Medicare Supplement

Medigap in Rochester: the plan letters New York sells and how they fit with Original Medicare

If you live in Rochester and are pairing Original Medicare with a Medicare Supplement policy, the good news is simple: New York uses the same federal plan letters most other states do, so a Plan G is a Plan G no matter whose name is on the envelope. The trickier part is knowing which letters are still open to new enrollees, which insurers sell them here in Monroe County, and how New York's own rules shape what you can buy and when.

Medicare SupplementRochester, NY

Here is a plain-English guide to how Medigap works in Rochester in 2026, using information from Medicare.gov and the New York State Department of Financial Services.

What Medigap actually does

Medigap is private insurance that sits behind Original Medicare. After Medicare pays its share of a hospital or doctor bill, your Medigap policy picks up some or all of what's left — things like the Part A hospital deductible, coinsurance, or the 20% Part B coinsurance, depending on the letter you choose.

A few points that trip people up:

• Medigap only pairs with Original Medicare. If you're on a Medicare Advantage plan, you can't use a Medigap policy at the same time.
• Medigap does not cover prescription drugs. For that, you enroll in a separate Part D plan.
• Every letter (A, B, D, G, and so on) is standardized by the federal government. That means Plan G from one company covers the same medical benefits as Plan G from another company — the differences are price, customer service, and extras like household discounts.

The plan letters sold in New York

If you're newly eligible for Medicare today, these are the standardized letters you can buy in New York:

A, B, D, G, high-deductible G, K, L, M, and N.

Plans C and F are still around, but only for people who were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020. That's a federal rule, not a New York one, and it applies to every state that uses the standard letter system.

Each letter covers a different mix of Medicare's cost-sharing. Plan G, for example, is one of the most comprehensive letters open to new enrollees, while Plans K and L have lower premiums in exchange for you paying a share of costs until you hit an annual limit. Plan N sits in the middle, with small copays for some office and ER visits. Medicare.gov's Medigap policy search tool lays out exactly what each letter pays.

Who sells Medigap in the Rochester area

Rochester is in Monroe County, and residents can shop among the insurers licensed to sell Medigap statewide. The table below lists every insurer and the plan letters each one offers. In alphabetical order, they 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)
• Univera Healthcare West New York

Because the benefits inside each letter are standardized, the shopping question isn't really "which company has the best Plan G?" — it's "which company's price, service and stability work best for me over the long haul?" We don't publish premiums here; the New York State Department of Financial Services keeps a current Medigap rate guide, and Medicare.gov's policy search shows quotes for your ZIP code.

The New York rules that shape your choice

New York's Medigap market is different from most of the country in two important ways:

Community rating. In New York, insurers must charge the same Medigap premium regardless of your age, gender or health status. In many other states, premiums rise as you get older. That doesn't mean rates never change — they can go up for everyone in the pool — but you won't be charged more just because you turned 80.

Guaranteed issue year-round. Federally, you get a six-month Medigap Open Enrollment window when you first sign up for Part B at 65, plus a handful of "guaranteed issue" situations (like losing employer coverage). New York goes further: insurers must sell you any Medigap policy they offer, at any time of year, and cannot turn you down or charge more for pre-existing conditions. That flexibility is unusual and worth knowing about, especially if you're considering a switch from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare plus Medigap.

For the specifics of your situation, confirm current rules with the New York State Department of Financial Services or your SHIP counselor — some details, like waiting periods for pre-existing conditions in certain circumstances, are best checked person-by-person.

How Medigap fits with Part D in 2026

Because Medigap doesn't include drug coverage, most people pair their supplement with a stand-alone Part D plan. A few 2026 program facts worth knowing as you shop:

• The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026. Once your covered drug spending hits that number, you pay nothing more for covered drugs the rest of the year.
• The maximum Part D deductible is $615.
• The old "donut hole" coverage gap is gone as of 2025 — Part D now has three phases instead of four.
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan is available if you'd like to spread your drug costs into monthly installments instead of paying at the pharmacy counter.
• IRMAA surcharges for higher-income enrollees begin above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.

Part D plans can be changed during the Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 through December 7, each year. Medigap, thanks to New York's rules, can be changed any time.

Where to get personal help

Medigap is a long-term decision — the letter you pick today is one you may keep for years — so it's worth talking through with someone who doesn't earn a commission on your choice.

• Medicare.gov — use the Medigap policy search to see plans and quotes for your ZIP code.
• 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) — 24/7, for questions about your specific situation.
• HIICAP — New York's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), with free, unbiased counseling. Monroe County residents can reach a local counselor through Lifespan of Greater Rochester.
• New York State Department of Financial Services — publishes the annual Medigap rate guide.