Medicare Supplement

Eligible before 2020? Medigap C and F still on table

Eugene, Ore. — If you have Original Medicare and you live in Eugene, a Medicare Supplement policy — better known as Medigap — is the piece that helps pay the deductibles, coinsurance and copays Parts A and B leave behind. The confusing part for most people isn't what Medigap does. It's the alphabet. Oregon uses the same federal set of standardized plan letters most states use, and understanding those letters is the whole game.

How the standardized letters work

Medigap is standardized by federal law. That means Plan G from one company covers the same Medicare-approved gaps as Plan G from another company. The benefits inside a letter don't change from insurer to insurer. What can differ is the premium, the customer service, and whether the company is even selling that letter in Oregon.

Three states — Massachusetts, Minnesota and Wisconsin — standardize their Medigap plans differently. Oregon is not one of them, so the federal letters apply here in Eugene and across Lane County.

Which letters you can buy today

If you became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020, you can shop these letters: A, B, D, G, G-HD, K, L, M and N. Plans C and F are closed to newer enrollees because they cover the Part B deductible, and federal law no longer allows new plans to do that. If you were eligible before that date, C and F may still be options for you.

The "HD" in Plan G-HD stands for high-deductible — same core benefits as Plan G, but you pay a set deductible before coverage kicks in. Plans K and L are cost-sharing plans with their own annual out-of-pocket limits. Plan N has some smaller copays for office and emergency visits.

Who sells Medigap in Oregon

Eugene shoppers have a long list of insurers to choose from. The table below lists every insurer offering Medigap in Oregon and which letters each one sells. Familiar names in that list include AARP - UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company, AFLAC, Bankers Life, Humana, Mutual of Omaha, Providence Health Assurance, Regence Blue Cross BlueShield of Oregon, and Moda Health Plan, Inc., among others.

Not every insurer sells every letter. For example, some carriers offer only Plans A, F, G and N, while others sell a broader mix that includes G-HD, K or L. If you have your eye on a specific letter, start by narrowing the list to insurers that actually sell it in Oregon.

How Medigap pairs with Original Medicare and Part D

Medigap is designed to sit alongside Original Medicare (Parts A and B). It does not work with a Medicare Advantage plan — you can't use both at the same time. And Medigap policies sold today do not include prescription drug coverage. To get drug coverage, you add a stand-alone Part D plan.

A few Part D numbers worth knowing for 2026:

• The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100.
• The Part D maximum deductible is $615.
• The old coverage gap ("donut hole") was eliminated in 2025; Part D now has three phases.
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs across the year in monthly installments instead of paying at the pharmacy counter.
• IRMAA surcharges — extra amounts added to Part B and Part D premiums — begin above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.

Oregon rules that shape the choice

Federal law gives you a six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period that starts the month you're 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. During that window, insurers can't turn you down or charge more because of your health. Outside that window, in most cases, insurers can use medical underwriting.

Oregon has additional consumer protections that go beyond federal law, and the rules can change. Rather than paraphrase them here, we'd point you to two trustworthy Oregon-specific sources: SHIBA, Oregon's Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance program (the state's SHIP), and the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation, which oversees insurance in the state. Both can walk you through any current guaranteed-issue rights, switching rules, or rate-review information before you make a change.

A note on enrollment dates

Medigap doesn't have an annual enrollment window the way Medicare Advantage and Part D do. You can apply for Medigap any time of year — but outside of a guaranteed-issue situation, an insurer may use underwriting. For the plans that do have set windows:

• Annual Enrollment Period (Part D and Medicare Advantage): October 15 – December 7.
• Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period: January 1 – March 31.