Medicare Supplement

Medigap in Charlotte: which standardized letters you can still buy in North Carolina

If you live in Charlotte and you're pairing Original Medicare with a Medigap policy, the plan you buy is one of the federally standardized letters. That means a Plan G from one company covers the same medical benefits as a Plan G from another — the letter defines the benefits, not the insurer. What can differ is price, customer service and how the premium is calculated.

Medicare SupplementCharlotte, NC

The short version for Charlotte shoppers

Charlotte is in Mecklenburg County, and North Carolina uses the same federal Medigap letters as most other states (Massachusetts, Minnesota and Wisconsin do it differently). Below is a plain-English guide to which letters you can buy today, how Medigap works alongside Part D drug coverage, and where to check names and prices for your ZIP code.

The letters you can buy in North Carolina today

North Carolina follows the federal standardized Medigap chart. If you became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020, these are your choices:

• Plan A – the basic benefits every Medigap plan must include.
• Plan B – Plan A benefits plus the Part A deductible.
• Plan D – broader coverage; does not cover the Part B deductible.
• Plan G – the most comprehensive plan open to new enrollees; you pay the Part B deductible, and the plan picks up from there.
• Plan G high-deductible (G-HD) – same Plan G benefits, but coverage kicks in after you meet a yearly deductible set by federal rules.
• Plans K and L – cost-sharing plans that pay a percentage (K pays 50%, L pays 75%) until you hit an annual out-of-pocket limit.
• Plan M – splits the Part A deductible with you.
• Plan N – lower premium than G in most markets, with small copays for some office and ER visits and no coverage of Part B excess charges.

Plans C and F are still in force for people who were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020, but they're closed to newer enrollees. If you had one before that date, you can keep it or switch into it if you qualify.

How Medigap fits with Original Medicare and Part D

A Medigap policy is a supplement — it only pays after Original Medicare pays first. You must be enrolled in both Part A and Part B to buy one. Medicare Advantage (Part C) is a different path; you cannot use a Medigap policy with an Advantage plan.

Because Medigap policies sold today do not include drug coverage, most people in Charlotte pair their Medigap with a stand-alone Part D plan. A few 2026 Part D facts to keep in mind:

• The annual out-of-pocket cap on covered drugs is $2,100 in 2026.
• The Part D deductible can be no higher than $615.
• The old coverage gap ("donut hole") is gone — Part D now has three phases.
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread your drug costs across the year in monthly bills instead of paying at the pharmacy counter.
• IRMAA surcharges on Part B and Part D premiums start above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.

The rule that shapes the choice: pricing method

The single biggest reason two Charlotte residents can be quoted very different prices for the same letter is how the insurer prices the policy. There are three common methods:

• Community-rated – everyone with that policy pays the same, regardless of age.
• Issue-age – the price is based on your age when you first buy; it doesn't go up just because you get older.
• Attained-age – the price is based on your current age and goes up as you age.

All three are legal in North Carolina, and each insurer picks one per policy. Two Plan Gs with identical benefits can look very different at age 65 versus age 78 depending on which method the insurer uses. Always ask which method applies before you sign.

When you can buy, and when your rights are strongest

Your best shot at any Medigap policy — regardless of health — is your Medigap Open Enrollment Period: the six months that start the month you're 65 or older AND enrolled in Part B. During that window, insurers must sell you any policy they offer at their best available rate and can't use your health history against you.

Outside that window, you may still be able to buy a policy, but insurers can usually medically underwrite you (ask health questions and decide whether to accept you). Certain "guaranteed issue" situations — like losing other coverage — also protect you under federal law. North Carolina may add protections beyond federal law; the state Department of Insurance and SHIP can tell you what applies to your situation.

If you're thinking about switching between letters or insurers, check your rights first. There's no federal annual open enrollment for Medigap the way there is for Advantage and Part D, so switching often depends on passing underwriting.

How to compare policies sold in Charlotte

Because insurer lists change, the most reliable place to see who currently sells which letter in your Charlotte ZIP is Medicare.gov's Medigap policy search. It shows every company licensed to sell in your area and the letters each one offers.

Two other trustworthy sources:

• The North Carolina Department of Insurance publishes a Medigap rate guide with sample premiums by age.
• North Carolina SHIIP (Seniors' Health Insurance Information Program), the state SHIP, offers free one-on-one counseling — they don't sell anything.

The table on this page lists the letters available to new enrollees; use it to narrow down the benefit level you want, then use the tools above to compare specific companies and prices.