Medicare Supplement

Before you compare Medigap in Denver, read this

DENVER — If you have a Medigap policy in Denver, or you're thinking about buying one, the coming plan year brings the usual mix of quiet mechanics and moving parts: which lettered plans you can buy, the annual reset of the Part B deductible that Plans G and N are built around, and the rate filings insurers submit each year to the Colorado Division of Insurance.

Medicare SupplementDenver, CO

None of this is dramatic on its own. But together, it decides what a Medigap policy in Denver County will look like — and cost — in 2027.

Which Medigap plans you can buy in Denver

Medigap plans are standardized by letter across most of the country, including Colorado. That means a Plan G from one insurer covers the same core benefits as a Plan G from another — the differences are price, customer service, and household or other discounts.

If you're newly eligible for Medicare today, these are the lettered plans available to you in Colorado: A, B, D, G, G-HD, K, L, M, and N.

Plans C and F are closed to newcomers under a federal rule that took effect January 1, 2020. If you were eligible for Medicare before that date, you may still be able to buy or keep them.

Denver is in Denver County, and the specific insurers offering each letter are listed on Medicare.gov's Medigap policy search when you enter a Denver ZIP code.

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

Plans G and N — the two most commonly purchased Medigap plans for new enrollees — are built around the Part B deductible. Under federal Medigap rules, you pay that deductible yourself each year before the plan's other cost-sharing kicks in.

The Part B deductible resets every January 1. For 2027, the new figure will be announced by CMS ahead of the plan year and posted on Medicare.gov. It's a small number compared to what Medigap covers after it, but it's the one out-of-pocket cost G and N enrollees should plan for each year.

Plan G-HD (high-deductible G) works differently: you pay a much larger yearly deductible before benefits begin, in exchange for a lower premium.

Rate-adjustment season in Colorado

Medigap premiums are not fixed for life. Insurers file proposed rate changes with the Colorado Division of Insurance, and those filings are reviewed before taking effect. Some carriers adjust rates on your policy anniversary; others use a calendar date.

Because Colorado uses a mix of rating methods (issue-age, attained-age, and community-rated in some cases), how your premium changes over time depends on both the insurer and the plan.

Two things you can do:

• Ask your current insurer when your next rate change takes effect and what method they use.
• Review the Colorado Division of Insurance's Medigap rate guide, which compares premiums across carriers by age and plan letter.

Insurers entering or leaving the state

Carrier changes in the Medigap market happen more quietly than in Medicare Advantage. There's no single annual "lineup announcement." Insurers can open or close a plan letter to new applicants, and occasionally a company exits the Colorado market entirely.

The most reliable way to see who's currently selling Medigap in Denver County is the Medicare.gov Medigap policy search — it pulls from filings insurers make with the state. Colorado's SHIP counselors can also confirm what's currently available and walk you through the differences.

What Denver readers should do before 2027

• Check the 2027 Part B deductible on Medicare.gov once CMS posts it, especially if you have Plan G or N.
• Look up your policy's next rate change — call your insurer if you're unsure of the date.
• Compare Denver ZIP codes on Medicare.gov's Medigap search if you're shopping, since insurer availability is set at the county level.
• Remember switching rules: outside of your one-time Medigap Open Enrollment Period (the six months starting when you're 65 and enrolled in Part B), insurers in Colorado can generally use medical underwriting when you apply for a new policy. There are limited exceptions — a SHIP counselor can explain them.