Globalcare ConsultingMedicare Supplement · Medigap
Medicare Supplement (Medigap)
Medicare Supplement is private insurance that pays the costs Original Medicare leaves behind — deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. It works alongside Parts A and B rather than replacing them, lets you see any provider nationwide who accepts Medicare, and is bought separately from a Part D drug plan. Plans are standardized by letter, so a Plan G is a Plan G no matter who sells it.
What "the gap" actually is
Original Medicare covers most of a bill — but not all of it, and there's no annual limit on what's left.
Original Medicare alone
For most Part B services you owe 20% coinsurance after your deductible — with no cap on the total. Frequent visits, imaging, or surgery can add up fast.
With a Medicare Supplement policy
Medicare Supplement steps into that remaining share, turning unpredictable bills into a predictable monthly premium. It does not cover prescriptions — you add a Part D plan for that.
Plan G vs. Plan N
Two plans account for most new enrollments. Plan G is the most comprehensive available to people newly eligible today; Plan N trades small copays for a lower premium.
| Category | Plan G | Plan N |
|---|---|---|
| Part A deductible ($1,736 in 2026) | Covered | Covered |
| Part B coinsurance | Covered in full | Covered, minus small office/ER copays |
| Part B deductible ($283 in 2026) | You pay | You pay |
| Part B excess charges | Covered | Not covered |
| Foreign travel emergency | 80% of approved costs | 80% of approved costs |
| Monthly premium | Higher | Typically lower |
| Best for | Predictability; minimal surprises | Lower fixed cost; occasional visits |
Plans C, F, and high-deductible G
Plans C and F are no longer sold to anyone who became newly eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. High-deductible Plan G is also available in some states, requiring you to pay $2,950 in 2026 before the policy begins paying.
Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment
You get one six-month window. It does not repeat.
This is the single most consequential timing rule in all of Medicare — and the one people most often miss. It begins the first month you are both age 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. During those six months, any carrier selling Medicare Supplement in your state must accept you for any plan they offer — no health questions, no medical underwriting, no higher price for pre-existing conditions.
After it closes, most states allow carriers to underwrite you. That means the people who most want to switch later are often the ones least able to — because they’ve since developed a health condition. Choosing well during this window is close to a long-term decision.
Certain events — losing employer coverage, your Advantage plan leaving your area, moving out of its service area — grant guaranteed issue rights, typically for 63 days. Keep every letter and notice; you may need to prove it.
How the rules differ by state
Standard federal rules
One-time six-month open enrollment, then medical underwriting in most cases.
Year-round guaranteed issue
Unusually consumer-friendly. New York uses community rating and offers year-round guaranteed issue, so you can apply without underwriting at any time. Premiums start higher but don’t rise with age.
Standard federal rules
Some states add “birthday rule” windows — confirm current Georgia protections with your agent before assuming you can switch.
What Medicare Supplement does not cover
Worth knowing before you compare it against an Advantage plan.
Rx
Prescription drugs
Medicare Supplement includes no drug coverage. Most people pair it with a standalone Part D plan.
Dental
Dental, vision, hearing
Not included in standard Medicare Supplement. These are bought separately — or bundled into an Advantage plan.
1
One path only
You cannot hold Medicare Supplement and a Medicare Advantage plan at the same time. It’s one or the other.