Medicare Supplement costs vary by plan type, your age, location, and the insurance company

There is no single price for a Medicare Supplement. A 65-year-old in Florida might pay $120 a month for Plan G with one insurer, while the same plan costs $180 a month with a different company in the same state. The same plan in New York could run $200 a month. What you pay depends on which of the ten standardized plans you choose, where you live, your age when you first enroll, and whether the insurance company uses age-based pricing or not.

Monthly premiums typically range from $80 to $300, though some plans and some regions fall outside that band. The lowest-cost plans (Plan A and Plan N) often start around $80 to $120 monthly. The most comprehensive plans (Plan G and Plan F, where available) usually run $150 to $300 or higher. These are ballpark figures — your actual cost depends on the factors listed above.

Key Takeaways

  • Medicare Supplement premiums vary by plan letter, your age, your state, and the insurance company you choose — there is no national standard price.
  • Plans A, B, C, and N are typically the least expensive, while Plans G and F (where still sold) are the most expensive because they cover more out-of-pocket costs.
  • You pay the insurance company directly each month; Medicare does not collect the premium.
  • Age 65 is the best time to enroll if you want the lowest rates, because some insurers charge more as you get older.
  • Comparing quotes from at least three insurers in your state can save you $50 to $100 per month on the same plan.

How the ten standardized plans affect your monthly cost

Medicare offers ten Supplement plans, labeled A through N. Each plan covers a different combination of costs that Original Medicare leaves unpaid — copayments, coinsurance, deductibles, and excess charges. The more a plan covers, the higher the premium.

Plan A is the most basic and usually the cheapest. It covers coinsurance for hospital stays and some doctor visits, but leaves you responsible for the Part B deductible ($240 in 2024, though this changes yearly). Plan B adds the Part B deductible but costs more. Plan C and Plan D cover additional costs and run higher. Plan G covers nearly everything except the Part B deductible and is one of the most popular despite the higher cost. Plan N is less expensive than Plan G because it leaves you responsible for some copayments and the Part B excess charge (if your doctor charges more than Medicare allows).

Plan F, once the most comprehensive, is no longer sold to people who turned 65 on or after January 1, 2020. If you enrolled in Plan F before that date, you can keep it, but new enrollees cannot buy it.

Age and when you enroll matter for your rate

Age 65 is the sweet spot for cost. If you enroll in a Medicare Supplement during your initial enrollment window — the six months starting the month you turn 65 and enroll in Medicare Part B — many insurers use issue-age pricing. This means they lock in a rate based on your age at enrollment and do not raise it as you age (though they may raise rates for all customers in your plan and state).

If you enroll after that window closes, some insurers switch to attained-age pricing, which means your rate goes up each birthday. A plan that costs $120 at age 67 might cost $135 at age 75 and $160 at age 85. Other insurers use community rating, which means everyone in your state pays the same price regardless of age — but that price is usually higher to begin with.

Delaying enrollment can cost you significantly. A person who enrolls at 70 instead of 65 may pay 20 to 40 percent more per month for the same plan, depending on the insurer's pricing method and how many years have passed.

Where you live changes the price substantially

The same plan with the same insurance company costs different amounts in different states and sometimes in different counties within a state. Plan G might cost $160 a month in rural Kansas but $240 a month in New York City. These differences reflect local healthcare costs, the number of insurers competing in the area, and state insurance regulations.

If you move to a different state after enrolling, you may be able to switch plans or insurers without waiting for the annual enrollment period. Contact your current insurer to ask about your options, or call your state's health insurance counselor (through the State Health Insurance information Program, or SHIP) for guidance on how a move affects your coverage.

Insurance company choice can save or cost you hundreds per year

The same plan letter with different insurers can have a $50 to $100 monthly difference in the same state. A Plan G with Insurer A might be $170 a month, while the identical plan with Insurer B is $220. Over a year, that is $600 in difference for the exact same coverage.

Insurers also differ in customer service ratings, claims processing speed, and network quality (though Supplement plans work with all Medicare providers). Before you enroll, request quotes from at least three insurers licensed in your state. Many state health insurance counselors can help you compare, or you can contact insurers directly. The Medicare.gov Plan Finder tool also shows available plans and some pricing, though you will need to contact insurers for exact current rates.

What is included in the monthly premium and what is not

Your monthly Supplement premium covers only the insurance company's portion of your healthcare costs. You still pay Medicare Part B premiums (currently $164.90 per month for most people in 2024, though this varies by income) directly to Medicare. You also pay any costs that your Supplement plan does not cover — for example, if you have Plan A, you still owe the Part B deductible.

The Supplement premium does not cover dental, vision, hearing, or prescription drugs. Those require separate coverage: dental and vision through a private plan, hearing through a private plan or your state's vocational rehabilitation program, and drugs through a Medicare Part D plan or a Medicare Advantage plan that includes drug coverage.

How to compare costs and find the best price for your situation

Start by deciding which plan letter makes sense for your budget and health needs. If you want the lowest monthly cost and do not mind some copayments, Plan A or Plan N might work. If you want to minimize out-of-pocket costs when you use healthcare, Plan G or Plan C might be worth the higher premium.

Once you have chosen a plan letter, contact at least three insurers in your state for quotes. You can find licensed insurers through your state insurance commissioner's office or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE. Ask for the exact monthly premium, whether the rate uses issue-age or attained-age pricing, and what the rate increases have been over the past three years (this gives you a sense of future increases). Some insurers offer discounts for paying annually instead of monthly, or for automatic bank withdrawal, so ask about those too.

If you are already enrolled in a Supplement and want to switch to a cheaper plan or insurer, you can do so during the annual open enrollment period (October 15 to December 7 each year), or you may have other windows depending on your state and circumstances. Your state health insurance counselor can tell you whether you have a special enrollment window available to you right now.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my Medicare Supplement premium go up after I enroll?

Yes. Insurers can raise rates for all customers in a plan and state, though they cannot single you out for a rate increase based on your health or claims history. The size and frequency of increases vary by insurer and state. Asking about past rate increases when you compare quotes helps you predict future costs.

Do I have to pay the Supplement premium if I am on Medicare Advantage instead?

No. Medicare Supplement and Medicare Advantage are separate products. If you have Medicare Advantage, you do not buy a Supplement. You pay your Part B premium to Medicare and your Advantage plan premium (if any) to the insurance company. You cannot have both at the same time.

What happens to my Supplement premium if I move states?

Your current plan may not be available in your new state, or the premium may change. Contact your insurer at least 30 days before you move to ask about your options. You may be able to switch to a different plan or insurer without waiting for open enrollment, depending on your state's rules.

Is there a Supplement plan that covers prescription drugs?

No. Medicare Supplement plans do not cover prescription drugs. You need a separate Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, which you can add to Original Medicare plus a Supplement. If you have Medicare Advantage, drug coverage is usually included in that plan.

Why is Plan F no longer sold to new customers?

Starting January 1, 2020, Medicare stopped allowing insurers to sell Plan F to people newly may be able to access for Medicare. This was a federal change to encourage people to use Plan G instead and to share more of the cost of healthcare. People who enrolled in Plan F before that date can keep it.