Medicare Supplement

Which Medigap insurers sell in Louisville, and how to compare the same plan letter fairly

Louisville shoppers looking at Medicare Supplement Insurance — better known as Medigap — often run into the same puzzle: the same plan letter is sold by many different companies, and the prices are not the same. Here is how to figure out who sells Medigap in Kentucky, why premiums differ even when the coverage does not, and what to check before you sign anything.

What Medigap is, and what "standardized" really means

Medigap is private insurance that helps pay some of the out-of-pocket costs Original Medicare (Parts A and B) leaves behind — things like coinsurance and hospital deductibles. It is not the same as Medicare Advantage, and you cannot have both at once.

In Kentucky, as in most states, Medigap plans are standardized by the federal government. That means the benefits inside Plan G, Plan N, Plan K and every other lettered plan are set by law. A Plan G is a Plan G whether you buy it from a national insurer or a smaller regional one. The company handling the paperwork changes; the coverage inside the plan does not.

People newly eligible for Medicare today can choose from Plans A, B, D, G, high-deductible G, K, L, M and N. Plans C and F are still available, but only to people who were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020.

Who sells Medigap in Louisville

Kentucky has many licensed Medigap insurers, and the specific list for your address changes based on ZIP code. Rather than name companies here, the most reliable way to see who sells in Louisville is to go straight to the source:

• Medicare.gov Medigap policy search. Enter your Louisville ZIP code and the tool returns every insurer offering Medigap policies in your area, along with each plan letter they sell.
• The Kentucky Department of Insurance rate guide. The state publishes a Medigap shopper's guide that lists insurers and shows sample rates by age.
• Kentucky SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program). Trained counselors provide free, unbiased help comparing insurers. You can reach Kentucky SHIP at 1-877-293-7447.

Because Louisville sits in Jefferson County, the availability list you see should be consistent across most Jefferson County ZIP codes, but always confirm with your own ZIP.

How to compare the same plan letter across insurers

Since the coverage is identical letter-for-letter, price and company practices are where insurers differ. Four things are worth checking side by side.

1. Pricing method. Kentucky insurers may use one of three approaches:

• Attained-age rated: premiums start lower and go up as you get older.
• Issue-age rated: premiums are based on your age when you buy and do not rise just because you age.
• Community-rated: everyone in the same area pays the same premium regardless of age.

All three can still increase over time due to inflation and claims trends, but the pattern is different. Ask each insurer, in writing, which method they use.

2. Rate history. A low starting premium is less useful if the insurer has raised rates sharply every year. The Kentucky rate guide and your SHIP counselor can help you look at recent rate change history.

3. Household discounts. Some insurers offer a discount when a spouse or another adult in the household also has a policy with them. The percentage and the rules vary, so ask.

4. Medical underwriting. During your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period — which starts when you are 65 or older and enrolled in Part B — insurers must sell you any Medigap plan they offer, regardless of your health. Outside that window, most Kentucky insurers can ask health questions and turn you down or charge more. A few limited "guaranteed issue" situations also apply, such as losing other coverage through no fault of your own.

The table below lists every plan letter available to newly eligible Kentuckians. Use it as your starting checklist when you run the Medicare.gov search.

Where Medigap fits with the rest of Medicare in 2026

Medigap only works with Original Medicare. It does not include drug coverage, so most people with a Medigap plan also enroll in a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan.

A few 2026 numbers worth knowing as you shop:

• Part D has a new $2,100 annual out-of-pocket cap on covered drugs.
• The Part D maximum deductible is $615.
• The old "donut hole" coverage gap is gone; Part D now has three phases.
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs across monthly payments if you want to.
• IRMAA surcharges — extra premiums for higher-income beneficiaries — start above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.

Annual Enrollment for Part D and Medicare Advantage runs October 15 through December 7. Medigap has its own rules and is not tied to that window, but many people shop for both at the same time.

A simple way to shop

1. Run the Medicare.gov Medigap search for your Louisville ZIP code and pick the plan letter you want. 2. For that letter, list the insurers that appear, plus their pricing method and any household discount. 3. Call two or three of them (or a licensed agent) for a current quote at your age. 4. Check the Kentucky rate guide for recent rate history. 5. Call Kentucky SHIP before you sign if anything is unclear.