Medicare Supplement

Medigap in Mesa: how Arizona's standardized plan letters actually fit together

If you live in Mesa and you're pairing Original Medicare with a Medicare Supplement policy — often called Medigap — the choices can feel confusing at first. The good news: the coverage itself is standardized by the federal government. Every Medigap policy sold in Arizona uses the same letter names (A, B, D, G, and so on), and the benefits inside each letter are the same no matter which insurer sells it. What changes from company to company is the price, the customer service, and, in some cases, extra perks. This guide walks through how the letters work, how they line up with Original Medicare and a Part D drug plan, and where to look for details specific to Arizona.

Medigap in Mesa: how Arizona's standardized plan letters actually fit together

What Medigap does — and what it doesn't do

Original Medicare (Part A for hospital care and Part B for doctor care) pays most of a covered bill, but not all of it. There are deductibles, coinsurance, and no yearly out-of-pocket limit. A Medigap policy is private insurance that fills in some of those gaps. When you go to the doctor, Medicare pays its share first, then your Medigap policy pays its share.

A few things Medigap does not do:

• It does not cover prescription drugs. For that, most people add a separate Part D plan.
• It does not work with Medicare Advantage. You choose one path or the other — Original Medicare plus Medigap, or a Medicare Advantage plan.
• It does not usually cover dental, vision, hearing aids, or long-term care.

The letters you can buy in Arizona today

Medigap plans are labeled by letter. The benefits inside each letter are set by federal rules, so a Plan G from one insurer covers the same Medicare-approved services as a Plan G from another insurer in Mesa. What differs is the premium and the company behind the policy.

For people newly eligible for Medicare today, Arizona offers these letters: A, B, D, G, G-HD, K, L, M, and N. Plans C and F are still available, but only to people who became eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020.

Here's a plain-language sketch of what the letters generally include (always confirm the exact benefit chart on Medicare.gov):

• Plan A covers the basics required in every Medigap policy.
• Plan B adds the Part A hospital deductible.
• Plan G is one of the more complete options for new enrollees; it covers most gaps except the Part B deductible.
• Plan G-HD is a high-deductible version of Plan G, meaning you pay costs up to a set yearly amount before the policy pays.
• Plans K and L share costs with you up to a yearly out-of-pocket limit.
• Plan M splits the Part A deductible.
• Plan N covers many gaps but leaves small copays for some office and emergency room visits.

The table on this page shows every plan letter side by side.

How Medigap and Part D fit together

Since Medigap doesn't include drug coverage, most Mesa residents on Original Medicare also enroll in a stand-alone Part D plan. A few things worth knowing for 2026:

• The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100. Once you hit that amount in covered drug costs, you pay nothing more for covered drugs the rest of the year.
• The maximum Part D deductible allowed is $615.
• The coverage gap (the old "donut hole") is gone. There are now three phases instead of four.
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread your drug costs across the year in monthly payments instead of paying all at once at the pharmacy. It's optional and free to join.
• If your income is above $109,000 as a single filer in 2026, you may pay an IRMAA surcharge on top of your Part B and Part D premiums.

Arizona rules that shape your choice

Medigap benefits are federal, but a few important pieces are state-level:

• When you can buy without health questions. Your best window is the six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period that starts when you're 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. During that window, insurers can't turn you down or charge more based on health. Outside that window, medical underwriting usually applies unless you have a federal guaranteed-issue right.
• How premiums are priced. Insurers can use different rating methods (community-rated, issue-age, or attained-age), and that affects how the premium changes as you get older. Ask any insurer which method they use before you sign.
• Switching Medigap plans. Arizona follows federal guaranteed-issue rules. Some states add extra rights, such as "birthday rules." For up-to-date Arizona-specific rights, check with the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions or the state SHIP.

How to find insurers and prices in Mesa

Because we don't publish insurer names or premium figures here, use these official tools:

• Medicare.gov Medigap policy search. Type in your Mesa ZIP code to see every insurer selling each plan letter in your area.
• Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions. Publishes a Medigap rate guide and can help with complaints about insurers.
• Arizona SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program). Free, unbiased counseling for Medicare questions, including help comparing Medigap letters and Part D plans.
• 1-800-MEDICARE for general Medicare questions any time.