chronic illness is serious, a new carrier may deny your application to switch plans.
Why is Plan G so much more popular than Plan N?
You can keep your Plan N indefinitely. As long as you pay your premiums, the insurance company cannot cancel your coverage due to a change in your health. However, if you later want to switch to Plan G to eliminate the $20 copays or “Excess Charges,” you will likely have to pass medical underwriting. If your chronic illness is serious, a new carrier may deny your application to switch plans.
What if I move to a different state?
Your Medigap policy is portable. Because it is a supplement to Original Medicare, it travels with you. You can keep your current policy even if you move to a new state, though your premium may change based on your new zip code. If you move, you also have a “guaranteed issue” right to buy certain Medigap plans in your new state without underwriting if your current plan is a Medicare Select policy (a network-based Medigap plan) and you move out of its service area.
Can I keep my current doctors?
Yes, provided they accept Original Medicare. Unlike Medicare Advantage plans, Medicare Supplements do not have networks. If a doctor or hospital accepts Medicare, which 98% of non-pediatric physicians nationwide do, they are required by law to accept your Supplement. This is true regardless of which private insurance company issued your policy.
How does the billing actually work?
Medicare has a “Crossover” billing system. When you see a doctor, they bill Medicare first. Medicare pays its share (usually 80%) and then automatically electronically notifies your Supplement company. Your Supplement provider then pays the remaining portion (the 20% coinsurance and any deductibles) directly to the doctor. You rarely have to file a claim yourself.
What is the “Birthday Rule” or “Anniversary Rule”?
These are state laws that let Medigap policyholders switch plans once a year without medical underwriting. Normally, you must pass a health questionnaire to change plans, but these rules give you a guaranteed‑issue window to shop for lower premiums.
Birthday Rule States
You can switch plans around your birthday, usually to one with equal or fewer benefits:
- California and Oregon: 60 days from your birthday.
- Idaho: 63 days from your birthday.
- Nevada: 60 days starting the first day of your birth month.
- Oklahoma: 60 days from your birthday.
- Maryland: 30 days after your birthday.
- Delaware (2026): 60 days, 30 before and 30 after your birthday.
- Indiana (2026): 60 days to switch to the same plan letter with another carrier.
- Kentucky and Virginia: 60 days to switch to the same plan letter with another carrier.
- Wyoming: 63 days from your birthday.
- Illinois: Ages 65 to 75 get 45 days after their birthday to switch to equal or lesser benefits with their current carrier or an affiliate.
- Louisiana: 63 days around your birthday with your current carrier.
- Utah: 60 days from your birthday with your current carrier.
Anniversary Rule State
- Missouri: A 30‑day window before or after your policy’s annual renewal date to switch to the same plan letter with any carrier.
States With Year‑Round or Special Rules
- New York, Connecticut, Vermont: Continuous open enrollment, so you can switch anytime without underwriting.
- Massachusetts: Annual statewide switching window, usually February and March.
What happens to my coverage if I travel to a different state?
Your coverage remains exactly the same. Because Medigap works with Original Medicare, you have national coverage. You can see any specialist in any state as long as they accept Medicare. Additionally, most Medigap plans (including G and N) provide “Foreign Travel Emergency” coverage, paying 80% of emergency care costs outside the U.S. after a $250 deductible.
What is “IRMAA” and could it make my Part B premium higher?
IRMAA stands for Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount. If your Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) from two years ago was above a certain threshold (typically $106,000 for individuals or $212,000 for couples in 2026), you will pay a surcharge on top of your standard Part B and Part D premiums. This is not a penalty, but a sliding-scale adjustment based on your ability to pay.
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