Medicare Supplement

Reading Medicare Supplement Plan Letters in Coconut Creek

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. — If you've started shopping for a Medicare Supplement policy, you've probably noticed the letters: Plan A, Plan G, Plan N, and several others. Those letters aren't marketing labels. They're a federal shorthand that tells you exactly what a Medigap policy covers — and understanding them can make the whole decision a lot less stressful.

What Medigap actually does

Medicare Supplement Insurance — better known as Medigap — is a private policy that helps pay some of the costs Original Medicare leaves behind. Things like the Part A hospital deductible, Part B coinsurance, and certain hospital stay costs after Medicare's coverage runs out.

Medigap does not replace Medicare. It fills in gaps. You keep paying your Part B premium, and Medicare pays first. Your Medigap policy picks up its share afterward, based on the letter you chose.

One important note: Medigap does not include prescription drug coverage. If you want drug coverage, you'd add a stand-alone Part D plan.

Why the letters exist

Before the 1990s, Medigap policies were a confusing mess. Congress fixed that by requiring insurers to sell standardized plans, each labeled with a letter. Today, most states — including Florida — use plans A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N. (Plans C and F are only available to people who became eligible for Medicare before Jan. 1, 2020.)

Here's the part that saves people time: a Plan G sold by one insurer covers the same benefits as a Plan G sold by any other insurer. The federal government sets what each letter must include. What can differ between companies is the premium, customer service, and whether the plan uses "high-deductible" versions of certain letters.

Medigap vs. Medicare Advantage

This trips a lot of people up. Medigap and Medicare Advantage (Part C) are not the same, and you can't have both at the same time.

• Medigap works with Original Medicare. You can see any provider in the country who accepts Medicare.
• Medicare Advantage replaces how you get your Original Medicare benefits, usually through an HMO or PPO network.

Coconut Creek is in Broward County, where residents have a wide range of Medicare Advantage options as well as access to Medigap policies sold by insurers licensed in Florida. Neither path is "better" — they just work differently, and the right fit depends on your budget, doctors, and health needs.

The enrollment window that matters most

The single most important date for anyone considering Medigap is the start of their Medigap Open Enrollment Period. It's a six-month window that begins the month you turn 65 and are enrolled in Part B.

During that window, insurers must sell you any Medigap policy they offer at their best available rate, no matter your health history. Once it closes, insurers in most states can use medical underwriting — meaning they can charge more, or turn you down, based on your health.

This is a federal protection, not a Florida-specific one, and it doesn't come around every year. If you're approaching 65 in Coconut Creek, mark it on the calendar.

How to compare plans without getting overwhelmed

A few practical tips:

• Start with the letter, then the price. Since benefits are standardized, comparing Plan G to Plan G across insurers is largely a price and service comparison.
• Ask about rate history. Medigap premiums can rise over time. Some insurers raise rates more aggressively than others.
• Think about drug coverage separately. You'll want a Part D plan too. For 2026, Part D has a $2,100 out-of-pocket cap and a maximum deductible of $615.
• Remember other 2026 rules. The coverage gap has been eliminated as of 2025, and IRMAA surcharges begin above $109,000 in income for a single filer.

Where to get unbiased help

You don't have to figure this out alone. Free, unbiased counselors are available through:

• Medicare.gov — the official site for plan comparisons and the Medicare & You handbook.
• 1-800-MEDICARE — 24/7 phone support.
• Florida SHINE — the state's SHIP program, which offers free one-on-one counseling for Coconut Creek residents.

The Annual Enrollment Period for Part D and Medicare Advantage runs Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, and the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs Jan. 1 through March 31. Medigap enrollment doesn't follow those windows — it has its own rules — but those dates are worth knowing if you're weighing the two paths.