Medicare Supplement

Before you renew Medigap in Baltimore, check these shifts

BALTIMORE — If you have a Medigap policy in Charm City, or you're shopping for one, the ground under these plans shifts a little every year. Heading into 2027, the changes to watch are not flashy, but they matter: which lettered plans you're allowed to buy, the yearly reset of the Part B deductible that Plans G and N are built around, and the rate filings insurers submit to the state each year.

Here's a plain-language snapshot for Baltimore residents.

Who can buy which plan letters in 2027

Medigap plans are standardized by letter, which means a Plan G from one insurer covers the same medical benefits as a Plan G from another. What changes between insurers is the price and the service.

For anyone newly eligible for Medicare today in Baltimore, the plan letters available are A, B, D, G, high-deductible G, K, L, M and N. Plans C and F are closed to newly eligible enrollees — they remain available only to people who became eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020. That rule is federal and is not changing for 2027.

Baltimore is in Baltimore city, and Medigap availability is regulated at the state level in Maryland, so the same letters and rules apply across the city and surrounding counties.

The Part B deductible reset — why Plans G and N care

Both Plan G and Plan N leave the Part B deductible for you to pay before the Medigap coverage fully kicks in on outpatient care. That deductible is a federal number that Medicare resets each calendar year.

CMS typically announces the next year's Part B deductible in the fall. When the 2027 figure is published, it becomes the amount a Plan G or Plan N holder is responsible for at the start of the year before the plan's benefits fill in behind Part B. High-deductible Plan G works the same way but with a much larger annual deductible set by CMS.

You do not need to do anything when the number resets — your plan adjusts automatically — but it's helpful to know so you're not surprised by an early-year bill.

Rate-adjustment season in Maryland

Here's the part that trips up a lot of Medigap holders: your premium can go up even when your benefits don't change. That's because premiums are set by each insurer and filed with the Maryland Insurance Administration, which reviews rate changes before they take effect.

We are not naming a specific rate change here because those figures come from state filings, not from Medicare. If you want to know what's happening with your policy for 2027:

• Check the renewal notice your insurer sends you, usually a month or two before your anniversary date.
• Look up rate filings and consumer guides on the Maryland Insurance Administration website (insurance.maryland.gov).
• Compare your renewal to what other insurers are charging for the same lettered plan using Medicare.gov's Medigap policy search.

Because plans with the same letter cover the same benefits, comparing on price and customer service is reasonable — just be aware that switching outside your Medigap open enrollment period may involve medical underwriting in Maryland.

Insurers entering or leaving Maryland

Medigap insurers can enter or exit a state, and they can also add or drop specific plan letters. We don't have a confirmed 2027 list of entries and exits for Maryland to share here, so rather than guess, the safest move is to check directly:

• Medicare.gov Medigap policy search: Enter your Baltimore ZIP code to see every insurer currently offering Medigap in your area, with the plan letters they sell.
• Maryland Insurance Administration: Publishes a Medigap rate comparison guide and can confirm which carriers are licensed to sell in the state.
• Maryland SHIP: Free, unbiased one-on-one counseling from trained volunteers who can walk you through your options.

What to do before your 2027 renewal

A short checklist for Baltimore Medigap holders heading into the new year:

1. Read your renewal letter carefully and note any premium change. 2. Confirm your plan letter and whether you were first eligible before or after January 1, 2020 (that affects whether Plans C and F are options for you). 3. If you're considering switching, ask about Maryland's underwriting rules — a SHIP counselor can explain your rights. 4. Remember that Medigap is separate from Part D drug coverage. If you take prescription drugs, review your Part D plan during the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7) as well.