Medicare Supplemental Insurance Premiums Vary by Plan, Location, and Age

Medicare supplemental insurance (also called Medigap) costs between roughly $100 and $300 per month for most people, but the actual amount depends on which plan you choose, where you live, your age, and your health history. There is no single "Medicare supplemental insurance" price — each of the ten standardized plans (A through N) has its own cost, and each insurance company sets its own rates for those plans.

The price you pay also depends on how the insurance company calculates your premium. Some companies use age-attained rating, which means your premium goes up each birthday. Others use issue-age rating, which locks in a rate based on your age when you first buy the policy and does not increase with age alone. A few use community rating, which charges everyone in your state the same price regardless of age. The method matters: two people buying the same plan from the same company can pay very different amounts depending on when they enrolled.

Key Takeaways

  • Monthly premiums for Medigap plans typically range from $100 to $300, but vary significantly by plan letter, insurance company, your age, and your state.
  • Plan A and Plan N are usually the least expensive; Plan G and Plan F (if you are may be able to access) are usually the most expensive because they cover more out-of-pocket costs.
  • Your premium will increase over time due to age, inflation, and claims experience — not because you used your coverage.
  • You can switch to a different Medigap plan or company outside of open enrollment, but only during specific windows or if you meet certain conditions.
  • The best way to compare actual prices is to enter your zip code, age, and plan choice into a quote tool from multiple insurers, since rates vary widely even within the same state.

What Affects Your Monthly Premium

Your age at the time you buy Medigap coverage is one of the largest factors in your cost. If you enroll during your open enrollment period (the six months after you turn 65 and sign up for Medicare Part B), you have may provide issue rights, which means insurance companies cannot charge you more or deny you based on pre-existing conditions. But they can and do charge different rates based on your age at enrollment. Someone who buys at 65 will pay less than someone who buys at 72, even if both are buying the same plan from the same company.

Your state and zip code matter because insurance companies set rates by region, and some states regulate how much rates can increase year to year. New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts have stricter rate rules than most other states. A plan that costs $150 per month in one state might cost $200 in another, even though the coverage is identical.

The plan letter itself is the biggest driver of cost. Plan A covers fewer out-of-pocket costs than Plan G, so Plan A premiums are lower. Plan F (available only to people who were may be able to access for Medicare before January 1, 2020) covers the most and typically costs the most. Plan N falls in the middle and is often a good balance of coverage and cost for people newly turning 65.

How Premiums Change Over Time

Your Medigap premium will increase, and it usually increases every year. The increase happens for three reasons: your age (if your company uses age-attained rating), inflation and rising healthcare costs, and claims experience (if many people in your plan filed claims, the company may raise rates for everyone in that plan). You cannot prevent these increases, but you can shop around to see if another company offers the same plan at a lower rate.

Some people assume their premium went up because they used their coverage. That is not how Medigap works. Your individual claims do not affect your individual premium. The company cannot charge you more because you went to the doctor or had surgery. However, if many people in your plan filed claims, the company can raise rates for all members of that plan.

Rate increases are not the same as switching plans. If you want to move to a less expensive plan (like switching from Plan G to Plan N), you can do that, but you may face medical underwriting if you are outside your open enrollment period. Some people switch plans to keep their out-of-pocket costs manageable as premiums climb.

Comparing Plans and Prices Side by Side

The ten Medigap plans are standardized, which means Plan A from Company X covers exactly the same things as Plan A from Company Y. The only differences are price and customer service. This makes comparison straightforward: you are looking for the lowest price for the plan you want.

To compare prices, you need to know three things: your zip code, your age, and which plan letter interests you. Then you can get quotes from multiple insurance companies. Some companies offer quotes online; others require a phone call. Medicare.gov has a tool that lists insurers in your area, and many state health insurance counseling programs (called SHIP — State Health Insurance information Program) offer free help comparing plans and prices by phone.

Do not assume the cheapest plan is the best deal. A plan that costs $20 less per month but has a higher deductible might cost you more overall if you use healthcare services. Write down the monthly premium, the deductible, and the coinsurance percentage for each plan you are considering, then estimate your total annual cost based on how much healthcare you typically use.

When You Can Change Plans and What It Costs

If you enroll in Medigap during your open enrollment period (the six months after you turn 65 and enroll in Medicare Part B), you can switch to any plan or any company without medical underwriting. This is the easiest and cheapest time to change plans because no one can deny you or charge you more based on your health.

Outside of open enrollment, switching plans is harder. Most insurance companies will require you to answer health questions or undergo medical underwriting. If you have a pre-existing condition, a company can deny you or exclude that condition from coverage. Some states have rules that allow switching under certain circumstances — for example, if your current company raises rates by more than a certain percentage, or if you move to a new state. Your SHIP counselor can tell you what options exist in your state.

Switching companies while staying on the same plan is sometimes easier than switching to a different plan. Many states allow you to switch to the same plan with a different company without medical underwriting, though this varies by state and by company. Again, your SHIP program can advise you on what is possible where you live.

What Is Not Included in Your Premium

Your Medigap premium covers only the supplemental insurance policy itself. It does not include your Medicare Part B premium (which you pay to Medicare), your Part D prescription drug premium (if you choose to enroll), or your Part A premium (which most people do not pay because they worked long enough to may have access to for free Part A). You pay those separately to Medicare or to your Part D plan.

Medigap also does not cover services that Medicare does not cover, such as dental, vision, hearing aids, or long-term care. If you need those services, you would need to buy separate coverage or pay out of pocket. Some Medicare Advantage plans (Part C) include dental and vision, but those are a different type of coverage from Medigap and have their own premiums and rules.

How to Get a Quote and What Information You Will Need

To get an accurate quote, have the following information ready: your date of birth, your zip code, your Medicare number (or Social Security number), and the plan letter you are interested in. Some companies also ask whether you have ever been denied Medigap coverage or had a condition excluded. Be honest — lying on an process can void your coverage later.

You can get quotes by visiting insurance company websites directly, calling their customer service lines, or contacting your state SHIP program. SHIP counselors are free and do not work for any insurance company, so they can give you unbiased information about plans and prices in your area. To find your SHIP program, search "[your state] SHIP" or call 1-800-MEDICARE.

When you receive quotes, ask whether the price shown is the first-month premium or the ongoing monthly premium. Some companies offer discounts for the first month or first year. Also ask what the rate increase history has been for that plan — a company that raises rates 8 percent every year is more expensive long-term than one that raises rates 3 percent, even if the starting price is higher.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Medigap premium so much higher than my neighbor's?

Even if you both have the same plan from the same company, your ages at enrollment might be different, or one of you might have enrolled during open enrollment while the other did not. You also might live in different zip codes. The best way to know if your premium is competitive is to get quotes from other companies in your area for the same plan.

Can I get Medigap if I have a pre-existing condition?

Yes, if you enroll during your open enrollment period (the six months after you turn 65 and sign up for Medicare Part B). During this window, insurance companies cannot deny you or charge you more because of your health. If you enroll outside this window, companies can deny you or exclude your pre-existing condition from coverage.

Does my Medigap premium go up if I use my coverage a lot?

No. Your individual claims do not affect your individual premium. However, if many people in your plan filed claims, the insurance company can raise rates for all members of that plan. This is called a rate increase and affects everyone, not just people who used their coverage.

What happens to my Medigap if I move to a different state?

Your Medigap policy is not portable across state lines. You will need to enroll in a new Medigap plan in your new state. Some states allow you to switch plans without medical underwriting when you move, but this varies. Contact your new state's SHIP program to learn what options are available to you.

Is Medigap the same as Medicare Advantage?

No. Medigap supplements Original Medicare (Parts A and B), while Medicare Advantage (Part C) replaces Original Medicare. Medicare Advantage plans often have lower premiums but higher out-of-pocket costs and network restrictions. Medigap has higher premiums but more flexibility in which doctors you can see and lower out-of-pocket costs.