Medicare Supplement

Which Medigap letters can a Mobile buyer pick today?

Medigap shopping in Mobile starts with a small, federally set alphabet. If you have Original Medicare and want help paying the out-of-pocket costs it leaves behind, the Medicare Supplement policies sold in Alabama come in standardized letters — the benefits inside each letter are the same no matter which company sells it. Mobile is in Mobile County, and the same statewide menu of Medigap letters applies here as anywhere else in Alabama.

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The plan letters you can buy in Alabama

Medigap plans are standardized by the federal government. That means a Plan G from one company covers the same Medicare-approved costs as a Plan G from another. In Alabama, people who become eligible for Medicare today can choose from Plans A, B, D, G, high-deductible G, K, L, M and N. Plans C and F are still around, but only for people who were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020.

Alabama follows the standard federal Medigap design. Three states — Massachusetts, Minnesota and Wisconsin — standardize their plans differently, but that does not apply here.

Each letter covers a different mix of Part A and Part B cost-sharing. Some letters, like K and L, share more of the cost with you in exchange for taking on more of Medicare's coinsurance yourself. High-deductible G asks you to meet a yearly deductible before the plan pays. Plan N has small copays for some office and emergency visits. The Medicare & You handbook and medicare.gov both publish side-by-side benefit charts that make the differences easier to compare.

How Medigap fits with Original Medicare and Part D

Medigap only works with Original Medicare. You keep Parts A and B, Medicare pays first, and your Medigap policy picks up part of what's left — things like coinsurance, copays and, depending on the letter, the Part A hospital deductible.

Medigap does not include prescription drug coverage. If you want help with prescriptions, you add a stand-alone Part D drug plan. In 2026, Part D has a $2,100 annual out-of-pocket cap, a maximum deductible of $615, and the old coverage gap ("donut hole") is gone — Part D now runs in three phases. If your drug bills are uneven through the year, the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread those costs into monthly installments.

One important pairing rule: you cannot use a Medigap policy with a Medicare Advantage plan. Medigap is for people who stay in Original Medicare.

The insurers selling Medigap in Alabama

Alabama has a long list of licensed Medigap insurers, and not every company sells every letter. The table below lists every insurer and the letters each one offers in the state. A few examples from the list: BlueCross BlueShield of Alabama offers Plan A only; State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company offers Plans A, C, D, F, G and N; and United American Insurance Company offers one of the widest ranges, including A, B, C, D, F, high-deductible F, G, high-deductible G, K, L and N.

Because the benefits inside each letter are identical by law, what varies between companies is the price they charge, how they raise rates over time and the customer service you get. No single insurer or letter is "best" — the right choice depends on your health, your budget and how you like to handle bills.

The Alabama rules that shape your choice

Your strongest protection is federal: a six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period that begins the first month you are 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. During that window, insurers must sell you any Medigap policy they offer at their best available rate, and they cannot turn you down or charge you more because of your health.

Outside that window, insurers in Alabama can generally use medical underwriting, meaning they can ask health questions and decide whether to offer you a policy and at what price. Federal law also gives you "guaranteed issue" rights in specific situations — for example, if a plan you were counting on ends coverage in your area, or if you drop a Medicare Advantage plan within your first year and return to Original Medicare.

Some states add extra protections, such as "birthday rules" that let people switch Medigap plans without underwriting each year. For questions about what Alabama specifically allows, contact the Alabama Department of Insurance and the Alabama SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program), which offers free one-on-one counseling.

What to think through before you enroll

A few practical questions can narrow the field quickly. Do you want more predictable monthly costs and are you willing to pay a higher premium (letters like G)? Or would you rather pay less up front and share more when you use care (letters like K, L, or high-deductible G)? Do you travel? Do you have doctors who accept Original Medicare?

Then check which companies sell that letter in Alabama, ask each one for a written rate quote, and ask how they've raised premiums in past years. Rate guides published by state insurance departments and the medicare.gov Medigap policy search are two good starting points.

Where to get personal help

• medicare.gov — Compare Medigap benefits by letter and search policies available in your ZIP code.
• 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) — 24/7 help from Medicare directly.
• Alabama SHIP — Free, unbiased counseling on Medicare choices, including Medigap.
• Alabama Department of Insurance — Company licensing, complaints and rate guides.