Medicare Supplement

Buffalo Medigap in 2027: rules, resets, and rate filings

BUFFALO, N.Y. — As 2027 approaches, Medigap shoppers in Western New York are asking a familiar set of questions: which standardized plan letters can I still buy, how does the yearly Part B deductible reset affect Plans G and N, when do insurers file new rates with the state, and is my company still selling in New York? Here is a plain-language guide to what is actually changing — and what is not — for people with a Buffalo ZIP code.

Medicare SupplementBuffalo, NY

What is (and isn't) changing about plan letters

The federal menu of standardized Medigap letters is not changing for 2027. What changed years ago — and still trips people up — is that Plans C and F are only available to people who became eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020. If you are aging into Medicare now, those two letters are off the table.

Everyone else newly eligible can pick from Plans A, B, D, G, G-HD, K, L, M and N. Buffalo is in Erie County, and Medicare.gov's Medigap search shows 8 insurers offering coverage in the 14201 area. The plans they sell are listed in the table below.

The Part B deductible reset — and why it matters for G and N

Plans G and N are built around the Part B deductible. That means you pay Part B costs out of pocket until you hit the deductible for the year; after that, the Medigap plan picks up its share of what Original Medicare doesn't cover.

The Part B deductible resets every January 1. CMS publishes the new figure each fall for the coming year. So if you have Plan G or Plan N, expect a small amount of Part B cost-sharing to reappear at the start of 2027 before your Medigap benefits kick in again. This is a normal calendar reset, not a plan change.

You can confirm the 2027 Part B deductible on medicare.gov once it is announced.

Rate-adjustment season in New York

Medigap premiums are not set by Medicare. In New York, insurers file proposed rate changes with the New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS), which reviews them before they take effect. Filings typically move through the fall and can be reflected in the following year's premiums.

A few things to know:

• New York is a community-rated state for Medigap, meaning insurers cannot charge you more because of age.
• New York also has unusually generous rules for switching Medigap plans compared with most states — a licensed agent or your local SHIP counselor can walk you through what applies to your situation.
• To see what a specific carrier has filed, search the DFS website or call the insurer directly. Medicare.gov's Medigap policy search will also display current premiums for your ZIP code.

Do not rely on last year's premium quote. Rates for 2027 will be the ones filed and approved for that plan year.

Who is selling Medigap in New York

The insurers listed on Medicare.gov for New York, in alphabetical order, are AARP - UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of New York; BANKERS CONSECO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY; BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York; EmblemHealth Services Company; Globe Life Insurance Company of New York; Humana (Humana Insurance Company of New York); Mutual of Omaha (Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company); and Univera Healthcare West New York.

Not every carrier sells every letter, and availability can shift year to year as companies enter or leave the market. The table below lists every plan letter each insurer offers in New York — check it against the letter you are shopping.

How to decide what to do for 2027

A simple order of operations helps:

1. Confirm your eligibility rules. If you became eligible before 2020, you can still shop Plans C and F. If you became eligible after, focus on A, B, D, G, G-HD, K, L, M or N. 2. Pick the letter first, then the insurer. Benefits inside a plan letter are standardized by federal law. A Plan G is a Plan G. What differs between carriers is price, customer service and household discounts. 3. Check the 2027 Part B deductible on medicare.gov once it is published, so you understand the out-of-pocket amount that resets each January if you choose G or N. 4. Compare rates for your ZIP code using Medicare.gov's Medigap policy search, or ask carriers for their DFS-approved 2027 rate. 5. Call your local SHIP (New York's is called HIICAP) for free, unbiased help. In Erie County, HIICAP counselors can walk through your options at no cost.