Medicare Supplement

What Medigap Plans A Through N Really Mean for You

LINDENHURST, N.Y. — If you have Original Medicare (Part A and Part B), you have probably noticed that it doesn't cover everything. There are deductibles, coinsurance, and copays that can add up in ways that are hard to predict. That's where Medicare Supplement Insurance — better known as Medigap — comes in.

Making sense of Medigap in Lindenhurst

Medigap is private insurance that works alongside Original Medicare to help pay some of the out-of-pocket costs Medicare leaves behind. And because the federal government standardized these policies decades ago, the letter on the plan (like Plan G or Plan N) tells you exactly what it covers, no matter which company sells it.

Here's what Lindenhurst readers should know before shopping.

What Medigap actually does

Medigap policies fill in the "gaps" in Original Medicare. Depending on the plan letter you choose, that can include:

• Part A hospital coinsurance and extra hospital days after Medicare benefits run out
• Part B coinsurance or copayments
• The first three pints of blood each year
• Hospice care coinsurance
• Skilled nursing facility coinsurance
• The Part A deductible
• Foreign travel emergency care (up to plan limits)

A few important things to know upfront:

• Medigap only works with Original Medicare. It does not work with Medicare Advantage.
• Medigap policies do not include prescription drug coverage. If you want drug coverage, you would enroll separately in a Part D plan.
• You pay a monthly premium to the insurance company on top of your Part B premium.

Why the letters matter — and why they're the same everywhere

In most states, Medigap plans are standardized by the federal government. That means Plan G from one insurance company covers the exact same medical benefits as Plan G from another. The difference between companies is price, customer service, and extras — not the core coverage.

The plan letters currently sold to new enrollees include A, B, D, G, K, L, M, and N. (Plans C and F are still available, but only to people who were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020.) There is also a high-deductible version of Plan G.

Each letter covers a different mix of benefits. For example, some plans cover the Part A deductible in full while others cover only a portion. Some include foreign travel emergency coverage; some don't. Medicare.gov publishes a clear side-by-side chart that shows exactly what each letter covers.

How to think about choosing a letter

Since the benefits within each letter are fixed, the decision comes down to a few personal questions:

• How much predictability do I want? Plans that cover more of your out-of-pocket costs typically have higher monthly premiums. Plans that leave a little more for you to pay usually have lower premiums.
• Do I travel outside the U.S.? Some letters include foreign travel emergency benefits; others don't.
• Am I comfortable with small copays at the doctor? Plan N, for instance, involves some office and emergency room copays that other letters don't.
• How is my budget likely to look in a few years? A steady monthly premium may feel easier than a series of unpredictable bills.

Once you decide on a letter, then you can compare prices among the insurance companies that sell that letter in New York.

The best time to enroll

Timing matters — a lot. 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, insurance companies must sell you any Medigap policy they offer at the best available rate, and they can't turn you down or charge more because of health conditions.

Outside that window, in most states, insurers can use medical underwriting — meaning your health history can affect whether you're accepted and what you pay. New York has some additional consumer protections that differ from other states, which is one reason it's worth talking with a local expert before you decide.

How this fits with the rest of your Medicare

Lindenhurst is in Suffolk County, where residents have both Original Medicare and a range of Medicare Advantage plans to choose from. Medigap is only for people who stay with Original Medicare. If you go with Medicare Advantage instead, you cannot also use a Medigap policy.

A few 2026 program-level facts worth keeping in mind as you plan:

• Part D prescription drug plans have a $2,100 out-of-pocket cap for covered drugs in 2026.
• The Part D maximum deductible is $615 in 2026.
• The old "donut hole" coverage gap was eliminated in 2025; Part D now has three phases.
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs into monthly payments.
• IRMAA surcharges on Part B and Part D begin above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.
• The Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 – December 7, and the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 – March 31.

Medigap enrollment is not tied to these fall/winter windows — you can apply any time, but your guaranteed-issue rights are strongest during your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period.