Medicare Supplement

Medigap in Glendale for 2026: plan-letter rules, the Part B reset, and rate-filing season

Glendale, Ariz. — If you have a Medigap policy or you are shopping for one, the turn of the calendar into 2026 brings a familiar rhythm: a new Part B deductible takes effect on January 1, insurers file rate adjustments with the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions, and the rules about which plan letters you can buy stay tied to when you first became eligible for Medicare. Nothing about Medigap changes as dramatically as Medicare Advantage does each fall, but a few pieces are worth checking now.

Medicare SupplementGlendale, AZ

What "plan-letter eligibility" actually means

Medigap plans are standardized by letter. A Plan G from one insurer covers the same things as a Plan G from another; what differs is the premium, the company's customer service, and how it prices your policy over time.

The one eligibility rule that trips people up: Plans C and F cover the Part B deductible, and federal law closed those two plans to anyone who became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. If you were eligible before that date, you can still buy or keep C or F. If you turned 65 in 2020 or later — or you are aging in now — your standardized choices are Plans A, B, D, G, G-HD (high-deductible G), K, L, M, and N.

That rule is not new for 2026, but it is the single most common source of confusion when a Glendale reader calls asking why a neighbor has a plan they cannot get.

The Part B deductible reset — why it matters for Plans G and N

Plans G and N are the two most commonly sold letters to newly eligible enrollees, and both are designed around the Part B deductible. You pay that deductible yourself each calendar year; after that, Plan G covers the Part B coinsurance in full, and Plan N covers it with small copays for some office and emergency room visits.

Every January 1, the Part B deductible resets. Medicare publishes the new amount each fall on medicare.gov. It is worth knowing your number for 2026 before your first doctor visit of the year, because that is the bill you will see before your Medigap coverage kicks in.

The high-deductible version of Plan G (G-HD) works differently — you pay a separate, higher deductible set by Medicare before the plan pays anything. That figure also resets annually.

Rate-adjustment season in Arizona

Medigap premiums are not set by Medicare. Each insurer files proposed rates with the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions, and those filings are reviewed at the state level. Increases can happen at your policy anniversary or on a set date the insurer uses for all its Arizona policyholders — the notice you receive from your carrier will tell you which.

A few practical steps for Glendale residents:

• Read the renewal letter when it arrives. It will state the new premium and the effective date.
• Ask your carrier whether your policy is priced on an "attained age," "issue age," or "community" basis. That affects how future increases are calculated.
• Compare. Because plan letters are standardized, a Plan G is a Plan G — you can request quotes from other Arizona-licensed insurers for the same letter.

If you want to switch carriers outside your one-time Medigap Open Enrollment Period (the six months starting when you are both 65 and enrolled in Part B), you may have to answer medical questions. Arizona does not have a broad "birthday rule" like some other states, so underwriting matters here.

Insurers selling Medigap in Arizona

Glendale is in Maricopa County, and Medigap availability is set at the state level rather than by county or city. The table below lists every insurer currently selling Medigap in Arizona and the plan letters each one offers, in alphabetical order. Names range from AARP – UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company and Aetna Health and Life Insurance Company at the top of the list through Mutual of Omaha, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, and WoodmenLife toward the end.

If you are shopping, use the Medigap policy search on medicare.gov to see the full list, then contact carriers directly or work with a licensed agent to get quotes for the same plan letter from several companies.

A quick note on Part D — separate from Medigap

Medigap does not include prescription drug coverage; you pair it with a stand-alone Part D plan. A few 2026 Part D facts worth having in the back of your mind while you review your overall coverage:

• The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 for 2026.
• The Part D maximum 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 your drug costs over monthly payments if you choose to opt in.
• IRMAA surcharges on Part B and Part D premiums begin above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.

The Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7) and the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 – March 31) apply to Part D and Medicare Advantage — not to Medigap. Medigap has its own enrollment and underwriting rules.

How to decide what to do this season

If you already have a Medigap policy you are happy with, "doing nothing" is a legitimate choice. Read your renewal, note the new premium, and put the letter in a folder.

If you want to review, a sensible order:

1. Confirm which plan letters you are eligible to buy (based on your Medicare eligibility date). 2. Decide which letter fits your budget and how you use care — G, G-HD, and N are the most common comparisons for people newly eligible. 3. Request quotes from several Arizona-licensed insurers for that same letter. 4. Ask about underwriting if you are switching outside your Medigap Open Enrollment Period. 5. Separately, review your Part D plan during the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7).