Medicare Supplement

Same Plan G everywhere: what actually changes in Sacramento

Sacramento residents shopping for a Medicare Supplement policy — often called Medigap — face the same alphabet of standardized plans as the rest of California. The letters are set by federal law, so a Plan G is a Plan G no matter who sells it. What differs is the price, the insurer's pricing method, and a few California-specific rules that can shape when you're allowed to switch.

Here's a plain-English walk-through of the letters available in California today, how Medigap fits with Original Medicare and Part D, and where to look for insurer-by-insurer details.

The letters you can buy in California today

Medigap plans are standardized by the federal government in 47 states, California included. That means each lettered plan covers the same set of benefits from insurer to insurer. What can change is the monthly premium and how the insurer prices policies as you age.

People becoming eligible for Medicare today in Sacramento can pick from these standardized plans:

• Plan A
• Plan B
• Plan D
• Plan G
• Plan G High-Deductible (G-HD)
• Plan K
• Plan L
• Plan M
• Plan N

Plans C and F are still sold, but only to people who were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020. If that's you, you can keep or buy one; if you turned 65 after that date, they're off the menu.

Each letter covers a different mix of the gaps in Original Medicare — things like the Part A hospital deductible, coinsurance, and skilled nursing costs. Plan G is a common comprehensive choice; Plan N trades a slightly lower premium for a few small copays; the "K" and "L" plans use cost-sharing percentages with an annual out-of-pocket limit. The Medicare & You handbook and Medicare.gov have a side-by-side benefits chart.

How Medigap fits with Original Medicare and Part D

Medigap is only for people on Original Medicare (Part A and Part B). It pays after Medicare pays, picking up some or all of the deductibles and coinsurance that would otherwise come out of your pocket.

A few things it does not do:

• It does not replace Medicare — Medicare stays primary.
• It does not include prescription drug coverage. To get drug coverage, you add a stand-alone Part D plan.
• It does not work with a Medicare Advantage plan. If you're enrolled in Advantage, you generally cannot use a Medigap policy at the same time.

For 2026, Part D has an out-of-pocket cap of $2,100 and a maximum deductible of $615. The old coverage gap ("donut hole") was eliminated in 2025, so Part D now has three phases instead of four. If drug costs are hitting hard in a single month, the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread them across the year.

The California rules that shape your choice

Two federal timing rules matter most:

• Medigap Open Enrollment: The 6-month window that begins the month you're 65 and enrolled in Part B. During this window, insurers must sell you any Medigap policy they offer, at their best available rate, without medical underwriting.
• Guaranteed-issue rights: Certain life events (for example, losing other coverage or a Medicare Advantage plan leaving your area) trigger a limited right to buy specific Medigap plans without underwriting.

California also has additional protections that go beyond federal law, including rules about when existing Medigap customers can switch plans. Because those rules can change and the details matter, verify them directly with the California Department of Insurance or your local SHIP before you act.

Finding insurers and comparing prices in Sacramento

Sacramento is in Sacramento County, and Medigap policies are sold by private insurers licensed in California. There isn't a single "Sacramento list" — the same statewide insurers generally serve the county — but prices can vary a lot between companies for the exact same lettered plan.

Three reliable places to compare:

1. Medicare.gov Medigap policy search — enter your Sacramento ZIP code to see insurers offering each plan letter in your area. 2. California Department of Insurance Medigap rate guide — a state-published comparison of premiums by company and plan. 3. HICAP (California's SHIP) — free, unbiased counseling from trained volunteers who can walk you through options in person or by phone.

When you compare, ask each insurer how they price the policy: community-rated, issue-age-rated, or attained-age-rated. That pricing method affects how your premium may change over time.

What to think through before you buy

A few questions worth answering on paper before you sign anything:

• Do I want the most predictable out-of-pocket costs, or am I comfortable with some cost-sharing in exchange for a lower premium?
• Am I inside my 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment window, or will I need to answer health questions?
• Do I already have a Part D plan lined up, or do I need to shop one during the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7)?
• If my income is above $109,000 as a single filer in 2026, have I factored in IRMAA surcharges on Part B and Part D?

The table below lists every plan letter available in California so you can see the coverage differences at a glance.