Medicare Supplement

Which Medigap Letters Newark Readers Can Still Buy

Medigap can feel like alphabet soup — Plan A, Plan G, Plan N, and a few more. If you live in Newark and want to pair a Medicare Supplement with Original Medicare, the good news is that these plans are federally standardized. That means a Plan G sold by one insurer covers the same core benefits as a Plan G sold by another. What changes is the price and the company behind it.

Medicare SupplementNewark, NJ

Here is how the letter system works in New Jersey, how Medigap fits alongside a Part D drug plan, and where to look for the details that apply to you.

What Medigap actually does

Medigap is private insurance that helps pay some of the out-of-pocket costs Original Medicare leaves behind — things like the Part A hospital deductible, coinsurance, and copays. It does not replace Medicare. You keep paying your Part B premium, and Medicare stays your primary coverage. The Medigap policy picks up its share afterward.

Medigap does not work with Medicare Advantage. If you are enrolled in an Advantage plan, you cannot use a Medigap policy to cover its copays. You would need to switch back to Original Medicare first.

The letter plans you can buy in New Jersey today

Medigap plans are labeled with letters, and each letter is a fixed benefit package set by federal rules. In New Jersey, people who are newly eligible for Medicare today can choose from:

• Plan A
• Plan B
• Plan D
• Plan G
• Plan G — High Deductible
• Plan K
• Plan L
• Plan M
• Plan N

Plans C and F still exist, but only people who were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020 can buy them. That rule is federal, not a New Jersey quirk.

Because every Plan G is the same Plan G on paper, comparing plans is really about comparing insurers and prices. The table below lists every plan available in your area, and Medicare.gov's Medigap policy search will show you which carriers offer each letter for your ZIP code in Newark.

How Medigap pairs with Part D

Medigap does not cover prescription drugs. If you want drug coverage, you add a stand-alone Medicare Part D plan. The two work side by side: Medigap handles medical cost sharing, Part D handles the pharmacy.

A few Part D facts worth knowing for 2026:

• The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100.
• The maximum Part D deductible is $615.
• The old coverage gap ("donut hole") was eliminated in 2025, so there are now three payment phases instead of four.
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread your drug costs across the year in monthly installments if you choose.

Higher-income enrollees may also pay an IRMAA surcharge on Part B and Part D — that begins above $109,000 for a single filer in 2026.

New Jersey rules that shape your choice

Federal law gives you a six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period that starts the month you turn 65 and enroll in Part B. During that window, insurers cannot turn you down or charge more because of your health. That is the easiest time to buy.

Outside that window, protections vary. New Jersey may offer specific guaranteed-issue rights in certain situations, and rules can change. Rather than guess, check with the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance, which publishes a Medigap rate guide, or the state's SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) for free, unbiased help.

How to compare without getting overwhelmed

Since benefits do not change between carriers for the same letter, focus on three things:

1. Price today and tomorrow. Ask how the insurer prices policies (community-rated, issue-age, or attained-age) and how often rates change. 2. The company. Look at how long they have sold Medigap and how they handle claims and customer service. 3. Your own use. A plan with lower premiums and more cost sharing (like Plan N or high-deductible G) can suit some people; others prefer more predictable coverage.

Newark is in Essex County. When you use Medicare.gov's Medigap search, entering your ZIP code will pull the carriers licensed to sell in your area.