Medicare Supplement

Medigap in Winooski: what the plan letters signify

WINOOSKI, Vt. — If you've ever tried to shop for a Medicare Supplement policy, you've probably noticed something strange: the plans are named after letters of the alphabet. Plan A, Plan G, Plan N, and a handful of others. It can feel like alphabet soup, but there's a good reason behind those letters — and once you understand the system, comparing your options gets a lot simpler.

Here in Winooski, Medigap works the same way it does everywhere else in the country (except Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, which use their own systems). The letters aren't marketing labels. They're a federal shorthand that tells you exactly what a plan covers.

What Medigap Is — and What It Is Not

Medigap, also called Medicare Supplement Insurance, is a private policy you can buy to help pay some of the costs Original Medicare leaves behind. Think of things like the Part A hospital deductible, Part B coinsurance, and hospital costs after Medicare's benefit days run out.

A Medigap policy only works alongside Original Medicare (Parts A and B). It is not the same as a Medicare Advantage plan, and you cannot use both at the same time. Medigap also does not include prescription drug coverage — for that, you would enroll in a stand-alone Part D plan.

Why the Letters Exist

Before the 1990s, Medigap shopping was a mess. Different companies sold wildly different policies, and it was almost impossible to compare them fairly. Congress stepped in and required insurers to standardize their plans into a set of clearly defined packages, each identified by a letter.

Today, according to Medicare.gov, most states offer up to 10 standardized Medigap plans: A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N. (Plans C and F are no longer available to people who became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020.)

Here's the key point: a Plan G sold by one insurance company covers the exact same benefits as a Plan G sold by any other insurance company. The coverage is set by federal rules. What can differ is the premium, the company's customer service, and how they handle billing.

What's the Same, What's Different

Because benefits are standardized, comparing Medigap policies really comes down to a few things:

• Price. Two insurers can charge very different premiums for the identical plan letter.
• Pricing method. Some companies price by your age at enrollment, some by your current age, and some charge everyone the same rate regardless of age.
• Company reputation and stability. Customer service, rate history, and financial strength vary.
• Household or other discounts. Some carriers offer them; some don't.

Availability in the Winooski Area

Winooski is in Chittenden County, where Vermont residents shopping for Medigap have access to policies from multiple carriers licensed in the state. Vermont has some of its own rules on top of the federal standards — for example, the state has additional protections around when you can buy or switch Medigap plans. The Vermont SHIP office (called the State Health Insurance Assistance Program) can walk you through what's currently offered locally.

Timing Matters More Than People Realize

The best window to buy a Medigap policy is your Medigap Open Enrollment Period — the six months that begin the first month you are 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. During this window, insurers cannot turn you down or charge you more because of your health history.

Outside that window, in most states, insurers can use medical underwriting. That means answers to health questions can affect whether you qualify or what you pay. Vermont has some extra consumer protections here, so it's worth asking your SHIP counselor about your specific situation.

Note that Medigap enrollment is separate from the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7), which applies to Medicare Advantage and Part D drug plans.

A Quick Word About Part D

Medigap doesn't include drug coverage, so most people pair it with a stand-alone Part D plan. A few 2026 Part D facts worth knowing:

• The out-of-pocket cap on covered drugs is $2,100 in 2026.
• The maximum Part D deductible is $615.
• The old coverage gap ("donut hole") is gone as of 2025 — Part D now has three phases.
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs across the calendar year in monthly installments.