Choosing a Medigap plan comes down to more than picking a letter off a chart. Plan G covers different costs than Plan N, and the same plan letter can cost hundreds of dollars more from one insurance company than another for identical coverage. Medicare Supplement Insurance is standardized by law, but the decisions below are what actually separate a good fit from an expensive mistake. Work through our Senior65 checklist below before you buy or switch.
1. Which Medigap Plan Fits Your Health and Budget?
Plan G is the most popular choice for people new to Medicare because it covers nearly every gap except the Part B deductible ($283). Plan N costs less but leaves you responsible for small office visit and ER copays, plus any Part B excess charge. If you rarely see specialists and want the lowest premium among comprehensive plans, Plan N is worth pricing out. If you want to never think about a medical bill again, Plan G is the more predictable choice. Compare Medigap plans side by side before deciding.
2. Are You Still in Your Medigap Open Enrollment Period?
Your one-time, 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period starts the month you turn 65 (or later) and have Part B. During this window, a carrier can’t use medical underwriting or charge you more for pre-existing conditions. Outside of it, buying a policy (or switching plans later) generally means qualifying through medical underwriting, unless you have a guaranteed issue right or live in a state with added protections. Source: Medicare.gov.
3. Have You Compared the Same Plan Letter Across Companies?
Every insurance company that sells Plan G has to cover the exact same benefits as every other company’s Plan G. Price is the only variable. That means shopping by plan letter, not by carrier name, is the only way to know if you’re overpaying. This is true whether you call it Medigap, Medicare Supplement, or Medsupp. Source: Medicare.gov.
💡 Tip: A Medigap quote on Senior65.com takes less than 30 seconds and shows you every carrier’s price for the same plan letter in your area.
4. Are there Medigap Any Discounts Available
Some carriers offer Roommate discounts, Household Discounts, New to Medicare discounts and autopay discounts. Our Medigap quote engine automatically includes the autopay discount but you can also click a button on the results page to see other discounts. Learn more about Medigap discounts here.
5. Does your Doctor Charge Part B Excess Charges?
A small number of doctors don’t accept Medicare’s approved amount as full payment and can charge up to 15% more, known as an excess charge. Plan G covers this in full; Plan N does not. While being charged excess charges is rare, it’s worth confirming before you rule out Plan G in favor of Plan N’s lower premium.
6. What’s Your Plan for Switching Later If You’re Unhappy?
You can apply to switch Medigap plans or carriers at any time of year through medical underwriting. Some conditions are fine with certain carriers; others may lead to a decline, which is why it’s worth checking first with the Instant Medigap Underwriting Checker. A smaller number of people also qualify through their state’s Birthday Rule or an anniversary window, which lets you switch Medigap-to-Medigap without underwriting, but only in the states that offer it. See the Medigap Birthday Rule state guide to check your state.
7. Would a High-Deductible Plan Lower Your Premium Enough to Matter?
High-deductible Plan G asks you to pay $$2,960 out of pocket in 2026 before it starts paying, in exchange for a significantly lower monthly premium. It can make sense for someone healthy who wants catastrophic protection at a lower cost, but run the math on your own expected medical use before choosing it over standard Plan G.
8. Does the Plan Cover You When You Travel Internationally?
Original Medicare generally doesn’t cover care outside the United States. Plans C, D, F, G, M, and N include a foreign travel emergency benefit (80% of certain costs, up to plan limits) once you meet a small deductible. If you split time between states or travel abroad often, confirm your plan includes this benefit and understand its limits before you need it.
Remember: If you travel within the US you can use your Medigap plan in any state as long the doctor/facility you see accepts Medicare (this doesn’t apply to Medigap select plans).
9. Do You Need Extra Coverage Like Dental, Vision, or Hearing?
Medigap plans don’t include dental, vision, or hearing benefits (sometimes called Med Sup add-ons), since those are sold as separate policies. Rather than picking a Medigap plan based on which one happens to bundle a small allowance for glasses or cleanings, compare standalone dental and vision options on their own merits. Our team at Senior65 can walk you through what’s available alongside your Medigap plan.
10. Are you working with Senior65?
Yes that’s us and yes this is a self serving entry. But here is the thing, there is never a charge or hidden fee to work with our team at Senior65. If you apply online from our website or enroll over the phone in a Medigap plan, we receive a direct commission from the insurance carrier at no charge to you. This is how we can continue to offer free support from our website and over the phone. As your assigned agent, we can call over to the insurance provider on your behalf to solve any future problems. We would like the chance to earn your business so give us a call at 800-930-7956
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Next Steps
If you’re newly eligible for Medicare, start with our guide to what’s new to Medicare. If you already have a plan and are weighing whether to switch, our guide to switching Medigap plans covers the process in more detail, and the Medicare Insurance Switching guide is a good next stop if your situation involves employer coverage or COBRA. Best of luck!