Medicare Supplement

Newly eligible in Chesapeake? Plans C and F are off-limits

Medigap, also called Medicare Supplement Insurance, is a private policy that helps pay some of the out-of-pocket costs Original Medicare leaves behind — things like the Part A hospital deductible, coinsurance and copays. It does not replace Medicare. It sits alongside Parts A and B and pays after Medicare pays.

Start with what Medigap actually is

If you live in Chesapeake and have Original Medicare, a Medigap policy is one way to make your yearly costs more predictable. If you're enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan instead, you can't use a Medigap policy with it — the two are separate paths.

The lettered plans available in Virginia

The federal government standardizes Medigap into lettered plans. That means Plan G is Plan G no matter which company sells it. Virginia follows the federal standardization (only Massachusetts, Minnesota and Wisconsin do it differently).

For someone newly eligible for Medicare today, the choices are:

• Plan A, B, D, G, G-HD, K, L, M and N.
• Plans C and F are still sold, but only to people who were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020.

Each letter covers a different mix of Medicare's cost-sharing. For example, high-deductible versions (like G-HD) usually have lower premiums but require you to meet a deductible before the plan starts paying. Plans K and L cap your out-of-pocket costs but leave more of the cost-sharing to you along the way. Plan N has copays for some office and emergency room visits.

You can compare the benefits side-by-side using the plan comparison chart on medicare.gov.

How Medigap pairs with Original Medicare and Part D

Here's the everyday picture in Chesapeake:

1. Part A and Part B (Original Medicare) pay the bulk of your hospital and medical bills. 2. Your Medigap plan picks up some or all of what's left, depending on the letter you chose. 3. A stand-alone Part D plan covers your prescription drugs. Medigap policies sold today do not include drug coverage.

A few Part D facts worth knowing for 2026:

• The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 for the year.
• The Part D maximum deductible is $615.
• The old coverage gap ("donut hole") is gone — Part D now has three phases.
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs across the year in monthly payments if that helps your budget.
• IRMAA income-related surcharges on Parts B and D begin above $109,000 for a single filer in 2026.

The Virginia insurers selling Medigap

More than 20 companies sell Medigap policies in Virginia. The table below lists every insurer and the letters each one offers. A few examples of the range: AARP - UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company offers Plans A, B, C, F, G, K, L and N; Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield - Virginia offers Plans A, B, F, G and N; Mutual of Omaha (Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company) offers Plans A, F, G, G-HD and N; and State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company offers Plans A, C, D, F, G and N.

Because benefits are standardized, the practical differences between two companies selling the same letter come down to price, customer service and how the company sets its rates over time (issue-age, attained-age, or community-rated). Ask any agent or insurer to tell you which pricing method their policy uses before you sign.

State rules that shape your choice

Two rules matter most when you first shop:

• Your Medigap Open Enrollment Period is the six months that start the month you're 65 or older AND enrolled in Part B. During that window, insurers must sell you any Medigap policy they offer, at their best available rate for your age, without health underwriting.
• Guaranteed issue rights are federal protections that let you buy certain Medigap plans without underwriting after specific life events — for example, if your Medicare Advantage plan leaves the area.

Outside those windows, a Virginia insurer can generally ask health questions and decide whether to sell you a policy and at what price. Virginia does not have a statewide "birthday rule" like some other states, so the timing of your initial enrollment matters. For a current read on your rights in Virginia, the State Corporation Commission Bureau of Insurance and VICAP (Virginia's SHIP) are the authoritative sources.

What to check before you buy

• Which lettered plan matches the kind of cost-sharing you want to hand off.
• Whether the company uses issue-age, attained-age or community-rated pricing.
• Whether you'll add a stand-alone Part D drug plan (most people should).
• Whether you're inside your one-time Medigap Open Enrollment window or have a guaranteed issue right.