Medicare Supplement

Part B deductible resets Jan 1: what Orange County should know

Huntington Beach, Calif. — As 2026 approaches, Medigap shoppers along the Orange County coast face the same yearly rhythm: the Part B deductible that Plans G and N are built around resets on January 1, insurers refile their rates with the California Department of Insurance, and the standardized plan letters newer enrollees can buy stay locked to federal rules. Nothing about that changes because you live in Huntington Beach — but knowing the timing helps you shop smarter.

Medicare SupplementHuntington Beach, CA

What actually changes at the turn of the year

Two things reset like clockwork on January 1. First, the Part B deductible — the amount you pay out of pocket for outpatient care before Medicare starts paying its share — goes to a new figure set by CMS. That matters for Medigap because Plan G covers almost everything after you meet that deductible, and Plan N works the same way (with some office and ER copays). When the deductible number moves, so does the point at which your Medigap coverage kicks in for the year.

Second, insurers file new rates. In California, Medigap premiums are reviewed by the California Department of Insurance. A rate change is not automatic and it is not uniform across carriers — two companies selling the same plan letter can file very different adjustments.

Which plan letters you can still buy

The standardized plan letters are set by federal rule, and they are the same in Huntington Beach as everywhere else in California. If you are newly eligible for Medicare, your choices are Plans A, B, D, G, G-HD, K, L, M and N. Plans C and F are only available to people who were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020. That rule is not changing for 2026.

Every Medigap plan with the same letter must offer the same core benefits, no matter which insurer sells it. What differs is the price and the company's service, not the coverage on paper.

Who sells Medigap in California

The table below lists every insurer currently offering Medigap policies in California and the plan letters each one sells. Names such as AARP - UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company, Anthem BlueCross - California, Blue Shield of California Life & Health Insurance Company, Humana (Humana Insurance Company), Mutual of Omaha (United World Life Insurance Company) and State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company appear alongside smaller carriers like Everence Association Inc. and Lumos Insurance. If you want to know whether a specific carrier is entering or leaving the state, the current roster is what's on file today.

How to check a rate before you sign or renew

Medigap rates are public. Before you commit to a policy — or before you renew one — you can:

1. Compare policies at medicare.gov's Medigap policy search, which lists insurers licensed in your ZIP code. 2. Look up filings and consumer rate guides at the California Department of Insurance (insurance.ca.gov). 3. Call 1-800-MEDICARE with questions about how Medigap works alongside Original Medicare. 4. Reach California's SHIP program, HICAP, at 1-800-434-0222 for free, unbiased counseling.

Remember that outside your Medigap open enrollment window (the six months starting when you're 65 and enrolled in Part B), insurers in California can generally use medical underwriting when you apply. That means switching plans later is not automatic, so it pays to review before you decide.

What is not changing

The alphabet of plan letters is not changing for 2026. The rule that closed Plans C and F to newly eligible people is not changing. And the fact that a Plan G from one insurer covers the same benefits as a Plan G from another is not changing — the difference is price and service, which is why the rate filings matter.