Medicare Supplement

Medigap, explained: what those A–N letters actually cover

HENDERSON, Nev. — If you've ever tried to make sense of Medicare Supplement insurance — the coverage many people call Medigap — you're not alone. The letters, the rules, the timing: it can feel like a puzzle. Here's a plain-language guide to what Medigap does, what it doesn't, and how those standardized letter plans work.

What Medigap actually is

Medigap is private insurance that works alongside Original Medicare (Part A and Part B). It doesn't replace Medicare — it helps pay some of the out-of-pocket costs Original Medicare leaves behind, like coinsurance, copayments, and in some cases the Part A deductible.

You pay a monthly premium to the insurance company for a Medigap policy, on top of your Part B premium. In return, when Medicare pays its share of a covered service, your Medigap plan picks up some or all of what's left, depending on which lettered plan you have.

Two things Medigap is not: it is not Medicare Advantage, and it does not include prescription drug coverage. If you want drug coverage, you'd add a stand-alone Part D plan.

Why the plans are labeled with letters

In most states, Medigap plans are standardized by the federal government and sold under letter names: A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N. (Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin use their own systems.)

Standardization means the benefits inside "Plan G" from one insurance company are the same as "Plan G" from another. What can differ is the price, the customer service, and any extras a carrier tacks on. That's why comparing Medigap is really about comparing companies selling the same defined package.

Two plans — Plan C and Plan F — are no longer available to people who became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. If you were eligible before that date, you may still be able to buy them.

What Medigap generally helps pay

While each letter is a different mix, Medigap plans commonly help cover:

• Part A hospital coinsurance and an extra 365 days of hospital coverage after Medicare benefits end
• Part B coinsurance or copayments
• The first three pints of blood each year
• Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayments
• Skilled nursing facility coinsurance (on most plans)
• The Part A deductible (on most plans)
• Foreign travel emergency care, up to plan limits (on some plans)

Plan G and Plan N are two of the more commonly discussed options today for new enrollees, but the right fit depends on your health, budget, and how you use care. A licensed agent or your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) can walk you through the trade-offs without pressure.

What Medigap does not cover

Medigap is designed to fill gaps in Original Medicare — not to add new benefits. It generally does not cover:

• Prescription drugs (you'd need Part D)
• Routine dental, vision, or hearing care
• Hearing aids or eyeglasses
• Long-term care (like ongoing help in a nursing home)
• Private-duty nursing

It also can't be used with a Medicare Advantage plan. You choose one lane or the other: Original Medicare (often paired with Medigap and a Part D plan), or Medicare Advantage.

Timing matters — a lot

The best window to buy Medigap is your Medigap Open Enrollment Period: the six months that begin the month you're 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. During that window, insurers can't turn you down or charge you more because of health problems.

Outside that window, in most states, insurers can use medical underwriting — meaning your health history can affect whether you're approved and what you pay. A few states have stronger consumer protections; check your state's rules.

Two other dates worth keeping on the fridge:

• Medicare Annual Enrollment Period: October 15 – December 7 (for Part D and Medicare Advantage changes)
• Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period: January 1 – March 31

How this looks in Henderson

Henderson is in Clark County, where Medicare beneficiaries generally have a wide range of Medicare Advantage and Part D plan choices during Annual Enrollment. Medigap works differently: it isn't tied to a county-level menu the way Advantage plans are. Instead, availability depends on which insurance companies are licensed to sell Medigap in Nevada and what letter plans they offer.

If you're weighing Original Medicare plus Medigap against a Medicare Advantage plan, it helps to look at total expected costs — premiums, out-of-pocket limits, drug coverage, and provider access — not just one number.

Speaking of drug costs: in 2026, Part D has a $2,100 annual out-of-pocket cap on covered drugs, a maximum deductible of $615, and the old "donut hole" coverage gap is gone (there are now three phases). There's also a Medicare Prescription Payment Plan option that lets you spread drug costs into monthly payments. Higher-income enrollees may pay IRMAA surcharges on Part B and Part D — those begin above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.