Medicare Supplement
Medigap Plan Letters Explained: A Clear Kansas City Guide
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — If you've started shopping for a Medicare Supplement policy, you've probably noticed something strange: the plans are named with letters. Plan A. Plan G. Plan N. And they show up over and over, from different insurance companies, at very different prices.
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Click to call 855-729-3240Key takeaways
- Medigap plans are labeled with letters like A, G, and N, and the benefits for any given letter are the same no matter which insurance company sells it.
- Paying more for a policy with the same letter as a cheaper one doesn't mean you're getting extra coverage, since the letter benefits are standardized.
- Your Medigap Open Enrollment Period is a six-month window starting the month you turn 65 or older and enroll in Part B, during which insurers must sell you a policy at their best rate regardless of health history.
- In 2026, IRMAA surcharges on Part B and Part D premiums begin for single filers with income above $109,000.
Making sense of Medigap's A-through-N labels
That's not a coincidence — and understanding why is one of the most useful things a Medicare beneficiary can learn. It can save you from a common, expensive mistake: assuming a higher-priced Medigap policy must offer more coverage than a cheaper one with the same letter.
Here's how the system actually works.
What Medigap does (and doesn't do)
Medicare Supplement Insurance — usually called Medigap — is a private policy you can buy to help pay some of the out-of-pocket costs that Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) leaves behind. Those gaps include things like the Part A hospital deductible, Part B coinsurance, and certain other cost-sharing amounts.
A few important points to keep straight:
- Medigap only works alongside Original Medicare. It does not pair with a Medicare Advantage plan.
- Medigap policies generally do not include prescription drug coverage. For drugs, you'd typically enroll in a separate Part D plan.
- Medigap does not cover long-term care, most dental or vision, or hearing aids.
In other words, Medigap is designed to smooth out the cost-sharing side of Original Medicare — not to replace it or add new benefits.
Why the letters exist
Before the early 1990s, Medigap plans were a confusing patchwork. Two policies with similar names could cover wildly different things. Congress stepped in and required insurance companies to sell standardized plans, each labeled with a letter.
Today, in most states — including Kansas — Medigap plans are sold as Plans A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N. (Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin use their own standardized systems.)
Here's the key rule to remember: the benefits inside any given letter are the same, no matter which company sells it. A Plan G from one carrier covers exactly what a Plan G from another carrier covers. What can differ is the price, the customer service, and how the insurer handles rate increases over time.
That's the mistake worth avoiding: paying more for the same letter without a clear reason.
What the different letters cover
Each letter offers a different mix of benefits. Some plans cover almost everything Original Medicare leaves behind; others cover less in exchange for a lower premium.
A few general notes on how the letters break down:
- Plans A and B cover the basics, like Part A coinsurance and hospital costs after Medicare pays.
- Plans K, L, and M share costs with you at a set percentage, which usually means lower premiums.
- Plan N typically has lower premiums than Plan G in exchange for small copays at doctor and ER visits.
- Plan G is one of the more comprehensive options available to people newly eligible for Medicare today.
- Plans C and F are only available to people who became eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020. If you turned 65 after that date, these two aren't options for you.
For the full, side-by-side benefit chart, Medicare.gov keeps an up-to-date version at medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/medigap.
Timing matters more than most people realize
The single most important window in the Medigap world is your Medigap Open Enrollment Period. It's a six-month window that starts the month you're 65 or older and enrolled in Part B.
During this window, insurance companies must sell you any Medigap policy they offer at their best available rate, regardless of your health history. Outside of it, in most states, insurers can use medical underwriting — meaning they can charge you more, or turn you down, based on your health.
Kansas City is in Wyandotte County, and while Medicare Advantage and Part D plan availability is set at the county level, Medigap works differently: policies are regulated at the state level by the Kansas Insurance Department, and the same standardized letters are offered statewide.
If you miss your six-month window, you're not automatically shut out — but your options may narrow and your costs may rise. That's why so many Medicare counselors urge people to look at Medigap carefully the first time around.
How Medigap fits with the rest of Medicare
It helps to see the full picture:
- Part A and Part B = Original Medicare, run by the federal government.
- Medigap = optional private policy that helps with Original Medicare's out-of-pocket costs.
- Part D = separate private drug coverage. In 2026, the annual out-of-pocket cap on Part D drug costs is $2,100, the maximum Part D deductible is $615, and the old "donut hole" is gone — replaced by a simpler three-phase structure. There's also an optional Medicare Prescription Payment Plan that lets you spread drug costs across the year.
- Medicare Advantage (Part C) = a private alternative that bundles Parts A, B, and usually D. You cannot use a Medigap policy with a Medicare Advantage plan.
Higher-income beneficiaries should also know that IRMAA surcharges — added amounts on Part B and Part D premiums — begin above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.
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.
By the numbers
How people get Medicare in Wyandotte County
(MA penetration in Wyandotte County)
MA penetration from CMS enrollment data; Medigap share is an estimate. U.S. average is about 54% Medicare Advantage. These are area-level figures, not plan-specific.
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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
Can I switch Medigap plans later?
Do I need Medigap if I already have Medicare Advantage?
Why do prices vary so much for the same letter?
- CMS — Medicare basics (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.