Medicare Supplement

What's changing for Medigap in Boston for 2027: rules, rates and where to look

BOSTON — As 2027 approaches, Medigap shoppers in Boston are entering the season when insurance filings, plan-design updates and federal cost figures all reset for the new year. Massachusetts runs its Medigap market differently from most states, so the changes here look different too — and knowing what to watch can save a lot of confusion.

Medicare SupplementBoston, MA

Why Boston's Medigap market looks different

Boston sits in Suffolk County, but Medigap in Massachusetts is not organized the way it is in most of the country. Instead of the federal A-through-N letter plans, Massachusetts standardizes its own three plans: Core, Supplement 1 and Supplement 1A. When you compare policies here, you are comparing those plan names across insurers — not Plan G versus Plan N.

That matters for 2027 because a lot of national Medigap coverage online talks about the letter plans. If you live in Boston, that information will not match what you are actually shown when you shop.

The yearly Part B deductible reset

Medigap plans across the country are built around the Part B deductible, which resets every January 1. In Massachusetts, Supplement 1 and Supplement 1A are the plans most affected by how that deductible is handled, similar to how Plans G and N work elsewhere.

CMS typically announces the new Part B deductible amount for 2027 in the fall. Once it is posted on medicare.gov, that is the figure your plan will use starting January 1. It is worth checking the number directly rather than relying on last year's figure.

Rate-adjustment season: how to check what your plan is doing

Every year, Medigap insurers file proposed rate changes with the Massachusetts Division of Insurance. Those filings are public. If your premium is going up in 2027, the rationale and the filed rate are on record with the state.

Two places to look:

• The Massachusetts Division of Insurance publishes a Medigap rate guide showing filed rates for each insurer and plan.
• The Medicare.gov Medigap policy search lets you enter your Boston ZIP code and see which insurers offer coverage in your area.

We are not naming specific insurers or rates here because those change with each filing cycle, and the state's guide is the authoritative source.

Plan-eligibility rules to know

Massachusetts has some of the strongest Medigap consumer protections in the country. The state has continuous or annual open enrollment rules that let many residents switch Medigap plans without medical underwriting — a right most other states do not offer. The exact windows and eligibility can shift, so confirm the current rules with SHINE (Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone), the state's SHIP program, before you make a change.

If you are new to Medicare, your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period still begins the month your Part B starts. During that window, insurers cannot use your health history against you.

Insurers entering or leaving the state

Insurer participation in the Massachusetts Medigap market can change year to year. Because we do not have a confirmed 2027 insurer roster for Boston, the safest way to see who is currently selling is:

1. Run a ZIP code search at medicare.gov's Medigap policy finder. 2. Cross-check against the Massachusetts Division of Insurance rate guide. 3. Call SHINE for a walk-through if the options are unclear.

Those three sources together will tell you who is in the market for 2027 and at what filed rate.

What to do before January 1

• Confirm the 2027 Part B deductible on medicare.gov once it is posted.
• Look up your current insurer's rate filing at the Massachusetts Division of Insurance.
• If you are considering switching, ask SHINE whether you qualify for a guaranteed-issue right.
• Compare Core, Supplement 1 and Supplement 1A side by side — not the federal letter plans.