Medicare Supplement Plans 2027

A Medicare Supplement plan does not replace Medicare. You keep Original Medicare as your main coverage, and the supplement works behind it. When you get care, the doctor or hospital bills Medicare first. Medicare pays its share of the approved amount, then sends the rest to your Medigap insurer, which pays its share based on your plan letter. In most cases this happens automatically, and you never file a claim.

Because Medigap follows Medicare, any provider in the country who accepts Medicare must accept your supplement. That is the main difference from Medicare Advantage, where you generally use the plan’s network. It is also why Medigap is popular with people who travel, live in two states, or want to see specialists at major medical centers without referrals.

To see what a supplement is worth, start with the gaps in Original Medicare. These are the costs a Medigap plan is built to cover:

Federal law sets exactly what each plan letter covers. A Plan G from one insurer covers precisely what a Plan G from any other insurer covers in your state, so once you pick a letter, the only things left to compare are price, how the insurer raises prices, discounts and service. See the 10 Medigap plans and the Medicare Supplement plans chart.

*Plans C and F can only be bought by people who were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020. **Plans K and L have a yearly out-of-pocket limit that Medicare sets each year; after you reach it, the plan pays 100% of covered services for the rest of the year. ***Plan N pays all Part B coinsurance except copays of up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for emergency room visits that do not lead to an inpatient admission. Massachusetts, Minnesota and Wisconsin standardize their plans differently.

Most people new to Medicare choose one of three plans. They differ in how much you pay up front in premium versus how much you pay when you use care. See Plan G vs Plan N.

Plan G: the most complete plan for new enrollees

Plan G covers every gap in Original Medicare except the Part B deductible. Once you meet that deductible each year, Medicare-approved care is generally covered in full, including Part B excess charges. Plan G took Plan F’s place as the most popular plan after Plan F closed to people new to Medicare in 2020. See Medicare Plan G.

Plan N: a lower premium in exchange for small copays

Plan N covers the same core benefits as Plan G except Part B excess charges, and it adds copays of up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for emergency room visits that do not lead to an inpatient admission. Plan N usually costs less each month, so it can fit people who see the doctor less often and live where few doctors charge excess charges. See Medicare Plan N.

High-Deductible Plan G: the lowest premium, with a yearly deductible

High-Deductible Plan G has the same benefits as Plan G, but you pay a yearly deductible before the plan pays. For 2027, that deductible is $3,050, up from $2,950 in 2026. Premiums are much lower, so it can suit healthy people who can afford the deductible in a bad year. See High-Deductible Plan G.

Medigap only pays toward services Original Medicare covers. It does not add new kinds of benefits, so plan for these separately:

Most people buy a Part D plan when they buy Medigap. For 2027, the maximum Part D deductible is $700 and the out-of-pocket cap on covered drugs is $2,400. If you go without creditable drug coverage when you are first eligible, you may owe a late enrollment penalty for as long as you have Part D. See Medicare Part D plans 2027.

You pay a monthly premium to the insurance company, on top of your Part B premium. Because benefits are identical by letter, price is where insurers compete, and the same plan letter can cost very different amounts from different companies in the same ZIP code.

How insurers price their policies

The method depends on the insurer and the state. Ask how a policy is priced before you buy, not just what it costs today.

A low first-year price on an attained-age policy can end up costing more over time than a policy that started higher. See how to compare Medicare Supplement plans.

This window happens once and does not repeat. If you delay Part B because you have coverage from a current employer, your Medigap Open Enrollment Period starts when you enroll in Part B. See the 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period.

Guaranteed issue rights

Federal law also gives you the right to buy certain Medigap plans without health questions in specific situations, generally within 63 days after your other coverage ends. Common examples:

If you are under 65 and on Medicare because of a disability, federal law does not require insurers to sell you Medigap, but many states do. Prices and plan choices for people under 65 vary widely by state.

You can have either a Medicare Supplement plan or a Medicare Advantage plan, not both. They take opposite approaches. See Medicare Advantage vs Medigap.

Medigap fits people who want freedom to see any doctor and predictable costs, and who can afford a higher premium. Medicare Advantage fits people who want a low premium and extra benefits and are comfortable with a network. If you are leaving a Medicare Advantage plan for 2027 because it is ending, you may have a guaranteed issue right to buy Medigap.