Medicare Supplement

Medigap Plan Letters in Savannah: What They Mean in 2026

SAVANNAH, Ga. — If you have Original Medicare (Part A and Part B), you already know it doesn't pay for everything. There are deductibles, coinsurance, and copays that can add up. A Medicare Supplement policy — better known as Medigap — is private insurance designed to help cover some of those leftover out-of-pocket costs.

The basics: what Medigap actually does

Medigap works alongside Original Medicare. Medicare pays its share of a covered service first, then your Medigap policy pays its share, based on the letter plan you chose.

One important note: Medigap is different from Medicare Advantage (Part C). You can't have both at the same time. Medigap is for people who stay with Original Medicare.

Why the plans are labeled with letters

Here's where a lot of folks get confused. Medigap plans are standardized by the federal government. That means Plan G sold by one company covers the exact same Medicare gaps as Plan G sold by another company. The benefits are set by law.

What can differ between companies is the price, the customer service, and sometimes small extras. But the core benefits tied to each letter — A, B, D, G, K, L, M, N, and (for those who qualified before 2020) C and F — are the same no matter who sells them.

That standardization is a good thing. It means you can compare policies letter-to-letter without decoding a bunch of fine print.

The letters you'll see most often

You don't need to memorize every plan. Here's the plain-English version:

• Plans A and B cover the most basic gaps.
• Plan G is a popular choice for people newly eligible for Medicare because it covers most gaps except the Part B deductible.
• Plan N covers many of the same gaps as G but asks you to pay some small copays for office and ER visits.
• Plans K and L have lower premiums in exchange for you sharing more of the costs, up to a yearly limit.
• Plans C and F are only available to people who became eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020.

Every letter plan is described in detail on medicare.gov, and the coverage chart there is worth a look before you talk to any agent.

When you can buy — and why timing matters

The best window to buy a Medigap policy is your Medigap Open Enrollment Period. That's the six-month window that starts the month you're 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. During that window, insurance companies must sell you any Medigap plan they offer at their best available rate, regardless of your health history.

Miss that window, and in most states — Georgia included — companies can use medical underwriting. That means they can ask health questions, charge you more, or turn you down. This is one of the most common and costly mistakes people make when they wait.

Savannah is in Chatham County, and Medigap availability is regulated at the state level in Georgia, so residents across the county generally have access to the same standardized letter plans, though prices vary by company.

Common mistakes to sidestep

A few things to keep in mind before you sign anything:

1. Don't confuse Medigap letters with Part D or Medicare Advantage. Medigap doesn't include prescription drug coverage. You'll still need a separate Part D plan for medications. 2. Compare prices for the same letter. Since benefits are identical, a Plan G from Company X and Plan G from Company Y cover the same things. Price and service are where they differ. 3. Ask how the company sets rates. Some raise premiums as you age; others don't. Both are legal, but they feel very different over time. 4. Understand the trade-off with Medicare Advantage. If you switch from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare later, you may not be able to get a Medigap policy without underwriting.

What's changing around Medicare in 2026

While Medigap itself is standardized and stable, other parts of Medicare are shifting in ways that may affect your overall plan:

• The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 for 2026.
• The Part D maximum deductible is $615.
• The old coverage gap ("donut hole") was eliminated in 2025; Part D now has three phases.
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs across the year in monthly installments instead of paying big amounts at the pharmacy counter.
• IRMAA — a surcharge on Part B and Part D premiums for higher-income beneficiaries — kicks in above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.
• The Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 to December 7, and the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 to March 31.

None of these directly change Medigap benefits, but they affect the bigger picture of what you'll pay each year.