Medicare Supplement

Eligible for Medicare after Jan 1 2020? Read this first

Chesapeake, Va. — If you have a Medigap policy in Chesapeake, or you are shopping for one this fall, a handful of things quietly reset every year. The plan letters you can buy depend on when you first became eligible for Medicare. The Part B deductible that Plans G and N are built around changes on January 1. And insurers file new Medigap rates with Virginia regulators on their own schedule, which means your renewal notice may not match your neighbor's. Here is what Chesapeake readers should know heading into 2026.

The plan-letter rule that trips people up

Medigap plans are standardized by letter across most of the country, but which letters you can buy depends on your Medicare eligibility date. In Virginia, people who became eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020 can still buy or keep Plans C and F. People who became eligible on or after January 1, 2020 cannot — those two plans paid the Part B deductible, and federal law closed them to newer beneficiaries.

For a Chesapeake reader turning 65 in 2026, the shelf looks like this: Plans A, B, D, G, G-HD (high-deductible G), K, L, M and N. Plan G and Plan N are the ones most new enrollees compare, because they cover the most after the Part B deductible is met.

Why January 1 matters for Plan G and Plan N

Plans G and N do not pay your Part B deductible. You pay that amount first each calendar year, then the Medigap plan starts covering the Part B coinsurance (Plan G in full; Plan N with small copays for some office and emergency-room visits).

That deductible is set by CMS and resets every January 1. The dollar figure changes from year to year, which is why your out-of-pocket exposure before Medigap "turns on" can look slightly different in 2026 than it did in 2025. You can confirm the current-year amount on Medicare.gov under Medicare costs.

If a high-deductible Plan G fits your budget style, note that it has its own separate, larger deductible that also resets annually — that figure is published by CMS as well.

Rate-adjustment season: what to watch for

Medigap premiums are not set by Medicare. Each insurer files proposed rates with the Virginia Bureau of Insurance (part of the State Corporation Commission), and those filings drive the renewal letters you get in the mail. A few things to keep in mind:

• Increases can differ by insurer, by plan letter, and by how the insurer prices policies (attained-age, issue-age, or community-rated).
• Your renewal notice should state the new premium and the effective date. Read it before you assume next year matches this year.
• If you want to switch carriers after your initial six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period, Virginia does not have a broad "birthday rule" like some states — outside of guaranteed-issue situations, insurers can use medical underwriting. Talk with a VICAP counselor before you cancel anything.

Insurers selling Medigap in Virginia

The table below lists every insurer offering Medigap in Virginia and which standardized letters each one sells. Chesapeake is in Chesapeake city, and these carriers file to sell statewide, so the roster is the same whether you are in Great Bridge, Deep Creek or Western Branch.

A few names Chesapeake readers often ask about: AARP - UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield - Virginia, Humana (Humana Health Insurance Company of Florida, Inc.), Mutual of Omaha (Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company), and State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company all appear on the state list. New insurers do enter and occasionally leave the Virginia market; the current, authoritative source is Medicare.gov's Medigap policy finder for ZIP 23320 (or whichever Chesapeake ZIP you use) and the Bureau of Insurance's consumer guides.

How to decide, step by step

1. Confirm which letters you're eligible for. If your Medicare Part B started on or after January 1, 2020, cross Plans C and F off your list. 2. Pick the letter first, insurer second. Benefits inside a given letter are the same by law across carriers — a Plan G is a Plan G. What varies is the premium, the pricing method, and customer service. 3. Time it right. Your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period starts the month your Part B begins and you are 65 or older. During that window, insurers cannot use your health to deny you or charge more. 4. Get quotes in writing. Use Medicare.gov's policy search, call insurers directly, or work with a licensed agent. Ask how the plan is priced (attained-age vs. issue-age) so you understand how the premium may change as you age. 5. Re-read your renewal. Every year. It is the single best defense against a surprise.

What is not changing

Medigap only works with Original Medicare (Parts A and B). It does not include Part D drug coverage — you buy that separately. And Medigap does not interact with the new Part D changes for 2026, including the $2,100 out-of-pocket cap on covered drugs, the $615 maximum Part D deductible, or the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan that lets you spread drug costs across the year. Those live on the drug side of your coverage.

The Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7) and Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment (January 1 – March 31) are Advantage and Part D windows — they are not Medigap enrollment periods. Medigap has its own rules.