Medicare Supplement
The Medigap Alphabet: Plan A to N for Raleigh Medicare
RALEIGH, N.C. — If you've ever tried to read up on Medicare Supplement Insurance — better known as Medigap — you've probably run into a puzzling alphabet: Plan A, Plan B, Plan G, Plan N, and more. Those letters are not random. They're part of a standardized system designed to make Medigap easier to compare, no matter which insurance company sells the policy.
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Click to call 855-729-3240Key takeaways
- Medigap plans use standard letters like Plan A, Plan G, and Plan N, and the same letter covers the same benefits no matter which company sells it.
- Plan C and Plan F are only available to people who became eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020.
- The Medigap Open Enrollment Period is a one-time, six-month window starting when you turn 65 or older and enroll in Part B, and during this time companies must sell you any plan they offer at their best rate regardless of health history.
- Medigap does not cover prescription drugs, so people with Original Medicare and Medigap usually need a separate Part D drug plan.
Making sense of Medigap in Raleigh
Here in Raleigh, where thousands of Wake County residents are on Original Medicare, understanding those letters can take a lot of guesswork out of shopping for coverage.
What Medigap actually does
Medigap is private insurance that works alongside Original Medicare (Part A hospital and Part B medical). Original Medicare pays its share of your covered care, and a Medigap policy helps pay some of what's left — things like coinsurance, copayments, and deductibles.
A few key points from Medicare.gov:
- Medigap only works with Original Medicare. It does not work with Medicare Advantage plans.
- It does not include prescription drug coverage. For that, you'd add a separate Part D plan.
- You pay a monthly premium to the insurance company on top of your Part B premium.
- Policies are guaranteed renewable as long as you pay your premium.
Medigap is meant to smooth out the unpredictable out-of-pocket costs that come with Original Medicare, which has no annual out-of-pocket limit on its own.
How the standardized letters work
Here's the part that trips people up. In most states, including North Carolina, Medigap plans are standardized by the federal government. That means Plan G from one company covers the exact same set of benefits as Plan G from another company. The letter tells you what's covered — the company decides the price and the customer service.
The plans currently sold to people newly eligible for Medicare are labeled with these letters:
- Plan A — the most basic set of benefits.
- Plan B — Plan A benefits, plus the Part A deductible.
- Plan D — broader coverage, but does not cover the Part B deductible.
- Plan G — one of the most comprehensive options available to newly eligible enrollees.
- Plan K and Plan L — cost-sharing plans that pay a percentage of certain costs, with an annual out-of-pocket limit.
- Plan M — pays half of the Part A deductible.
- Plan N — similar to Plan G, but with some copays for office and ER visits.
You may still hear about Plan C and Plan F. Those are only available to people who became eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020. If you qualified after that date, you cannot buy them.
Because the benefits are locked in by letter, comparing Medigap really comes down to three things: the letter (what's covered), the premium (what it costs), and the company (customer service and pricing history).
Why timing matters
The best window to buy a Medigap policy is your Medigap Open Enrollment Period — a one-time, six-month window that starts the month you're 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. During that window, companies must sell you any Medigap plan they offer at their best available rate, regardless of your health history.
After that window closes, insurance companies in most states can use medical underwriting — meaning they can charge you more, or turn you down, based on your health. That's why many Medicare counselors urge people to think carefully about Medigap right around their 65th birthday, even if their health is fine today.
Raleigh is in Wake County
Raleigh sits in Wake County, and Medicare coverage options are generally set at the county level. Medigap availability, though, is a bit different from Medicare Advantage: because Medigap policies are standardized and sold statewide by many carriers, most North Carolina residents have a wide range of companies to choose from for the same lettered plan.
If you want to see which insurers sell Medigap in your ZIP code, the official Medigap policy search tool at Medicare.gov lets you compare by letter and by carrier.
A quick word on drug coverage
Medigap does not cover prescription drugs. If you go the Original Medicare + Medigap route, you'll almost always want a separate Part D drug plan.
A few 2026 Part D facts worth knowing:
- The annual out-of-pocket cap for Part D is $2,100 in 2026.
- The maximum Part D deductible is $615.
- The old "donut hole" coverage gap has been eliminated as of 2025 — Part D now has three phases instead of four.
- A Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread your drug costs into monthly payments instead of paying large amounts at the pharmacy counter.
- IRMAA surcharges, which increase Part B and Part D premiums for higher earners, kick in above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.
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 Wake County
(MA penetration in Wake 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
Is Medigap the same as Medicare Advantage?
Do I need to renew my Medigap plan every year during Medicare's fall enrollment window?
If Plan G is the same everywhere, why do prices differ?
- CMS — Medicare basics (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.