Medicare Supplement

Medigap in Detroit: the plan letters Michigan shoppers can actually buy

Medigap, also called Medicare Supplement Insurance, is a private policy that helps pay some of the out-of-pocket costs Original Medicare leaves behind, such as coinsurance and copays. It is standardized by the federal government, which means a Plan G from one company covers the same core benefits as a Plan G from another. What can differ is the price and the customer service.

Medicare SupplementDetroit, MI

What Medigap is — and what it is not

Medigap is not Medicare Advantage. You cannot have both at the same time. And Medigap does not include prescription drug coverage — for that, you add a stand-alone Part D plan.

The plan letters you can buy in Michigan today

Michigan follows the federal Medigap framework (unlike Massachusetts, Minnesota and Wisconsin, which standardize differently). If you are newly eligible for Medicare today, these are the letters available to you:

• Plan A
• Plan B
• Plan D
• Plan G
• Plan G High-Deductible (G-HD)
• Plan K
• Plan L
• Plan M
• Plan N

Plans C and F are only available to people who were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020. If that is you, you may still be able to buy them.

Each letter covers a different mix of benefits. Plan G, for example, is popular because it covers most gaps except the Part B deductible. Plan N has lower premiums but may charge small copays for office and emergency visits. Plans K and L have out-of-pocket limits and cover a share of costs rather than the full amount. The Medicare.gov Medigap policy search shows a side-by-side benefit chart for every letter.

How Medigap pairs with Original Medicare and Part D

Think of it as a three-part setup:

1. Original Medicare (Parts A and B) pays first for hospital and medical care. 2. Your Medigap policy fills in some of the leftover costs based on the letter you chose. 3. A separate Part D plan covers your prescriptions.

For 2026, Part D has a $2,100 out-of-pocket cap and a maximum deductible of $615. The old "donut hole" coverage gap was eliminated in 2025, so Part D now works in three phases. If drug costs hit hard in one month, the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread payments across the calendar year. Higher-income enrollees — starting above $109,000 for a single filer in 2026 — pay an IRMAA surcharge on Part B and Part D premiums.

Michigan rules that shape your choice

Federal law gives you a one-time Medigap Open Enrollment Period: six months that begin the month you are 65 or older and 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. This is the easiest time to buy.

Outside that window, insurers in Michigan can generally use medical underwriting, which means they can consider your health history when deciding whether to sell you a policy and at what price. There are limited guaranteed-issue situations under federal law — for example, if a plan you had ends through no fault of your own. Some states add extra protections (such as "birthday rules"); to confirm what applies in Michigan, contact the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services or MMAP, the state SHIP.

Pricing methods matter, too. Insurers can use community-rated, issue-age-rated or attained-age-rated pricing, and the method affects how your premium changes over time. Ask the insurer which method it uses before you sign.

How to find Medigap policies sold in the Detroit area

Detroit is in Wayne County, and Medigap is sold by private insurers licensed in Michigan rather than through the county-based Medicare Advantage system. To see what is available near you:

• Use the Medicare.gov Medigap policy search and enter your Detroit ZIP code. It lists every insurer licensed to sell each plan letter in your area.
• Check the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services rate guide, which compiles Medigap premiums reported by insurers in the state.
• Call MMAP, Michigan's State Health Insurance Assistance Program, for free one-on-one counseling.
• Call 1-800-MEDICARE for general questions.

Because Medigap benefits are standardized by letter, once you decide which letter fits your situation, comparing companies mostly comes down to price, pricing method, and customer service reputation.

When you can change Medigap

Medigap does not have an annual enrollment window the way Medicare Advantage and Part D do. You can apply any time, but outside of a guaranteed-issue situation, an insurer can turn you down or charge more based on your health.

Keep the two federal windows in mind for your other coverage: the Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 – December 7 (for Part D and Medicare Advantage), and Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment runs January 1 – March 31.