Medigap is an optional form of coverage to help pay the out-of-pocket expenses of Original Medicare (parts A and B). You are not required to have a Medigap plan.

Whether a Medigap plan makes sense for you depends on your personal medical and financial needs. When you have coverage under Part A and Part B, you have various potential costs, such as deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance.

Original Medicare has no out-of-pocket maximums, which means it’s possible to incur significant costs in a given year if you require extensive medical care.

Medigap plans can offer peace of mind — and some significant savings — by covering some of these costs. But if you sign up for a Medigap plan, you’ll have higher premium costs each month.

In this article, we’ll discuss what types of coverage Medigap plans offer, how they differ from Medicare Advantage, how much they cost, and more.

Medigap is also referred to as Medicare supplement insurance. In 2025, 10 different Medigap plans exist, each labeled by a different letter: A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N.

Medicare-approved private insurance companies offer these plans, and not all plans are available in all areas.

The coverage offered by each Medigap plan is standardized across the country (except in Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, which have different rules). This means if two separate companies are both offering Plan G, the only thing that will differ is the price.

Plans C and F, which cover the Part B deductible, are no longer available to new enrollees.

Medigap plans offer some degree of coverage for the following types of expenses:

  • Part A coinsurance and hospital costs
  • Part B coinsurance or copayment
  • blood benefit (first three pints)
  • Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment
  • skilled nursing facility care coinsurance
  • Part A deductible
  • Part B deductible
  • Part B excess charge
  • foreign travel emergency (up to plan limits)
  • out-of-pocket limit

If you expect to incur significant costs in one or more of these areas, it could be worth considering a Medigap plan.

For example, if you have Original Medicare and require an extended inpatient hospital stay, you’ll have to pay the Part A deductible of $1,676 in 2025 per benefit period as well as a daily coinsurance beginning on day 61.

In this case, a Medigap plan that covers the expenses associated with Part A might make financial sense. Most Medigap plans include coverage for Part A costs.

Similarly, if you expect to need a lot of outpatient medical care during doctor’s visits, you may benefit from a plan that also includes comprehensive coverage for Part B coinsurance and potential excess charges.

Some older plans offer coverage for the Part B deductible of $257 in 2025, but these plans are no longer available to new enrollees.

Medigap and Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans share some similarities and key differences. Medicare Advantage is an alternative to Original Medicare. It provides the same coverage as parts A and B while often including prescription drug coverage (Part D) and additional benefits such as vision, dental, and hearing.

Like Medigap, Medicare Advantage plans are also offered by private insurance companies.

While Medigap plans help cover the out-of-pocket costs of Original Medicare, they do not offer additional coverage benefits.

Medigap plans do not offer coverage for the following products or services:

  • nursing home care
  • vision care
  • dental care
  • hearing aids
  • glasses
  • private nursing

You cannot have a Medigap plan while you’re enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan.

With a Medigap plan, you’ll typically have higher monthly premium costs, but you’ll have fewer expenses related to deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance.

Your premium will vary based on the plan you select, your location, your age, and the insurer offering the plan.

You can sign up for a Medigap policy during Medigap open enrollment. This is a 6-month window that begins at the start of your Part B coverage (when you’re also at least 65 years old).

You can view the plans offered in your area by visiting Medicare.gov and entering your ZIP code. After viewing your options and picking a policy, reach out to the company offering the policy for an official quote.

Medigap plans are an optional form of coverage to help with the costs of Original Medicare. You aren’t required to enroll in a Medigap plan.

If you sign up for a Medigap plan, you’ll typically have a higher monthly premium payment. But you may save on expenses such as deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance.

The plans available to you will differ based on your age, location, and insurance provider. Ultimately, whether it makes sense to enroll in Medigap depends on your medical and financial requirements and desire for peace of mind.