Finding a Medigap Policy: Where the Plan Finder Stops Being Enough

Medigap is the one part of Medicare where comparison shopping is genuinely simple, because the benefits are fixed. A Plan G is a Plan G whoever sells it. What varies is the premium, how aggressively the insurer raises it over time, and whether you can buy at all without answering health questions.

Start in Plan Finder, finish with quotes

1. Go to medicare.gov's Medigap search and enter your ZIP code, age and sex.
2. Note which letters are sold locally and the premium range for each.
3. Narrow to one or two letters — usually Plan G, high-deductible Plan G, or Plan N.
4. Collect actual quotes for that letter from several carriers, and ask each for its rate-increase history in your state.

Plan G, high-deductible G, or Plan N

• Plan G — covers everything except the annual Part B deductible. Highest premium, lowest surprise.
• High-deductible Plan G — same coverage after you meet a sizable annual deductible; much lower premium. Suits people with savings set aside and low expected use.
• Plan N — lower premium than G, with copays at office and emergency visits and exposure to Part B excess charges in states that permit them.

Full mechanics, including the states that ban excess charges, are in our Medigap primer.

The timing rule that matters more than price

Your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period begins the month you are both 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. Inside it, no insurer may refuse you or charge more for health reasons. Outside it, most states allow medical underwriting — which is why moving from a Medicare Advantage plan to Medigap years later can be difficult. Four states (Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine and New York) offer broader continuous or annual guaranteed-issue rights.

Pair it with a drug plan

Medigap does not cover prescriptions. Run a separate Part D comparison in the same sitting, and enroll in both to avoid a late-enrollment penalty on the drug side.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use the Medicare Plan Finder to compare Medigap policies?

Partly. Plan Finder lists the Medigap policies and premium ranges sold in your area, but it does not quote you personally and does not account for medical underwriting. You still need quotes from carriers or a broker for your age, ZIP code and health history.

Which Medigap plan is the most popular?

Plan G is the most commonly purchased option for people newly eligible, because it covers everything Plan F did except the small annual Part B deductible. Plan N costs less in premium in exchange for modest copays at office and emergency visits.

Do all Medigap policies with the same letter cover the same things?

Yes. Benefits for a given letter are standardized by federal law, so a Plan G from one insurer pays exactly what a Plan G from another pays. Only price, rate-increase history and customer service differ, which is why shopping on price is rational here.

When can I buy a Medigap policy without medical underwriting?

During your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period, which starts the month you are 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. In that window an insurer must sell you any policy it offers at its standard rate regardless of health. Outside it, most states allow underwriting.

Do I need a Part D plan if I have Medigap?

Yes. Medigap policies sold today do not include prescription drug coverage, so you would pair the supplement with a standalone Part D plan or face a late-enrollment penalty later.

Is Medigap cheaper than Medicare Advantage?

The monthly premium is higher, often by a substantial margin, while the out-of-pocket exposure is far lower and there is no network. Whether that trades well depends on how much care you expect to use and how much cost predictability is worth to you.

Keep reading

• The Medicare Plan Finder guide
• Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap
• Medicare enrollment windows