Medicare Supplement
Medicare Supplement basics for Hartford, explained plainly
HARTFORD, Conn. — If you've been trying to make sense of Medicare Supplement insurance, you're not alone. The letters, the lookalike plans, the rules about when you can buy in — it can feel like a puzzle. Here's a plain-English walk-through of what Medigap does, how the standardized letter plans work, and what to think about before you pick one.
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Key takeaways
- Medigap is private insurance that works with Original Medicare to help cover leftover costs like coinsurance, copayments, and some deductibles, and you pay its premium in addition to your Part B premium.
- In most states, Medigap plans are standardized into lettered plans (A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, N), so the same letter offers the same core benefits no matter which company sells it, though premiums and service can differ.
- Your best chance to buy Medigap without health questions is the one-time, six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period that starts the month you turn 65 or older and enroll in Part B, since outside that window insurers in most states can use medical underwriting.
- The Medicare Advantage and Part D Annual Enrollment Period runs Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, and it's worth checking plan options each year since the choices offered can change annually.
What Medigap is — and what it isn't
Medicare Supplement insurance, often called Medigap, is private insurance that works alongside Original Medicare (Part A and Part B). It's designed to help pay some of the out-of-pocket costs Original Medicare leaves behind — things like coinsurance, copayments, and certain deductibles.
A few important boundaries:
- Medigap only works with Original Medicare. It does not pair with Medicare Advantage.
- Medigap does not include prescription drug coverage. For drugs, you'd add a separate Part D plan.
- Medigap does not typically cover routine dental, vision, hearing aids, or long-term care.
You pay a monthly premium for a Medigap policy on top of your Part B premium.
How the standardized letter plans work
In most states, Medigap policies are standardized by the federal government and labeled with letters: A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N. (Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin standardize their plans differently.)
Here's the key idea: a Plan G sold by one company covers the same core benefits as a Plan G sold by another company. The letter tells you what's covered. What can differ is the monthly premium, the insurer's customer service, and how they price policies over time.
A couple of notes worth knowing:
- Plans C and F are only available to people who became eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020. If you became eligible on or after that date, those two are off the table.
- Plans K and L have annual out-of-pocket limits built in, with lower premiums in exchange for cost-sharing.
- Plan N has some copays for office and ER visits.
The Medicare.gov "Compare Medigap policies" tool shows exactly what each letter includes.
When you can buy a Medigap policy
This part matters a lot. Your best window to buy Medigap is your Medigap Open Enrollment Period — a one-time, six-month window that starts the month you're 65 or older and enrolled in Part B.
During that window, you have a guaranteed issue right: insurers can't turn you down or charge you more because of your health history.
Outside that window, in most states, insurers can use medical underwriting. That means they can ask health questions and, in some cases, deny coverage or charge more. There are some limited "guaranteed issue" situations later on (for example, if certain other coverage ends), but the six-month window is the cleanest path.
Connecticut has some of the more consumer-friendly Medigap rules in the country, including continuous open enrollment protections. Your local SHIP counselor can walk you through what applies to your situation.
Medigap vs. Medicare Advantage — a quick contrast
People often mix these up. They're two different roads:
- Original Medicare + Medigap + Part D: You keep Original Medicare, add a Medigap policy to fill cost gaps, and add a stand-alone drug plan. You can generally see any provider in the U.S. that accepts Medicare.
- Medicare Advantage (Part C): A private plan that replaces how you get your Medicare benefits, usually with a network and often with drug coverage bundled in. You cannot have both a Medicare Advantage plan and a Medigap policy at the same time.
Hartford is in Hartford County, where a range of Medicare Advantage and stand-alone Part D plans are offered each year. The number and mix change annually, so it's worth checking during the Annual Enrollment Period (Oct. 15 – Dec. 7).
2026 program facts that affect the bigger picture
Even though Medigap itself doesn't cover drugs, the drug side of Medicare has changed a lot recently. If you're pairing Medigap with a Part D plan, here's what to know for 2026:
- The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026. Once you hit that, you pay $0 for covered drugs the rest of the year.
- The Part D deductible can be up to $615 in 2026.
- The old coverage gap ("donut hole") was eliminated in 2025. Part D now has three phases: deductible, initial coverage, and catastrophic.
- The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs into monthly payments instead of paying all at once at the pharmacy.
- IRMAA surcharges — extra amounts higher earners pay for Part B and Part D — start above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.
How to decide if Medigap fits you
There's no single right answer, but these questions help:
1. How much do you value predictable costs? Medigap trades a higher monthly premium for fewer surprise bills. 2. Do you travel or split time between states? Original Medicare + Medigap travels well because it doesn't use networks. 3. Do you have doctors you want to keep? If they accept Medicare, Original Medicare + Medigap keeps things simple. 4. Are you inside your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment window? If yes, that's the easiest time to enroll. 5. What's your prescription picture? You'll want to price out a Part D plan separately.
By the numbers
Medicare Part B premium, 2006–2026
The standard monthly Part B premium has climbed from $88.50 in 2006 to $202.90 in 2026. Hover any point for that year’s premium.
Source: CMS. Standard premium shown; in some hold-harmless years many existing enrollees paid less. Confirm at Medicare.gov.
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The parts of Medicare
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When can you enroll? An interactive year
Enrollment windows are federal and the same nationwide. Confirm your personal dates at Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Does Medigap cover prescription drugs?
Can I switch from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare plus Medigap?
Is Plan G "better" than Plan N?
- CMS — Medicare basics (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.