Medicare Supplement

Understanding Medigap Plan Letters: A Parkersburg Guide

PARKERSBURG, W.Va. — If you've flipped through a Medicare guide lately, you've probably seen a puzzling alphabet: Plan A, Plan B, Plan D, Plan G, Plan K, Plan N. Those letters aren't ratings or grades. They're the names of standardized Medicare Supplement Insurance plans — better known as Medigap.

What Medigap Is — and Why the Letters Matter

Medigap policies are sold by private insurance companies, but the benefits inside each lettered plan are set by federal rules. That means a Plan G from one company covers the same core benefits as a Plan G from another. What can differ is the price, the customer service, and how the company handles rate changes over time.

For folks here in Parkersburg trying to make sense of their Medicare choices, understanding the letters is a good first step.

How Medigap Fits With Original Medicare

Medigap only works alongside Original Medicare (Part A and Part B). It helps pay some of the out-of-pocket costs that Original Medicare leaves behind — things like coinsurance, copayments, and in some cases the Part A deductible.

A few important points from Medicare.gov:

• You must have both Part A and Part B to buy a Medigap policy.
• Medigap does not work with a Medicare Advantage plan. You pick one path or the other.
• Medigap generally doesn't cover prescription drugs. Most people pair it with a separate Part D drug plan.
• Each Medigap policy covers one person. Spouses need their own policies.

Decoding the Standardized Letters

In most states, including West Virginia, Medigap plans come in 10 standardized designs identified by letters. Each letter represents a different mix of benefits.

• Plans A, B, D, G, K, L, M, and N are available to people newly eligible for Medicare today.
• Plans C and F are still around, but only for people who became eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020.
• High-deductible versions of Plan G and Plan F exist for people who want a lower monthly premium in exchange for paying more up front.

Because the benefits inside each letter are the same across companies, comparing Medigap plans really comes down to comparing prices and the reputation of the insurer for a given letter.

What Medigap Doesn't Do

Medigap is helpful, but it isn't a catch-all. It generally does not cover:

• Prescription drugs (you'll want a separate Part D plan).
• Long-term care, like a nursing home stay for custodial care.
• Dental, vision, or hearing care.
• Private-duty nursing.

For those needs, people often add other coverage or plan for out-of-pocket costs separately.

When You Can Buy a Medigap Policy

Timing matters — a lot. Your Medigap Open Enrollment Period is a one-time, six-month window that starts the month you're 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. During this window, insurance companies can't turn you down or charge you more because of health problems.

Outside that window, in most cases, insurers can use medical underwriting. That means they can look at your health history and either deny coverage or charge a higher premium. West Virginia residents who miss the initial window should ask questions carefully before switching.

This is separate from the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7) and Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment (January 1 – March 31), which apply to Advantage and Part D plans — not Medigap.

A Quick Note on 2026 Medicare Costs

Even if you have Medigap, a few program-wide numbers are worth knowing for 2026:

• The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100.
• The Part D maximum deductible is $615.
• The old coverage gap (the "donut hole") has been gone since 2025.
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs across the year in monthly amounts if that helps your budget.
• Higher-income surcharges (IRMAA) kick in above $109,000 for a single filer in 2026.

These figures come from Medicare and apply nationwide, Parkersburg included.