Medicare Supplement FAQs

Original Medicare doesn’t cover everything. Medigap helps protect your budget by reducing or eliminating unexpected medical bills. It’s especially helpful if you visit the doctor often, have chronic conditions, or want predictable healthcare costs.

Coverage varies by plan type, but most Medigap plans help pay for:

• Medicare Part A & B coinsurance
• Hospital costs after Medicare coverage ends
• Skilled nursing facility coinsurance
• Hospice care coinsurance
• Part A deductible
• Foreign travel emergency care (in some plans)

Plans are standardized, so each plan letter (A, G, N, etc.) offers the same benefits no matter the insurance company.

No. Medigap plans do not include prescription drug coverage. If you need medication coverage, you can enroll in a separate Medicare Part D plan.

Yes. Medigap gives you the freedom to see any doctor or specialist in the United States who accepts Medicare — no networks, no referrals. 

Some Medigap plans (such as Plan G and Plan N) include foreign travel emergency coverage, which can be helpful for frequent travelers.

Medigap works with Original Medicare to reduce out‑of‑pocket costs. Medicare Advantage (Part C) is an alternative to Original Medicare that bundles coverage into one plan.

Key differences:

• Medigap has no networks; Medicare Advantage usually does
• Medigap offers predictable costs; Advantage plans may have copays
• Medigap does not include extra benefits like dental or vision; Advantage often does

The best time to enroll is during your Medigap Open Enrollment Period, which begins the month you turn 65 and enroll in Medicare Part B. During this time:

• You cannot be denied coverage
• You cannot be charged more due to health conditions

After this period, acceptance may depend on medical underwriting.

Premiums vary based on:

• Your age
• Your location
• The plan type (A, G, N, etc.)
• The insurance company

Plans with more coverage typically have higher premiums but lower out‑of‑pocket costs.

Yes. As long as you pay your premium, your Medigap plan cannot be canceled, even if your health changes. 

Yes, but switching may require medical underwriting unless you qualify for a special guaranteed‑issue situation. It’s important to compare costs and benefits before making changes.