Medicare Supplement

Allentown Medigap Shopping and the Standardized Letters

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — If you've ever tried to compare Medicare Supplement plans, you've probably run into a wall of letters: A, B, D, G, K, L, M, N. It looks like alphabet soup. But those letters actually make shopping easier once you know how the system works.

Here's a plain-English guide to what Medigap does, how the standardized letters work, and the small mistakes that can trip people up in the Lehigh Valley.

What Medigap Actually Does

Medigap — also called Medicare Supplement Insurance — is a private policy that works alongside Original Medicare (Parts A and B). It helps pay some of the out-of-pocket costs Original Medicare leaves behind, like coinsurance and hospital costs.

Medigap does not work with Medicare Advantage. You choose one path or the other. And Medigap does not include prescription drug coverage — for that, you'd add a separate Part D plan.

Why the Letters Exist

Before the 1990s, Medigap policies were all over the map. Congress stepped in and required insurers to standardize them. Today, in most states including Pennsylvania, every Medigap policy is sold under a letter (A, B, D, G, K, L, M, or N). Plans C and F are still available, but only to people who became eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020.

Here's the key point: a Plan G from one carrier covers the exact same benefits as a Plan G from another carrier. The federal government sets what each letter must include. What can differ between companies is the premium, customer service, and how they handle rate increases over time.

That standardization is a gift to shoppers. Once you decide which letter fits your needs, you're really just comparing price and the company behind it.

How the Letters Differ From Each Other

Each letter offers a different mix of coverage. Some cover nearly everything Original Medicare doesn't. Others cover less but come with lower premiums. Plans K and L, for example, use a cost-sharing structure with an annual out-of-pocket limit. Plan N has small copays for some office and ER visits.

Rather than memorize the grid, most people find it helpful to sit with the official comparison chart at Medicare.gov or talk with a counselor (more on that below).

Allentown and Lehigh County: What's Available

Allentown is in Lehigh County, where Medigap policies are regulated by both federal rules and the Pennsylvania Insurance Department. Availability of specific letter plans and the carriers offering them is set at the state and county level, so two neighbors in different counties could technically see different options.

To see what's currently offered in your ZIP code, use the plan finder at Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE.

The Mistake to Avoid: Missing Your Open Enrollment Window

This is the big one. When you first enroll in Medicare Part B at age 65, you get a six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period. During that window, insurers must sell you any Medigap policy they offer, at their best available rate, regardless of your health history.

Miss that window, and in most cases insurers can use medical underwriting — meaning they can ask health questions, charge more, or deny coverage entirely. Pennsylvania does not have a state law forcing year-round guaranteed issue, so this federal window really matters.

There are limited "guaranteed issue" situations later (like losing certain other coverage), but they're narrower than most people realize. If you're approaching 65 in Allentown, mark that six-month window on your calendar.

Medigap vs. Medicare Advantage: Not the Same Choice

A quick reminder because this confuses many readers: Medigap and Medicare Advantage are two different roads.

• Medigap pairs with Original Medicare, lets you see any doctor who accepts Medicare, and doesn't include drug coverage.
• Medicare Advantage replaces Original Medicare with a private plan, often bundles drug coverage, and uses provider networks.

You can only be enrolled in one at a time. Switching between them later is possible but comes with rules — and, as noted, Medigap underwriting may apply.

A Few 2026 Numbers Worth Knowing

Even if you're focused on Medigap, these program-level figures affect the bigger picture:

• Part D annual out-of-pocket cap: $2,100 in 2026.
• Part D maximum deductible: $615.
• The old "donut hole" is gone as of 2025 — Part D now has three phases.
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs across the year in monthly installments.
• IRMAA surcharges (higher Part B and D premiums for higher earners) start above $109,000 in income for single filers in 2026.
• Annual Enrollment Period: October 15 – December 7 (for Part D and Advantage).
• Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: January 1 – March 31.