Medicare Supplement

How the Medigap Letter System Works in Reno

RENO, Nev. — If you've spent any time comparing Medicare Supplement options, you've probably noticed the alphabet soup: Plan A, Plan G, Plan N, Plan K. It can feel like a puzzle. The good news? Those letters aren't random. They're part of a system designed to make shopping easier, not harder.

Here in Reno — part of Washoe County — thousands of Original Medicare enrollees weigh whether to add a Medigap policy each year. Understanding how these standardized plans work is one of the clearest ways to feel confident about your coverage choices.

What Medigap Actually Does

Medicare Supplement Insurance, better known as Medigap, is private insurance that works alongside Original Medicare (Part A and Part B). It's designed to help cover some of the out-of-pocket costs that Original Medicare leaves behind — things like coinsurance, copayments, and deductibles.

Medigap does not replace Medicare. You still need to be enrolled in Part A and Part B, and Medicare pays first. Your Medigap policy then picks up its share of the remaining approved costs.

One important note: Medigap policies sold today do not include prescription drug coverage. If you want help with drug costs, you'd add a separate Part D plan.

Why the Letters Exist

Back in 1990, Congress standardized Medigap plans so consumers wouldn't have to compare hundreds of different policies with different fine print. Today, in most states — including Nevada — Medigap plans are sold using letter names: A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N.

Here's the key point: the benefits inside each lettered plan are set by federal law. That means a Plan G sold by one insurer covers the exact same core benefits as a Plan G sold by another insurer. The company, the customer service, and the premium can differ — but the covered benefits within that letter are identical.

This is what makes apples-to-apples comparison possible. If two carriers both offer Plan N, you're comparing price and service, not hidden benefit differences.

What the Different Letters Cover

Each letter represents a different bundle of benefits. Some plans cover nearly everything Original Medicare doesn't; others cover less but come with lower premiums. In general:

• Plans A and B offer more basic coverage.
• Plans G and N are among the more comprehensive options available to people newly eligible today.
• Plans K and L use a cost-sharing approach with an annual out-of-pocket limit.
• Plans C and F are no longer available 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 enroll.

Medicare.gov publishes a full benefits chart showing exactly what each lettered plan covers, side by side. It's worth a look before you shop.

Timing Matters: The Medigap Open Enrollment Period

One of the most important things to know about Medigap is when you buy it. Your Medigap Open Enrollment Period is a one-time, six-month window that starts the month you're 65 or older and enrolled in Part B.

During this window, you have "guaranteed issue" rights. Insurance companies cannot deny you a policy or charge you more because of your health history. Miss this window, and in most states — Nevada included — insurers can use medical underwriting, which may affect whether you're accepted or what you pay.

This is separate from the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7), which applies to Medicare Advantage and Part D plans, not Medigap.

How Medigap Differs from Medicare Advantage

This is where a lot of Reno-area readers get tripped up. Medigap and Medicare Advantage (Part C) are not the same, and you cannot have both at the same time.

• Medigap works with Original Medicare and helps pay costs Medicare doesn't cover.
• Medicare Advantage is an alternative to Original Medicare, offered by private insurers, and often bundles hospital, medical, and drug coverage into one plan.

Reno is in Washoe County, where a range of Medicare Advantage plans and standalone Part D plans are available from multiple carriers. If you're weighing Medigap versus Advantage, it's a decision worth thinking through carefully — and one a local counselor can help you talk through.

A Quick Note on 2026 Drug Costs

Even though Medigap doesn't cover prescriptions, most Medigap enrollees also carry a Part D plan. A few 2026 figures are worth knowing:

• The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 for 2026.
• The Part D maximum deductible is $615.
• The coverage gap (the old "donut hole") has been eliminated as of 2025, leaving three coverage phases.
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs across monthly payments instead of paying large amounts at the pharmacy counter.
• IRMAA income-related surcharges begin above $109,000 for single filers in 2026.