Medicare Supplement

Medicare Supplement basics for Shreveport residents on Original Medicare

SHREVEPORT, La. — If you're new to Medicare, or helping a parent sort through the mail piling up on the kitchen table, you've probably run into a confusing term: Medigap. It sounds like a clothing store, but it's actually one of the biggest decisions many people on Original Medicare make.

Here's a plain-English guide to what Medicare Supplement insurance does, what it doesn't, and how those mysterious letter plans — A, B, G, N and the rest — actually work.

What Medigap is, in one sentence

Medicare Supplement insurance, also called Medigap, is a private policy that helps pay the out-of-pocket costs Original Medicare leaves behind — things like coinsurance, copayments, and hospital deductibles.

It only works alongside Original Medicare (Part A and Part B). You can't use a Medigap policy with a Medicare Advantage plan. If you have Advantage, a Medigap policy isn't the right fit — and in most cases, it isn't even legal to sell you one.

Why the "gap" exists

Original Medicare is generous, but it isn't free after you're enrolled. Part A has a hospital deductible each benefit period. Part B typically pays 80% of approved outpatient costs, leaving you responsible for the other 20% — with no yearly limit on what you might owe.

That last part surprises a lot of people. A long hospital stay or a serious diagnosis can quickly turn "20%" into a very large bill. Medigap exists to cap that exposure.

How the standardized letter plans work

Here's the part that trips people up. Medigap plans are standardized by the federal government. That means a Plan G sold by one company covers the exact same Medicare-approved costs as a Plan G sold by another company. The letter tells you what's covered — the company sets the price and the service.

As of 2026, the plans sold to people newly eligible for Medicare are lettered:

• Plan A – the most basic set of benefits.
• Plan B – adds the Part A hospital deductible.
• Plan D – broader coverage, minus the Part B deductible.
• Plan G – one of the most comprehensive options available to new enrollees; covers nearly everything except the annual Part B deductible.
• Plan K and Plan L – lower-premium plans with cost-sharing and an out-of-pocket maximum.
• Plan M – splits the Part A deductible.
• Plan N – covers most costs but leaves small copays for some office and ER visits.

Two other plans, Plan C and Plan 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 or keep them.

Massachusetts, Minnesota and Wisconsin use their own standardized system, but the same idea applies: the state decides what's in each plan; the insurer decides the price.

What Medigap does not cover

This is where readers often get burned. Medigap generally does not cover:

• Prescription drugs (you'll need a separate Part D plan).
• Routine dental, vision, or hearing care.
• Long-term custodial care in a nursing home.
• Hearing aids or eyeglasses.

For drug coverage in 2026, keep in mind Medicare has capped Part D out-of-pocket spending at $2,100 for the year, and the Part D deductible can be no higher than $615. The old "donut hole" is gone — Part D now works in three phases. If cash flow is tight, the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs across the year in monthly installments.

When you can buy a Medigap policy in Shreveport

Shreveport is in Caddo Parish, and Medigap availability is regulated at the state level through the Louisiana Department of Insurance. The most important thing to know is timing.

Your best window to buy Medigap is your 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period, which starts the month you turn 65 and are enrolled in Part B. During this window, insurers must sell you any Medigap policy they offer at the best available rate, regardless of your health history.

Outside that window, in most states — including Louisiana — insurers can use medical underwriting. That means they can charge more, or decline to sell you a policy, based on your health. Waiting can be costly.

Medigap vs. Medicare Advantage: not the same thing

It's easy to mix these up because both involve private insurance companies. But they work very differently:

• Medigap works with Original Medicare and helps pay your share of the bill. You'll usually add a separate Part D drug plan.
• Medicare Advantage (Part C) replaces Original Medicare with a private plan that bundles hospital, medical, and usually drug coverage, often with a network.

Caddo Parish has multiple Medicare Advantage plans and carriers available for 2026, but the number available in your ZIP code is only part of the picture. What matters most is what fits your doctors, medications, and budget.