Medicare Supplement

Newly eligible in Richmond? Which Medigap letters you can buy

RICHMOND, Va. — As 2027 approaches, Medigap shoppers in Richmond are looking at a familiar set of moving parts: which standardized plan letters they can still buy, the yearly reset of the Part B deductible that Plans G and N are built around, insurers filing new rates with the state, and the usual churn of carriers entering or leaving Virginia. None of these are dramatic overnight changes — but together they shape what a policy will look like and cost next year.

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Here is a plain-English guide to what is changing, what is staying the same, and how to check the details for your own situation.

Which plan letters you can buy in 2027

Medigap plans are standardized by letter, meaning a Plan G from one company covers the same core benefits as a Plan G from another. What changes between carriers is the price, the customer service, and sometimes small extras.

For anyone newly eligible for Medicare today, these standardized letters are available in Virginia: A, B, D, G, G-HD, K, L, M and N. Plans C and F are only available to people who were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020 — that rule does not change in 2027.

Plan G and Plan N remain the two most talked-about options for new enrollees, because Plan F (which covered the Part B deductible) is closed to newer beneficiaries. Plan G-HD, the high-deductible version, is another choice for people willing to pay more out of pocket in exchange for a lower monthly premium.

The Part B deductible reset — why it matters for Plans G and N

Plans G and N are designed around one number: the Part B deductible. Under both plans, you pay the Part B deductible yourself each calendar year, and then the Medigap policy picks up its share of what Medicare doesn't cover.

That deductible resets every January 1. CMS announces the new figure late in the prior year, so the 2027 amount will be published before year-end. If you have Plan G or Plan N, expect to pay the full new deductible again starting in January before your Medigap benefits kick in for Part B services.

This is not a policy change — it is simply how these plans are built. But it is worth budgeting for, especially if you have doctor visits scheduled early in the year.

Rate-adjustment season in Virginia

Medigap premiums are not set by Medicare. Each insurer files its rates with the Virginia State Corporation Commission's Bureau of Insurance, and adjustments generally take effect on an anniversary schedule the company sets — often the policyholder's birthday month, the policy anniversary, or a fixed date each year.

Because we cannot list prices here, the practical step is this: when your renewal notice arrives, compare it against what other carriers in Virginia are charging for the same lettered plan. The benefits are identical by law; only the premium and the company differ.

You can look up filings and consumer guides through the Virginia Bureau of Insurance, and you can price-shop plans side by side using the Medigap policy search at medicare.gov.

Insurers entering or leaving Virginia

The list of carriers selling Medigap in Virginia shifts a little each year as companies file to enter, exit or expand their offerings. The table below lists every insurer currently authorized to sell Medigap in the state along with the plan letters each one offers.

Familiar names on that list include AARP - UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield - Virginia, Humana, Mutual of Omaha and State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, along with smaller and regional carriers such as Erie Family Life Insurance Company and WoodmenLife. If a carrier you are considering isn't in the table, they aren't currently selling Medigap policies in Virginia.

Richmond is in Richmond city, but Medigap availability in Virginia is set statewide — every carrier listed sells across the commonwealth, so your ZIP code doesn't limit your carrier choices the way it does with Medicare Advantage.

How to decide what to do for 2027

A few practical steps for Richmond residents heading into the new plan year:

1. Check your renewal notice. Your carrier will tell you your new premium and when it takes effect. 2. Compare the same letter across carriers. A Plan G is a Plan G — the benefits are identical. 3. Know your rights to switch. Outside your initial six-month Medigap Open Enrollment window, Virginia insurers can generally use medical underwriting when you apply for a new policy, which means acceptance and price can depend on your health. Ask before you drop existing coverage. 4. Get free local help. The Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program (VICAP) is Virginia's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). Counselors are trained, unbiased, and free.