If you are on Original Medicare and you have ever had a big medical bill show up in your mailbox, you already know the problem. Medicare is excellent coverage — but it was never designed to pay for everything. The 20 percent coinsurance on every Part B service, the $1,736 Part A hospital deductible, and the fact that there is no out-of-pocket maximum means a serious illness can cost you an enormous amount of money even with Medicare in place. Medigap is designed to fix that.
Why Medigap Matters More in 2026
The 2026 Part B premium is $202.90 per month and the Part B deductible is $283. Original Medicare still leaves you exposed to unlimited out-of-pocket costs. Medigap eliminates most of that risk — once you pay your monthly premium, your healthcare costs become highly predictable.
At the same time, Medicare Advantage plans have been pulling back on benefits in 2026. Millions of enrollees lost supplemental benefits they were counting on and are now shopping Medigap for the first time, discovering it offers something Advantage often cannot: guaranteed access to any doctor who accepts Medicare, with no referrals and no prior authorizations.
Medigap Plan G — The Most Popular Option
Plan G is held by roughly 39 percent of all Medigap enrollees nationwide. It covers the $1,736 Part A hospital deductible, the 20 percent Part B coinsurance, skilled nursing facility coinsurance, foreign travel emergency coverage, and more. The only thing Plan G does not cover is the $283 Part B deductible — you pay that once a year, and then Plan G handles virtually everything else.
Medigap Plan N — The Budget-Friendly Runner-Up
Plan N costs $30 to $60 less per month than Plan G but requires a copay of up to $20 for office visits and up to $50 for ER visits that do not result in admission. It also does not cover Part B excess charges. Whether the savings are worth the trade-off depends on how often you visit the doctor.
How to Get the Lowest Medigap Premium
The single most effective thing you can do when shopping for Medigap is get quotes from at least three to five different carriers. Because the benefits are identical, there is no reason to pay more than you have to. Comparing five carriers can save enrollees $50 to $100 per month — that is $600 to $1,200 per year for exactly the same coverage.
Your Best Enrollment Window
Your Open Enrollment Period begins the month you turn 65 and are enrolled in Part B, and lasts six months. During this window, no insurance company can deny you coverage or charge more due to pre-existing conditions. Once this window closes, most states allow medical underwriting — which means carriers can reject your application or charge higher rates based on your health history. The timing of your initial enrollment matters enormously.
Medigap or Medicare Advantage — A Decision That Sticks
You cannot have Medigap and Medicare Advantage at the same time. Once you choose Medicare Advantage and your Medigap Open Enrollment Period has passed, switching back typically requires medical underwriting. In most states, a pre-existing condition can result in a higher premium or outright denial. Think carefully about which path you want before your initial enrollment window closes.
