Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan Cost Comparisons
Information on the 12 Medigap Plans

There are 12 standard Medicare supplemental (Medigap) insurance plans that help pay some of your costs in the Original Medicare Plan and for some care it doesn't cover. (If you are in a Medicare Advantage Plan, such as a Medicare Health Maintenance Organization (HMO), you don't need a Medigap policy.)

Each standard plan, labeled A through L, offers a different set of benefits, fills different "gaps" in Medicare coverage, and varies in price. Medigap plans K and L are new plans that became available in 2006. The basic benefits for Medigap plans K and L are different from the basic benefits offered in plans A through J.

These plans are designed to have lower monthly premiums, but have higher out-of-pocket costs.
If you are in a Medicare Advantage Plan, such as a Medicare Health Maintenance Organization (HMO), you don't need a Medigap policy. If you live in Massachusetts, Minnesota or Wisconsin, you have different standard Medigap plans to buy. Check with your state insurance department or the Guide to Health Insurance for People with Medicare: Choosing a Medigap Policy.

To learn more about Medigap plans in your area, see the Medicare Personal Plan finder.

Basic Benefits

All Medigap plans must cover certain basic benefits. These basic benefits are as follows:

Medicare Part A coverage:

Coinsurance for hospital days 61-90 and 91-150
Cost of 365 more hospital days in your lifetime, once you've used all Medicare hospital benefits

Medicare Part B coverage:

Generally, all coinsurance and co-payment amounts after your meet the yearly deductible for Medicare Part B
The first three pints of blood

Medigap Plan A
Basic Benefits

Medigap Plan B
Basic Benefits
Medicare Part A Hospital Deductible: for each benefit period for hospital services

Medigap Plan C
Basic Benefits
Medicare Part A Hospital Deductible
Skilled Nursing Home Costs: Your cost for days 21-100 in a skilled nursing home
Medicare Part B Deductible: Yearly deductible for doctor services
Foreign Travel Emergency
80% of the cost of emergency care outside the U.S.
Up to $50,000 during your lifetime
You pay a yearly deductible

Medigap Plan D
Basic Benefits
Medicare Part A Hospital Deductible
Skilled Nursing Home Costs
Foreign Travel Emergency
At-Home Recovery
Help for activities of daily living, such as bathing and dressing, if you are already receiving skilled home care covered by Medicare.
Help for up to eight weeks after you no longer need skilled care
Will pay up to $40 per visit, seven visits per week, or a total of $1,600 per year

Medigap Plan E
Basic Benefits
Medicare Part A Hospital Deductible
Skilled Nursing Home Costs
Foreign Travel Emergency
Preventive Care

Medigap Plan F*
Basic Benefits
Medicare Part A Hospital Deductible
Skilled Nursing Home Costs
Medicare Part B Deductible
Medicare Part B Excess Charges: Pays 100% of the difference between your doctor's charge and the Medicare approved amount, if your doctor does not accept assignment
Foreign Travel Emergency

Medigap Plan G
Basic Benefits
Medicare Part A Hospital Deductible
Skilled Nursing Home Costs
Medicare Part B Excess Charges: Pays 80% of the difference between your doctor's charge and the Medicare approved amount, if your doctor does not accept assignment
Foreign Travel Emergency
At-Home Recovery

Medigap Plan H
Basic Benefits
Medicare Part A Hospital Deductible
Skilled Nursing Home Costs
Foreign Travel Emergency

Medigap Plan I
Basic Benefits
Medicare Part A Hospital Deductible
Skilled Nursing Home Costs
Medicare Part B Excess Charges: Pays 100% of the difference between your doctor's charge and the Medicare approved amount, if your doctor does not accept assignment
Foreign Travel Emergency
At-Home Recovery

Medigap Plan J*
Basic Benefits
Medicare Part A Hospital Deductible
Skilled Nursing Home Costs
Medicare Part B Deductible
Medicare Part B Excess Charges: Pays 100% of the difference between your doctor's charge and the Medicare approved amount, if your doctor does not accept assignment
Foreign Travel Emergency
At-Home Recovery
Preventive Care

Medigap Plan K**
Basic Benefits
100% of Part A coinsurance plus coverage for 365 days after Medicare benefits end
50% hospice cost-sharing
50% of Medicare-eligible expenses for the first three pints of blood
50% Part B coinsurance after you meet the yearly deductible for Medicare Part B, but 100% coinsurance for Part B preventive services
50% of Skilled Nursing Home Coinsurance
50% of Medicare Part A Hospital Deductible
Annual out of pocket limit

Medigap Plan L**
Basic Benefits
100% of Part A coinsurance plus coverage for 365 days after Medicare benefits end
75% hospice cost-sharing
75% of Medicare-eligible expenses for the first three pints of blood
75% Part B coinsurance after you meet the yearly deductible for Medicare Part B, but 100% coinsurance for Part B preventive services
75% of Skilled Nursing Home Coinsurance
75% of Medicare Part A Hospital Deductible
Annual out of pocket limit
Additional Resources

Guide to Health Insurance for People with Medicare: Choosing a Medigap Policy
Information about Medigap plans, what they cover and how to choose the best policy.

Medicare Personal Plan Finder
Information on the insurance companies that sell Medigap policies in your area and the range of premiums they charge.

Medicare Savings Programs
Information on state programs for people with limited income and resources that pay some or all of the costs of Medicare.

State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)
How to contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), an important Medicare partner. Free one-on-one health insurance counseling for people with Medicare.

National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC)
Link to your state insurance department Web site which often lists names and phone numbers of the companies selling Medigap plans in your state.