Medicare Supplement
Before You Compare Medigap Letters in Providence, Read This
A Plan G is a Plan G. That is the part of Medigap most people find surprising the first time they shop: the letter defines the benefits, and every insurer selling that letter in Rhode Island must cover the same things in the same way. So if the coverage is identical, what actually changes from one company to the next? In Providence, the honest answer is the price you are quoted, the way that price is set, how it moves over time, and whether you can qualify at all. This guide walks through what to compare when you look at the same letter across different insurers.
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Key takeaways
- The same Medigap letter (for example Plan G) offers the same standardized benefits at every insurer selling it in Rhode Island — what differs is pricing, rate history and underwriting.
- Insurers use one of three pricing methods — community-rated, issue-age or attained-age — and each ages differently over time.
- Household discounts and medical underwriting can change who qualifies and what a policy costs, especially outside the initial Medigap Open Enrollment window.
- You can see every insurer selling Medigap in Rhode Island on Medicare.gov, and the state rate guide from the Rhode Island Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner shows rate history.
Who sells Medigap in Rhode Island
Providence is in Providence County, and Medigap availability is set by the state, not the county. In Rhode Island today, a dozen insurers file and sell standardized Medigap plans. The table on this page lists every insurer and every letter they sell in the state, from AARP – UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company through USAA Life Insurance Company, in alphabetical order.
For someone newly eligible for Medicare in 2026, the letters available are A, B, D, G, high-deductible G, K, L, M and N. Plans C and F are only for people who were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020. Not every insurer sells every letter — for example, some carriers on the Rhode Island list sell only A, F, G and N, while others include high-deductible G or Plan K and L. The table shows exactly which letters each company files.
Same letter, same coverage
This is the single most useful fact when you compare Medigap in Providence: a standardized letter is standardized by federal rule. A Plan G from one insurer covers the same Part A and Part B cost-sharing as a Plan G from any other insurer selling Plan G in Rhode Island. There is no "better" Plan G and no "premium" version of Plan N.
That means the comparison is not really about benefits at all. It is about the insurer behind the letter.
The three pricing methods
Medigap premiums in Rhode Island can be set in one of three ways, and knowing which method an insurer uses tells you a lot about how the premium will behave over time.
- Community-rated (also called no-age-rated). Everyone with the same plan pays the same base rate, regardless of age. A 66-year-old and an 80-year-old buying the same letter from the same insurer pay the same starting premium.
- Issue-age-rated. Your premium is based on the age you were when you bought the policy. It does not go up simply because you get older, though it can still change for other reasons.
- Attained-age-rated. Your premium is based on your current age, so it typically rises as you age.
All three methods can also change because of inflation and claims trends. The label tells you how age enters the formula — not whether the price will ever move.
Rate history matters more than the first-year number
Because a Medigap policy is meant to last for years, the first-year premium is only part of the picture. Ask (or look up) how much each insurer's rates for that letter have gone up over the past several years in Rhode Island.
The Rhode Island Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner publishes rate filings, and Medicare.gov's Medigap policy search shows which insurers offer each plan in your ZIP code. A carrier with a lower starting premium but a steeper rate history may not stay lower for long, while a slightly higher starting premium with stable history can look different a few years in.
Household discounts and underwriting
Two other things vary insurer to insurer:
Household discounts. Several Medigap carriers in Rhode Island offer a discount when more than one adult in the household has a policy with them, or when a spouse or domestic partner is also eligible. The size of the discount and the rules for who counts as a household member differ from company to company, so ask each insurer directly.
Medical underwriting. During your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period — which starts the month you are 65 or older and enrolled in Part B — insurers in Rhode Island must sell you any Medigap policy they offer, at their standard rate, regardless of health. Outside that window, and outside a few guaranteed-issue situations, insurers can ask health questions and can decline you or charge more. Underwriting standards vary by company, so a person turned down by one insurer might be accepted by another.
How to actually make the comparison
A practical way to shop the same letter across insurers in Providence:
1. Decide on the letter first (for example, G, high-deductible G, or N), based on how you want to handle out-of-pocket costs. 2. Go to Medicare.gov's Medigap policy search and enter a Providence ZIP such as 02903 to see which insurers file that letter in Rhode Island. 3. For each insurer, ask which pricing method they use, whether they offer a household discount, and what their recent rate changes have been. 4. If you are outside your Medigap Open Enrollment Period, ask about underwriting before you fill out a full application. 5. Call your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) — in Rhode Island, this is the POINT / The Rhode Island Department of Human Services SHIP — for free, unbiased help.
By the numbers
Medicare Part B premium, 2006–2026
The standard monthly Part B premium has climbed from $88.50 in 2006 to $202.90 in 2026. Hover any point for that year’s premium.
Source: CMS. Standard premium shown; in some hold-harmless years many existing enrollees paid less. Confirm at Medicare.gov.
By the numbers
How people get Medicare in Providence County
(MA penetration in Providence County)
MA penetration from CMS enrollment data; Medigap share is an estimate. U.S. average is about 54% Medicare Advantage. These are area-level figures, not plan-specific.
Who sells Medigap here
Medigap insurers in Rhode Island
Insurers offering Medigap policies in Rhode Island, listed alphabetically. In the Providence area (ZIP 02903) the Medicare.gov search listed 12 of them. Prices vary by insurer for the same letter and are not shown here.
- AARP - UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company Plans A, B, C, F, G, K, L, N
- Aetna Health and Life Insurance Company Plans A, F, G, N
- AFLAC Plans A, F, G, N
- Bankers Life (Underwritten by Washington National Insurance Company) Plans A, F, G, G-HD, N
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island Plans A, F, G, N
- Humana (Humana Insurance Company) Plans A, B, C, F, F-HD, G, G-HD, K, L
- Insurance Company of North America Plans A, F, G, G-HD, N
- Lumos Insurance Plans A, F, G, G-HD, N
- Medco Containment Life Insurance Company Plans A, F, F-HD, G, N
- Mutual of Omaha (United World Life Insurance Company) Plans A, F, G, G-HD, N
- United American Insurance Company Plans A, B, C, D, F, F-HD, G, G-HD, K, L, N
- USAA Life Insurance Company Plans A, F, G, N
Source: Medicare.gov Medigap policy search. No insurer is ranked or recommended.
Medicare Supplement (Medigap)
The Medigap plans you can buy in Rhode Island
Medigap plans are standardized by federal law: a Plan G from one insurer covers the same things as a Plan G from any other. Insurers set their own prices, which are not shown here.
| Plan | What it covers | Open to new enrollees |
|---|---|---|
| Plan A | The basic benefits every Medigap plan includes: Part A hospital coinsurance and up to 365 extra hospital days, Part B coinsurance, the first three pints of blood, Part A hospice coinsurance. | Yes |
| Plan B | Plan A plus the Part A hospital deductible. | Yes |
| Plan C | Plan B plus skilled-nursing coinsurance, the Part B deductible and foreign-travel emergency care. Closed to people newly eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. | Only if you were eligible before 2020 |
| Plan D | Plan B plus skilled-nursing coinsurance and foreign-travel emergency care (not the Part B deductible). | Yes |
| Plan F | Every standardized benefit, including the Part B deductible and Part B excess charges. Closed to people newly eligible on or after January 1, 2020. A high-deductible version exists. | Only if you were eligible before 2020 |
| Plan G | Every standardized benefit except the Part B deductible (which you pay yourself each year). A high-deductible version (G-HD) pays after you meet a yearly deductible. | Yes |
| Plan K | Pays a share of most cost-sharing (50 percent for several benefits) with a yearly out-of-pocket limit set by federal rules. | Yes |
| Plan L | Like Plan K with a larger share (75 percent) and a lower yearly out-of-pocket limit. | Yes |
| Plan M | Like Plan D but covers half of the Part A hospital deductible. | Yes |
| Plan N | Like Plan G, except a small copayment for some office and emergency-room visits, and it does not cover Part B excess charges. | Yes |
Source: CMS, Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) rules; medicare.gov.
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Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Is a Plan G from one insurer better than a Plan G from another?
When can I switch Medigap plans in Providence?
Where do I find the list of Medigap insurers in Rhode Island?
What is high-deductible Plan G?
- Medicare.gov Medigap policy search and state insurance-department rate guides
- CMS — Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) rules (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.
Also for Providence
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This page was last updated: September 2026.