Medicare Supplement

Does Medigap in Salem work with your drug plan?

SALEM, Ore. — If you live in Salem and you're weighing a Medicare Supplement policy, here's the piece that trips most people up: the plan letter — A, B, D, G, G-HD, K, L, M, or N — is set by federal rules. That means Plan G from one company covers the same Medicare-approved costs as Plan G from another. What can differ is the price, the customer service, and whether the insurer will accept you outside of a guaranteed-issue window. Salem is in Marion County, and Oregon residents have a healthy list of insurers to choose from, all selling those same standardized letters.

The letters, not the logos, are what you're really comparing

This guide walks through how the letters work, how Medigap fits with Original Medicare and Part D, and where to get personal help before you sign anything.

How Medigap fits with the rest of Medicare

Medigap is extra insurance you buy from a private company to help pay the out-of-pocket costs Original Medicare leaves behind — things like the Part A hospital deductible, coinsurance, and, with some letters, the Part B deductible. To have a Medigap policy, you must be enrolled in both Part A and Part B, and you keep paying your Part B premium.

Medigap does not work with a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan. If you're on Advantage now and want to move to Original Medicare plus Medigap, that's a switch you can make during specific windows, but a Medigap insurer outside those windows can ask health questions and turn you down. That's why timing matters.

Medigap also does not cover prescription drugs. In 2026, you can pair Original Medicare and a Medigap policy with a stand-alone Part D plan. Part D in 2026 has a maximum deductible of $615 and a new out-of-pocket cap of $2,100 on covered drugs. The old "donut hole" coverage gap was eliminated in 2025, so Part D now runs in three simpler phases. If those drug costs land in big lumps, you can also ask your Part D plan about the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, which spreads them across the year.

The plan letters you can buy in Oregon today

Federal law standardizes Medigap in 47 states (Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin use their own systems). In Oregon, the letters available to someone newly eligible for Medicare are:

• A, B, D, G, N — traditional letters, each covering a different set of gaps.
• G-HD — a high-deductible version of Plan G. You pay a deductible before it kicks in.
• K and L — cost-sharing plans that pay a set percentage until you hit a yearly out-of-pocket limit.
• M — a middle-ground plan that splits some costs.

Plans C and F are closed to anyone who became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. If you were eligible before that date, you may still be able to buy them.

We can't tell you which letter is "right." Plan G is popular because it covers most gaps other than the Part B deductible, but a lower-cost letter like N or a high-deductible option may suit someone who rarely goes to the doctor. The state's SHIBA counselors (Oregon's SHIP) can walk through your situation for free.

Who sells Medigap in Oregon

The table below lists every insurer registered to sell Medigap in Oregon along with the letters each one offers. Some companies sell most of the letters; others sell just a handful. Big national names like AARP - UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company, Humana, and Mutual of Omaha (United World Life Insurance Company) appear alongside regional carriers such as Moda Health Plan, Inc., Providence Health Assurance, and Regence Blue Cross BlueShield of Oregon.

Because the letter fixes the benefits, the sensible way to shop is to pick a letter first, then compare the insurers that sell that letter on price and service. Two insurers offering Plan G in Salem are selling the same coverage — the paperwork just has a different logo.

The rules that shape your choice

A few Medicare rules do most of the work here:

• Medigap Open Enrollment Period. For six months starting the month you turn 65 and are enrolled in Part B, you have a one-time federal right to buy any Medigap policy sold in Oregon with no medical underwriting. Miss it, and insurers can review your health history.
• Guaranteed-issue rights. Federal law gives you a Medigap purchase right in certain situations — for example, if a Medicare Advantage plan leaves your area or you move out of its service area. Oregon may add additional rights on top of federal rules; the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation can confirm what applies to you.
• Enrollment periods. Medigap doesn't share Medicare's annual enrollment calendar. You can apply any time — but outside a guaranteed-issue window, approval isn't guaranteed. If you're switching between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, remember the Annual Enrollment Period is October 15 – December 7, and the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 – March 31.
• IRMAA. Higher-income enrollees pay more for Part B and Part D. In 2026, IRMAA surcharges begin above $109,000 in income for a single filer. This affects your Medicare premiums, not your Medigap premium directly.

Before you sign

Three practical steps for Salem shoppers:

1. Decide on Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage first. Medigap is only for people staying with Original Medicare. 2. Pick a letter. Match the coverage to how you actually use care. 3. Compare insurers on that letter. Look at premiums, how the company handles rate increases over time, and its complaint history. Oregon publishes rate guides that can help.

Then call before you enroll. Free, unbiased help is available from Oregon SHIBA and from 1-800-MEDICARE.