Medicare Supplement Plans Comparison: 6 Plans Side By Side

Medicare Supplement insurance (Medigap) fills the gaps that Original Medicare leaves behind, but with ten standardized plan letters to choose from, figuring out which one actually fits your situation can feel overwhelming. A clear medicare supplement plans comparison is the fastest way to cut through the confusion and see exactly what each plan covers and what it doesn't.

The problem is that most comparison charts online strip away the context. They show you letters and checkmarks but don't help you understand what those differences mean for your wallet. At Golden Health and Life Agency, we work with over 300 insurance carriers specifically so we can match clients, especially seniors navigating Medicare, with coverage that makes financial and medical sense. We deal with these plans every day, and we know which details actually matter.

In this article, we break down six of the most popular Medigap plans side by side. You'll see what each one covers, where they differ, and which plan types tend to work best for different budgets and health needs, so you can narrow your options before you ever pick up the phone.

1. Golden Health and Life Agency

Golden Health and Life Agency is a Medicare-focused insurance brokerage that works with over 300 carriers to compare plans across the full range of available options. Rather than steering you toward one company, we look at what your health history and budget actually require, then pull quotes and coverage details from multiple carriers so you can see the real differences.

How our Medigap comparison process works

We start by reviewing your Medicare Part A and Part B enrollment status and your current out-of-pocket exposure. From there, we run a thorough medicare supplement plans comparison across carriers that serve your zip code and age bracket, so you see plan options, monthly premiums, and coverage differences in one place before you decide anything.

Our process is structured to save you time. Instead of asking you to call five different carriers and repeat your information each time, we do that research on your behalf and present you with a clear summary of what each plan letter will cost and cover through each available carrier.

What we need from you to compare plans

To pull accurate quotes, we need a few basic details: your date of birth, your Medicare effective date, your zip code, and any coverage priorities tied to your current health needs. You don't need to provide your full medical history upfront for most Medigap plan types.

When a broker helps the most

A broker adds the most value when you're comparing two or three plans that look similar on paper but carry different premium structures or rate increase histories. Carriers price the same plan letter very differently depending on your location and age, and tracking those differences yourself across dozens of carriers takes time most people don't have.

An independent broker can access carrier pricing data that you won't find on any single insurer's website.

What it costs to work with a broker

Working with Golden Health and Life Agency costs you nothing directly. Carriers pay brokers a commission that's already built into the premium, whether you use a broker or not. You pay the same monthly premium either way, and in exchange you get a licensed professional comparing options on your behalf.

Questions to ask before you enroll

Before you commit to any plan, ask about rate increase history for that specific plan over the past three years, whether the plan uses attained-age or issue-age pricing, and what your enrollment window looks like given your situation. Clear answers to those three questions protect you from expensive surprises in year two or three of your coverage.

2. Medigap Plan G

When you run a medicare supplement plans comparison, Plan G consistently ranks as the top choice for new Medicare enrollees. It covers nearly every cost gap that Original Medicare leaves behind, which makes your annual out-of-pocket exposure easy to predict and budget for.

What Plan G covers

Plan G covers Medicare Part A coinsurance and hospital costs, Part B coinsurance, the first three pints of blood, skilled nursing facility coinsurance, Part A hospice care coinsurance, and foreign travel emergency care up to plan limits. The only gap it does not fill is the Part B annual deductible.

What you still pay with Plan G

Your only required out-of-pocket cost with Plan G is the Part B annual deductible, which sits at $257 in 2025. Once you meet that deductible, Plan G covers 100% of remaining Medicare-approved costs for the rest of the year.

Once you hit the Part B deductible, your exposure for covered Medicare services drops to zero for the remainder of the year.

Who Plan G fits best

Plan G works best for people who want comprehensive coverage with predictable costs. If you see specialists regularly or expect any hospital stays, the low-variance cost structure of Plan G typically delivers more value than plans that carry copays or ongoing cost-sharing requirements.

Plan G vs Plan F in plain terms

Plan F covers the Part B deductible and Plan G does not. In most cases, the premium gap between Plan F and Plan G is larger than the deductible itself, making Plan G the stronger financial choice for most people who became Medicare-eligible on or after January 1, 2020.

What to watch for with rate increases

Carriers adjust Plan G premiums every year, and some raise rates far more aggressively than others. Before you enroll, ask to see the three-year rate increase history for any carrier you're considering, not just the introductory monthly premium.

3. Medigap Plan N

Plan N gives you strong coverage at a lower monthly premium than Plan G, but it shifts some of the risk back to you through cost-sharing. If you rarely use medical services, that trade-off often works in your favor.

What Plan N covers

Plan N covers Part A coinsurance and hospital costs, Part B coinsurance (with copays), the first three pints of blood, skilled nursing facility coinsurance, Part A hospice care coinsurance, and foreign travel emergency care up to plan limits. It does not cover the Part B deductible or Part B excess charges.

Copays and cost sharing to expect

With Plan N, you pay a copay of up to $20 for most office visits and up to $50 for emergency room visits that don't result in an inpatient admission. These copays apply after you meet the Part B deductible, which sits at $257 in 2025.

If you visit doctors frequently, those $20 copays add up fast and can erode the premium savings Plan N offers over Plan G.

Excess charges and why they matter

Excess charges occur when a provider does not accept Medicare assignment and bills up to 15% above the Medicare-approved amount. Plan N does not cover those charges, which means you pay them out of pocket on top of your regular copays.

Who Plan N fits best

Plan N works best for people who are generally healthy and see doctors infrequently. In a thorough medicare supplement plans comparison, Plan N consistently delivers strong value for those who want broad coverage but visit providers fewer than six to eight times per year.

When Plan N can cost more than you think

If you see multiple specialists or use emergency care regularly, the combination of copays and potential excess charges can push your total annual costs above what Plan G would have charged you, despite Plan N's lower monthly premium.

4. High-deductible Plan G

High-deductible Plan G (HDG) carries the same coverage framework as standard Plan G, but you take on a higher annual deductible before the plan pays anything. In a thorough medicare supplement plans comparison, HDG stands out for its significantly lower monthly premiums compared to every other comprehensive option.

How high-deductible Plan G works

HDG mirrors standard Plan G's coverage structure exactly, covering Part A and Part B coinsurance, skilled nursing facility costs, and foreign travel emergency care. The critical difference is that you absorb all Medicare-approved out-of-pocket costs yourself until you meet the annual deductible, which sits at $2,870 in 2025.

Once you clear that deductible, the plan functions identically to standard Plan G, covering 100% of remaining Medicare-approved costs for the rest of the calendar year.

What you pay before coverage kicks in

Your deductible resets every January 1st, regardless of your enrollment date. If you enroll mid-year, you face the full deductible with fewer months to spread your costs across.

Enrolling in October means you could hit the deductible reset in just three months, leaving you exposed twice in rapid succession.

Who high-deductible Plan G fits best

HDG works best for people who are generally healthy and use medical services infrequently. If you go multiple years without reaching the deductible, the monthly premium savings build into a meaningful financial buffer over time.

When it beats standard Plan G

HDG wins financially when your annual medical costs stay consistently below the deductible. The premium difference between HDG and standard Plan G often exceeds $100 per month, which translates to $1,200 or more in annual savings.

Common mistakes people make with HDG

Many people choose HDG without keeping a dedicated financial reserve to cover the deductible if a hospital stay or unexpected diagnosis hits. Treating that deductible as a theoretical number rather than a real cash liability is where HDG enrollees most often get caught off guard.

5. Medigap Plan F

Plan F was the most popular Medigap option for years because it covered every Medicare cost gap with no out-of-pocket exposure. In any medicare supplement plans comparison, Plan F still looks appealing on coverage alone, but federal law now limits who can actually buy it.

Who can still buy Plan F

Federal law eliminated Plan F eligibility for anyone who became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. If your Part A effective date falls before that cutoff, you can still purchase Plan F from any carrier that offers it in your state.

What Plan F covers

Plan F covers every standard Medigap benefit, including Part A and Part B coinsurance, the Part B annual deductible, skilled nursing facility coinsurance, Part A hospice care coinsurance, Part B excess charges, and foreign travel emergency care up to plan limits. Nothing gets passed back to you after Medicare pays its share.

Plan F is the only Medigap plan that eliminates both the Part B deductible and Part B excess charges simultaneously.

What you still pay with Plan F

Your monthly premium is your only recurring cost. Once you pay that, you face no deductibles, copays, or coinsurance for any Medicare-approved service during the year.

When Plan F can still make sense

Plan F still makes financial sense when the premium difference between Plan F and Plan G is smaller than $257, which is the current Part B deductible. If the gap is narrow enough, covering that deductible through a lower premium becomes the smarter move.

Why Plan F premiums can run higher

Because Plan F is closed to new enrollees, the existing pool skews older and sicker each year. Carriers adjust pricing to reflect that higher-risk pool, which pushes premiums up faster than you typically see with Plan G over time.

6. Medigap Plan A

Plan A is the most basic Medigap option available and the only plan every carrier is required by law to offer. In a medicare supplement plans comparison, Plan A looks affordable upfront, but its limited coverage leaves significant financial exposure in place.

What Plan A covers

Plan A covers Medicare Part A coinsurance and hospital costs for up to 365 days after Medicare benefits are exhausted, Part B coinsurance or copayments, the first three pints of blood, and Part A hospice care coinsurance. That is the full extent of its benefits. It does not include skilled nursing facility coinsurance, foreign travel emergency coverage, or any protection against Part B excess charges.

What you still pay with Plan A

You remain responsible for the Part A inpatient deductible (which sits at $1,676 per benefit period in 2025), the Part B annual deductible, and any excess charges from providers who don't accept Medicare assignment. Those costs add up quickly if you face a hospital admission or a diagnosis that requires ongoing specialist care.

A single inpatient hospital stay can trigger the full Part A deductible, which Plan A does nothing to offset.

Who Plan A fits best

Plan A fits people with very tight monthly budgets who need some coverage but cannot absorb higher premiums. It provides a floor of protection, but it leaves several major cost gaps open that most enrollees eventually encounter.

When Plan A becomes a risky bet

Plan A becomes a serious financial liability the moment you need inpatient hospital care or skilled nursing services. Without those coverage layers, one health event can generate thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket costs that a more comprehensive plan would have absorbed entirely.

How to decide between Plan A and Plan G

Compare the monthly premium difference between Plan A and Plan G for your age and zip code, then weigh that figure against the cost exposure Plan A leaves uncovered. For most enrollees, the premium gap is far smaller than the financial risk Plan A leaves on the table.

Next steps

Running a medicare supplement plans comparison on your own is a good start, but seeing the numbers side by side with a licensed professional makes the decision clearer and faster. Plan G, Plan N, High-deductible Plan G, Plan F, and Plan A all serve different financial situations, and the right choice depends on how often you use care, what carriers serve your area, and how much premium volatility you can absorb over time.

Your next move is to get actual carrier quotes matched to your age, zip code, and Medicare effective date. That gives you real numbers instead of estimates. Golden Health and Life Agency compares options across more than 300 carriers at no cost to you, so you see the full picture before you commit to anything. Contact us to start your Medicare plan comparison and get matched with coverage that fits your budget and health needs.