Medicare Supplement
Medigap explained for Ann Arbor households sorting the mail
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — If you're new to Medicare, or helping a parent sort through the mail piling up on the kitchen table, you've probably run into the term "Medigap." You may have also seen a confusing lineup of letters — Plan A, Plan G, Plan N — and wondered what any of it means.
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Key takeaways
- Medigap is private insurance that works alongside Original Medicare to help cover leftover costs like coinsurance, copayments, and sometimes the Part A hospital deductible.
- In most states, including Michigan, Medigap plans are standardized, so a given letter plan (like Plan G) covers the same core benefits no matter which company sells it, meaning price, service, and stability are the main differences.
- Your best time to buy is the six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period that starts when you're 65 or older and enrolled in Part B, since insurers can't deny you or charge more for health conditions during that window.
- Medigap generally doesn't cover things like dental or vision, so you'd need to look at separate coverage or a different option, such as a Medicare Advantage plan, if those benefits matter to you.
Medicare Supplement insurance, explained: what Medigap does and doesn't cover
Here's a plain-language walk-through of what Medicare Supplement insurance actually does, how those standardized letters work, and where to get local help in Washtenaw County.
What Medigap is — and what it's designed to do
Medigap is private insurance that works alongside Original Medicare (Part A and Part B). It doesn't replace Medicare. Instead, it helps pay some of the out-of-pocket costs Original Medicare leaves behind — things like coinsurance, copayments, and in some cases the Part A hospital deductible.
A few key points from Medicare.gov:
- You must already have Part A and Part B to buy a Medigap policy.
- Medigap only works with Original Medicare. It does not work with a Medicare Advantage plan.
- Medigap does not include prescription drug coverage. For drugs, you'd add a stand-alone Part D plan.
- You pay a monthly premium to the private insurance company, in addition to your Part B premium.
Think of Medigap as a financial cushion. When you go to a doctor who accepts Medicare, Medicare pays its share first, and your Medigap policy picks up some or all of what's left, depending on the letter plan you chose.
How the standardized letters work
Here's the part that trips people up. In most states, including Michigan, Medigap policies are standardized by the federal government. That means Plan G from one insurance company covers the exact same core benefits as Plan G from another company. The letters — A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N — each represent a different set of benefits.
Because the benefits are standardized, the main things that differ between two companies selling the same letter plan are:
- The monthly premium
- Customer service and billing
- How the company raises premiums over time
Two notes worth knowing:
- Plans C and F are only available to people who were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020.
- Plans K and L have annual out-of-pocket limits, while most other letter plans do not.
For a full side-by-side chart of what each letter covers, Medicare.gov keeps an up-to-date comparison at medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/medigap.
When you can buy Medigap matters a lot
The best window to buy a Medigap policy is your Medigap Open Enrollment Period — the six months that start the first month you're 65 or older AND enrolled in Part B. During that window, companies can't turn you down or charge you more because of health conditions.
Outside that window, in most cases, insurers in Michigan can use medical underwriting. That means they can look at your health history and decide whether to offer you a policy, and at what price. Missing that first six-month window is one of the most common — and most expensive — Medicare mistakes.
What Medigap does not cover
Medigap is helpful, but it's not a catch-all. It generally does not cover:
- Prescription drugs (you'd need a separate Part D plan)
- Routine dental, vision, or hearing care
- Hearing aids
- Long-term care (like a nursing home stay beyond what Medicare covers)
- Private-duty nursing
If those benefits matter to you, you'd look at them separately — for example, standalone dental or vision coverage, or a Medicare Advantage plan (which is a different path entirely, not an add-on to Medigap).
A local snapshot for Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor sits in Washtenaw County, and Medigap policies in Michigan are sold by private insurance companies licensed by the state. Because the letter plans are standardized, an Ann Arbor resident comparing Plan G from three different companies is comparing the same benefits — the difference is really price, service, and stability.
A few things worth keeping in mind for 2026 as you plan:
- The Part D out-of-pocket cap for covered drugs is $2,100.
- The Part D maximum deductible is $615.
- The coverage gap (the old "donut hole") is gone as of 2025 — Part D now has three phases.
- IRMAA surcharges (higher Part B and Part D premiums for higher incomes) start above $109,000 for a single filer.
- Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7.
For personalized help in Ann Arbor, the Michigan Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program (MMAP) is the local SHIP. Counselors are free, unbiased, and don't sell anything.
By the numbers
Medicare Part B premium, 2006–2026
The standard monthly Part B premium has climbed from $88.50 in 2006 to $202.90 in 2026. Hover any point for that year’s premium.
Source: CMS. Standard premium shown; in some hold-harmless years many existing enrollees paid less. Confirm at Medicare.gov.
By the numbers
How people get Medicare in Washtenaw County
(MA penetration in Washtenaw County)
MA penetration from CMS enrollment data; Medigap share is an estimate. U.S. average is about 54% Medicare Advantage. These are area-level figures, not plan-specific.
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The parts of Medicare
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When can you enroll? An interactive year
Enrollment windows are federal and the same nationwide. Confirm your personal dates at Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Do I need Medigap if I already have Medicare Advantage?
Does Medigap cover my prescriptions?
Can I switch from one Medigap plan to another later?
- CMS — Medicare basics (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.