The dollar amounts above are 2026 figures. Medicare announces the 2027 Part B deductible, high-deductible Plan G deductible and Plan K and Plan L limits in the fall. Plan benefits stay the same; only those amounts and your premium can change.

PLAN G

After you pay the yearly Part B deductible, Plan G pays your share of all Medicare-covered care. No office copays, no emergency room copays and no excess charges. You pay more each month for that simplicity.

PLAN N

Plan N usually costs less each month. In return you pay up to $20 for some office visits, up to $50 for emergency room visits that do not lead to an admission, and any Part B excess charges.

Run the break-even math. If Plan N saves you $30 a month, that is $360 a year. You would need about 18 office copays at $20 to spend that savings. If you see doctors often, Plan G may come out ahead. If you are healthy and rarely see a doctor, Plan N usually wins.

DO NOT MISS THIS WINDOW

If you delay and later develop a health condition, you may not be able to buy the Medigap plan you want. Some people do get guaranteed issue rights later, for example if a Medicare Advantage plan leaves their area or they try Medicare Advantage for the first time and switch back within a year. A handful of states, such as California and Oregon, also give extra chances to switch plans each year.

MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT MAY FIT IF

You want to see any doctor who accepts Medicare, you want predictable costs with few surprise bills, you travel or split time between states, and you are comfortable paying a higher monthly premium.

MEDICARE ADVANTAGE MAY FIT IF

You want low or $0 premiums, you are comfortable using a network, and you like having drug coverage and extras in one plan.

YOUR MEDIGAP CHECKLIST

Five steps to the right plan

➤  What is the best Medicare Supplement plan for 2027?

There is no single best plan for everyone. Plan G is the most popular choice for people new to Medicare because it covers everything Original Medicare leaves behind except the Part B deductible. Plan N usually costs less each month in exchange for some office and emergency room copays. High-deductible Plan G has the lowest premiums but a large deductible. The right plan depends on your budget, your health and how much risk you are comfortable carrying.

➤  Do Medicare Supplement plans change in 2027?

The benefits do not. Medicare Supplement plans are standardized by federal law, so Plan G covers the same things in 2027 as it did in 2026. What can change is your premium, and the dollar amounts tied to Medicare, such as the Part B deductible, the high-deductible Plan G deductible and the Plan K and Plan L out-of-pocket limits, which are updated each year.

➤  How much does a Medicare Supplement plan cost?

It depends on the plan letter, the insurance company, your age, your ZIP code, your sex and whether you use tobacco. Prices for the same plan can vary a lot between companies even though the benefits are identical. You also keep paying your Medicare Part B premium on top of your Medigap premium.

➤  Can I be turned down for a Medicare Supplement plan?

Not during your Medigap Open Enrollment Period, the six months that start when you are 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. During that window an insurance company must sell you any plan it offers at its best available rate, regardless of your health. After that window, insurance companies in most states can ask health questions and decline you unless you have a guaranteed issue right.

➤  Do Medicare Supplement plans cover prescription drugs?

No. Medicare Supplement plans sold today do not include drug coverage. Most people who choose a Medigap plan also join a stand-alone Medicare Part D plan to cover prescriptions.

➤  Is Medigap the same as a Medicare Supplement plan?

Yes. Medigap and Medicare Supplement insurance are two names for the same thing: a private policy that helps pay the costs Original Medicare does not cover, such as deductibles, coinsurance and copays.