Medicare Supplement

Medigap in Hammond: how the lettered plans are standardized

If you live in Hammond and are new to Medicare — or just tired of alphabet soup — Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) is one of the areas that trips people up most. The plans are sold by private companies, but the benefits inside each lettered plan are set by federal rules. That means a Plan G is a Plan G, no matter which company's name is on the envelope.

Here's a plain-English look at what Medigap does, how the letters work, and where to get help sorting it out.

What Medigap actually does

Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) pays for a large share of your hospital and doctor bills, but not all of it. You still owe things like the Part A hospital deductible, Part B coinsurance (usually 20% after you meet the deductible), and some other charges.

A Medigap policy is private insurance that helps fill those gaps. You pay a monthly premium to the insurance company, and in return the plan picks up some or all of those leftover costs, depending on which lettered plan you choose.

Medigap does not cover prescription drugs, dental, vision, hearing aids, or long-term care. For drug coverage, you'd add a separate Part D plan.

Why the letters exist

Before the plans were standardized, shopping for a supplement was confusing — every company sold something different. Federal law changed that. Now, in most states, Medigap plans come in ten standardized designs labeled A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N.

The letter tells you exactly which benefits are inside. So if two companies both sell Plan G, the coverage is identical. What can differ is the price, the customer service, and extras like household discounts. That means comparing Medigap is mostly about comparing premiums and the company behind the policy — not the benefits list.

A few things worth knowing:

• Plans C and F are no longer sold to people who became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. If you were eligible before that date, you may still be able to buy them.
• Plans K and L have lower premiums but ask you to share more of the cost until you hit a yearly out-of-pocket limit.
• Plan N generally has lower premiums than Plan G but includes small copays for some office and emergency room visits.
• Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin standardize their Medigap plans differently.

Timing matters: the Medigap Open Enrollment Period

Your best shot at getting any Medigap plan you want, at the best rate available to you, is during your one-time Medigap Open Enrollment Period. It's a six-month window that starts the first month you're both 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare Part B.

During that window, insurers can't turn you down or charge you more because of your health history. Outside of it, in most states, they can — and that's the part that surprises people. Louisiana has some limited protections in certain situations, but the six-month window is by far the strongest guarantee.

Medigap vs. Medicare Advantage — not the same thing

This is where a lot of Hammond readers get tangled up. Medigap and Medicare Advantage (Part C) are two different paths, and you can only be on one at a time.

• Medigap works alongside Original Medicare. You keep your red, white, and blue card and add a supplement to help with cost-sharing. You'd typically also add a stand-alone Part D drug plan.
• Medicare Advantage replaces the way you get your Original Medicare benefits. These plans are offered by private insurers and usually bundle in drug coverage and extras, but they use networks and their own cost-sharing rules.

Hammond is in Tangipahoa Parish, and plan availability — how many Medicare Advantage or Part D plans you can choose from — is set at the parish level. Medigap availability, by contrast, depends on which carriers are licensed to sell in Louisiana.

A quick note on 2026 program facts

Even if you go the Medigap route, it helps to know what's changing across Medicare in 2026:

• The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026.
• The Part D maximum deductible is $615.
• The coverage gap (the old "donut hole") was eliminated in 2025, leaving three payment phases.
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs across the year in monthly amounts, if that helps your budget.
• Higher-income surcharges (IRMAA) on Part B and Part D begin above $109,000 for a single filer in 2026.
• The Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 – December 7, and the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 – March 31.

Where to get help you can trust

Medigap decisions are personal, and the "right" letter depends on your health, budget, and how you like to use care. Before you sign anything:

• Visit medicare.gov to compare Medigap policies available in Louisiana.
• Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), available 24/7.
• Reach out to Louisiana's SHIIP (Senior Health Insurance Information Program), the state's free counseling service for Medicare questions.