Medicare Supplement
How Medicare Supplement letters fit together in Independence
INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — If Medicare's alphabet soup makes your head spin, you're not alone. Between Parts A, B, C and D — and then a whole second set of letters for Medigap plans — it's easy to get lost. Here's a plain-English guide to what Medicare Supplement insurance actually does, why the plans are sold by letter, and how it fits with the rest of your Medicare coverage.
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Key takeaways
- Medigap policies are private plans that help cover the out-of-pocket costs left behind by Original Medicare's Part A and Part B, like deductibles, coinsurance, and copays.
- You cannot have both a Medigap policy and a Medicare Advantage plan at the same time, so you have to choose one path.
- Medigap plans are standardized and labeled with letters, so a specific plan letter offers the same core benefits no matter which insurer sells it, though price and service can differ.
- The best time to buy a Medigap policy is during the six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period tied to turning 65 and enrolling in Part B, since insurers can't deny you or charge more for health problems during that window.
What Medigap is — and what it isn't
Medicare Supplement insurance, often called Medigap, is a private policy that helps pay some of the out-of-pocket costs Original Medicare leaves behind. Think of the deductibles, coinsurance and copays that come with Part A (hospital) and Part B (doctor and outpatient) coverage. A Medigap policy sits alongside Original Medicare and picks up part or all of those gaps, depending on which plan you choose.
A few things Medigap is not:
- It is not Medicare Advantage (Part C). Advantage plans replace the way you get your Medicare benefits; Medigap works with Original Medicare.
- It does not include prescription drug coverage. For that, you'd add a stand-alone Part D plan.
- It generally doesn't cover long-term care, dental, vision, hearing aids or private-duty nursing.
You also can't have both a Medigap policy and a Medicare Advantage plan at the same time. You pick one lane.
How the standardized letters work
In most states, Medigap plans are standardized by the federal government and labeled with letters: A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M and N. (Plans C and F are only available to people who became eligible for Medicare before Jan. 1, 2020.) Massachusetts, Minnesota and Wisconsin standardize their plans a little differently.
Here's the key idea: a Plan G sold by one insurer must cover the same core benefits as a Plan G sold by any other insurer. What can differ is the price, the customer service, and sometimes extras a company chooses to add. So when you compare Medigap plans, you're really comparing carriers and premiums for the same standardized benefit set.
The letters generally range from lighter coverage (like Plan A) to more comprehensive coverage (like Plan G, which is popular with people newly eligible today). Plans K and L use a cost-sharing model with an annual out-of-pocket limit. Plan N has some small copays for office and emergency room visits.
When you can buy — and why timing matters
The best time to buy a Medigap policy is during your Medigap Open Enrollment Period: the six-month window that starts the month you're 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. During this window, insurers can't turn you down or charge you more because of health problems.
Outside that window, in most states, insurers can use medical underwriting. That means a preexisting condition could lead to a higher premium — or a denied application. There are some guaranteed-issue situations (for example, if you lose other coverage), but they're limited. If Medigap is on your radar, the six-month window is precious.
Note that this Medigap window is different from Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period (Oct. 15 – Dec. 7) and the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (Jan. 1 – March 31), which are for Part D and Advantage plan changes.
How Medigap fits with Part D and 2026 costs
Because Medigap doesn't cover prescriptions, most people with Original Medicare pair it with a stand-alone Part D drug plan. A few 2026 figures worth knowing:
- The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 for 2026. Once your out-of-pocket drug spending hits that number, you pay $0 for covered drugs the rest of the year.
- The Part D maximum deductible is $615.
- The old "donut hole" coverage gap was eliminated in 2025; Part D now has three phases.
- The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread your drug costs across the year in monthly payments instead of paying a large amount at the pharmacy counter.
- Higher-income enrollees may pay an IRMAA surcharge on Part B and Part D. In 2026, IRMAA starts above $109,000 in income for a single filer.
What this looks like in Independence
Independence is in Jackson County, where Medicare beneficiaries choose from a range of Medicare Advantage and Part D plans in addition to Original Medicare with a Medigap policy. Plan availability is set at the county level, so two neighbors on the same street will see the same menu of options — but the "right" mix depends on your doctors, your prescriptions and your budget. Medigap policies, on the other hand, are sold by private insurers licensed in Missouri, and the standardized letter benefits are the same no matter which company sells them.
By the numbers
Medicare Part B premium, 2006–2026
The standard monthly Part B premium has climbed from $88.50 in 2006 to $202.90 in 2026. Hover any point for that year’s premium.
Source: CMS. Standard premium shown; in some hold-harmless years many existing enrollees paid less. Confirm at Medicare.gov.
By the numbers
How people get Medicare in Jackson County
(MA penetration in Jackson County)
MA penetration from CMS enrollment data; Medigap share is an estimate. U.S. average is about 54% Medicare Advantage. These are area-level figures, not plan-specific.
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The parts of Medicare
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When can you enroll? An interactive year
Enrollment windows are federal and the same nationwide. Confirm your personal dates at Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Medigap policy if I already have Medicare Advantage?
Can I switch Medigap plans later?
Does Medigap cover dental, vision or hearing?
- CMS — Medicare basics (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.