Medicare Supplement

Confused by Medigap Plans A through N? Here's the Plain-English Guide

If you live in Atascocita and you're new to Medicare — or helping a parent sort it out — the phrase "Medicare Supplement" probably keeps showing up. So do a bunch of letters: Plan A, Plan G, Plan N, and more. It can feel like alphabet soup.

Here's the good news: Medigap is one of the more standardized corners of Medicare. Once you understand what it does and how the letters work, the rest gets a lot easier.

What Medigap actually is

Medicare Supplement insurance — nicknamed Medigap — is a private policy you buy to work alongside Original Medicare. Original Medicare (Part A for hospital, Part B for doctors and outpatient care) pays most of your covered costs, but not all of them. You're still on the hook for things like the Part A hospital deductible, the 20% coinsurance under Part B, and other gaps.

A Medigap policy steps in to help cover those leftover costs. You pay a monthly premium to the insurance company, and in return the plan picks up some or all of what Medicare doesn't.

One important thing to know: Medigap only works with Original Medicare. If you're enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C), you can't use a Medigap policy at the same time.

How the letter plans work

There are 10 standardized Medigap plans, named by letter: A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N. Congress set these up so shoppers wouldn't have to compare hundreds of different policies. Under federal rules, every Plan G sold in Texas covers the same core benefits as every other Plan G, no matter which company sells it.

What can change between carriers is the price, customer service, and extras like dental or vision riders. The core medical benefits inside each letter are locked in by law.

A quick note on Plans C and F: these are only available if you were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020. Newer enrollees choose from the other letters. Plan G and Plan N tend to be the most popular for people aging into Medicare today, but "popular" doesn't mean "right for you."

What Medigap covers — and what it doesn't

Depending on the letter, Medigap can help pay:

• Part A hospital coinsurance and extra hospital days
• Part B coinsurance or copays
• Blood (first 3 pints)
• Hospice care coinsurance
• Skilled nursing facility coinsurance
• Part A deductible
• Foreign travel emergency care (on some plans)

What Medigap does not cover:

• Prescription drugs (you need a separate Part D plan)
• Dental, vision, or hearing
• Long-term care
• Private-duty nursing

Because Medigap skips drug coverage, most people pair a Medigap plan with a standalone Part D prescription drug plan. In 2026, Part D has a maximum annual deductible of $615 and — for the first time at this level — a $2,100 cap on what you pay out-of-pocket for covered drugs. The old "donut hole" coverage gap was eliminated in 2025, so Part D now has three simpler phases.

When you can buy a Medigap policy

The best window to buy Medigap is your Medigap Open Enrollment Period — a one-time, six-month stretch that starts the month you're 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. During this window, insurers can't turn you down or charge you more because of your health.

Outside that window, insurers in most states — Texas included — can use medical underwriting. That means they can ask health questions and potentially deny coverage or raise your premium. This is why timing matters so much.

Note that the Medigap Open Enrollment Period is separate from Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7) and the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 – March 31). Those windows are for Advantage and Part D plans, not Medigap.

Medigap availability around Atascocita

Atascocita is in Harris County, where residents have access to Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage plans, and standalone Part D drug plans. Medigap policies are sold by private insurers licensed in Texas, and the same standardized letter plans are available statewide. The specific carriers offering each letter — and what they charge — vary, so it's worth comparing before you sign anything.

Where to get unbiased help

Because Medigap is a long-term decision (switching later can mean going through medical underwriting), take your time. A few free, trustworthy places to get answers:

• Medicare.gov — the official site, with a plan finder and side-by-side details on each letter plan.
• 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) — available 24/7.
• Texas SHIP — the state's free counseling program for Medicare beneficiaries. In Texas it's called the Health Information, Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP). Counselors don't sell anything.