Medicare Supplement

Federal rules behind Medigap coverage for Topeka residents

TOPEKA, Kan. — If you have Original Medicare and worry about the bills it leaves behind, you have probably heard the words "Medigap" or "Medicare Supplement" tossed around. These plans are sold by private insurance companies, but they follow rules set by the federal government — and that is actually good news for you. It means the coverage is standardized, so a Plan G in Topeka pays the same way a Plan G does anywhere else in the country.

Here is a plain-language look at what Medigap does, what it doesn't, and how the lettered plans line up.

What Medigap is — and what it isn't

Medigap is extra insurance that works alongside Original Medicare (Part A and Part B). After Medicare pays its share of a covered service, your Medigap plan picks up some or all of what is left — things like the Part A hospital coinsurance, the Part B 20% coinsurance, and other cost-sharing.

Medigap is not the same as Medicare Advantage (Part C). You cannot have both at the same time. Medicare Advantage replaces how you get your Part A and Part B benefits; Medigap adds to them.

And Medigap does not cover prescription drugs, dental, vision, hearing aids, or long-term custodial care. For drug coverage, you need a stand-alone Medicare Part D plan.

How the standardized letters work

In most states, including Kansas, Medigap plans come in 10 standardized versions identified by letters: A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N. Each letter has a set list of benefits defined by federal law.

That means if two companies both sell Plan G in Topeka, the benefits inside that Plan G are identical. What can differ is the monthly premium, the company's customer service, and how they set price increases over time.

A few notes worth knowing:

• 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, you generally cannot buy them.
• Plans K and L have lower premiums but higher out-of-pocket shares, plus a yearly out-of-pocket limit.
• Plan N typically has smaller copays for some office and emergency room visits.

The Medicare basics guide at Medicare.gov lays out each plan's covered benefits side by side.

Topeka in context: local availability

Topeka is in Shawnee County, where Medicare beneficiaries can shop Medigap plans from multiple insurance companies licensed in Kansas. Because the benefits inside each lettered plan are set by federal rule, the real comparison shopping in Shawnee County usually comes down to price, the carrier's reputation, and how the premium is likely to change as you age.

If you also want drug coverage or are weighing Original Medicare plus Medigap against Medicare Advantage, the number of Part D and Medicare Advantage plan choices in Shawnee County can be reviewed on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder.

When you can buy Medigap

Timing matters more with Medigap than most people realize.

Your Medigap Open Enrollment Period is a one-time, six-month window that begins the month you are 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare Part B. During this window, insurance companies must sell you any Medigap plan they offer at their best available rate, no matter your health history.

Outside that window, in most cases, insurers in Kansas can use medical underwriting. That means they can ask health questions and, in some cases, charge more or turn you down. There are some limited "guaranteed issue" rights — for example, if certain other coverage ends — but they are narrower than the initial six-month window.

This is why many people who want a Medigap plan sign up during that first six months.

How Medigap fits with Part D and 2026 changes

If you pair Original Medicare with a Medigap plan, you will usually also want a stand-alone Part D drug plan. A few 2026 facts to keep in mind:

• Part D has a new $2,100 annual out-of-pocket cap for covered drugs.
• The Part D maximum deductible is $615 (plans can charge less).
• The old coverage gap, or "donut hole," is gone — Part D now has three phases.
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread your yearly drug costs across monthly payments instead of paying large amounts at the pharmacy counter.
• IRMAA surcharges on Part B and Part D begin above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.

The Annual Enrollment Period for Part D and Medicare Advantage runs October 15 – December 7. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period is January 1 – March 31. Medigap, though, is not tied to those windows — you can apply anytime, subject to underwriting rules outside your initial open enrollment.

Getting unbiased help in Topeka

Medigap decisions are personal, and the "right" letter for your neighbor may not be the right one for you. For free, one-on-one help, Kansas beneficiaries can contact SHICK (Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas), the state's SHIP program, at 1-800-860-5260. Counselors are trained to explain options without selling you anything.

You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), available 24/7, or use the plan comparison tools at Medicare.gov.