Medicare Supplement

Before you renew Medigap in San Francisco: 2027 notes

SAN FRANCISCO — As 2027 approaches, San Francisco residents on Medicare — or turning 65 soon — will see the familiar Medigap rhythms play out again: a fresh Part B deductible on January 1, insurers filing new rates with California regulators, and the same short list of standardized plan letters available to newly eligible enrollees. Here is what is actually shifting, what is staying put, and how to check the details that matter for your ZIP code.

Which Medigap plans you can still buy

Medigap plans are standardized by letter across most of the country, and the lineup available to people newly eligible for Medicare today is the same in California as it is nationwide: Plans A, B, D, G, G-HD, K, L, M and N.

Two letters are notably missing from that list. Plans C and F are only available to people who became eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020. That rule is set by federal law and does not change from year to year. If you were eligible before that date and never enrolled in one, you may still be able to — but that window is narrowing as fewer insurers actively market those plans.

For 2027, the plan-letter menu itself is not changing. What can change is which insurers offer which letters in your ZIP code, and at what price.

The Part B deductible reset — why Plans G and N care

Every January 1, the Part B deductible resets. That reset matters for Medigap because Plan G pays for nearly everything Original Medicare leaves behind except that Part B deductible, and Plan N works similarly with some additional copays. When the deductible amount is adjusted for the new year, it flows straight through to what you pay before your Medigap coverage kicks in on the Part B side.

CMS publishes the new Part B deductible late each fall for the year ahead. You can confirm the 2027 figure on Medicare.gov once it is announced.

Plan G-HD (the high-deductible version of Plan G) also resets on January 1 — the out-of-pocket amount you have to meet before the plan begins paying starts over each calendar year.

Rate-adjustment season in California

Medigap premiums are not set by Medicare. They are set by each insurer and filed with the California Department of Insurance. Insurers can adjust rates on their own schedules — some do it annually, some more often — and any change has to be filed with the state before it takes effect.

That means "what will my Medigap premium be in 2027?" is not a question with a single answer. It depends on:

• which insurer you have,
• which plan letter you carry,
• your ZIP code,
• your age (in California, most Medigap policies are age-rated), and
• whether you use tobacco.

To see current filings and approved rates, use the California Department of Insurance's Medigap rate guide. It is updated as new rates are approved and is the authoritative source for what a specific plan will cost in your area.

Insurers entering or leaving California

We are not naming specific insurers in this article because carrier participation and plan availability can shift ZIP code by ZIP code, and San Francisco County can look different from a neighboring county. Instead, here are the three places to check for the most current answer:

1. Medicare.gov Medigap policy search — enter your San Francisco ZIP code to see every insurer currently offering a Medigap policy where you live, plus their pricing. 2. California Department of Insurance — its Medigap rate guide lists insurers licensed to sell Medigap in the state and their approved rates. 3. HICAP (California's SHIP) — the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program provides free, unbiased counseling to Medicare beneficiaries in San Francisco and can walk you through your options.

Switching Medigap plans in California: the birthday rule

One California-specific rule worth remembering as you compare 2027 options: California's "birthday rule" gives Medigap enrollees an annual window around their birthday to switch to another Medigap plan with equal or lesser benefits from any insurer, without new medical underwriting. That protection is part of California law and applies regardless of what is happening with rates or carriers.

Outside of that window — and outside your initial six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period when you first turn 65 and enroll in Part B — insurers can generally use medical underwriting to decide whether to accept you and at what price.

What to do before January 1

• Look up your current rate. If you already have a Medigap policy, your insurer must notify you of any premium change. Compare it against the California rate guide.
• Check the 2027 Part B deductible on Medicare.gov once it is published, so you know what to expect if you carry Plan G, G-HD or N.
• Consider your birthday window. If your birthday falls in early 2027 and you have been thinking about switching, mark the dates now.
• Talk to HICAP. Free, one-on-one counseling in San Francisco can save you hours of research.