Best Medicare Supplement Plans for Seniors in 2026: Medicare helps pay for many health care costs, but it doesn’t cover everything. Medicare Supplement Insurance, also known as Medigap, can help pay some of the costs that Original Medicare doesn’t cover. These plans are offered by private insurance companies and can help with things like deductibles, coinsurance and copayments.
There isn’t one Medigap plan that’s best for everyone. Plan G is a good option for seniors who want strong coverage and fewer medical bills to pay themselves. Plan N may be better for those who want a lower monthly premium and don’t mind paying some copays. Plans K and L can also be good choices for seniors who want lower premiums along with a yearly limit on some out-of-pocket costs.
According to CMS for 2026, the standard Medicare Part B premium is $202.90 per month and the Part B deductible is $283. The Part A hospital deductible is $1,736. These costs are separate from the premium paid for a Medigap policy.
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Best Medicare Supplement Plans for Seniors in 2026
The main Medigap plans are standardized in most states. This means a Plan G policy has the same basic benefits no matter which insurance company sells it. What can change is the price, customer service and how the company sets its premiums.
| Medigap Plan | Best for | Main coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Plan G | Seniors who want strong overall coverage | Pays most Medicare-covered cost sharing after the Part B deductible |
| Plan N | Seniors looking for lower premiums | Strong coverage with some office and ER copays |
| Plan K | Seniors who want lower premiums | 50% coverage for many costs with an out-of-pocket limit |
| Plan L | Seniors who want a balance of premium and protection | 75% coverage for many costs with a lower out-of-pocket limit |
| High-Deductible Plan G | Seniors who want a cheaper premium | Broad benefits after a $2,950 deductible in 2026 |
Plan G
Plan G is one of the most complete Medigap choices available to new Medicare enrollees. It covers nearly all Medicare-approved cost sharing that Original Medicare leaves behind, but it doesn’t pay the Part B deductible.
After the $283 Part B deductible is paid in 2026, Plan G can cover the remaining Medicare-covered Part B coinsurance. It also covers the Part A deductible, skilled nursing facility coinsurance and certain foreign travel emergency costs, subject to plan limits. For seniors who visit doctors often or want fewer surprise bills, Plan G can be a very practical choice.
Plan N
Plan N is another popular option, especially for seniors who want to save on their monthly premium. It covers many of the same major costs as Plan G, but it has more cost sharing.
Plan N can require up to a $20 copay for some office visits and up to a $50 copay for an emergency room visit when the person isn’t admitted as an inpatient. It also doesn’t cover Part B excess charges.
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This plan may work better for a senior who doesn’t see doctors very often and wants to trade some extra out-of-pocket costs for a potentially lower premium.
Plans K and L Can Help Control Yearly Costs
Not every senior needs the most complete Medigap plan. Plans K and L offer another route. They cover only part of some medical costs at first, but they also have yearly out-of-pocket limits.
For 2026, Plan K has an $8,000 out-of-pocket limit while Plan L has a $4,000 limit. After the yearly limit is reached and the $283 Part B deductible has been paid, these plans cover 100% of covered services for the rest of the calendar year.
This can be useful for seniors who want some protection from very high medical bills but are more focused on keeping the monthly premium lower.
What about Plan F?
Plan F has very broad coverage, but it’s not available to everyone. People who became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020 generally can’t buy Plan F. Medicare says eligibility for Plan F and Plan C depends on when a person first became eligible for Medicare.
A high-deductible version of Plan G is also available in some states. In 2026, the deductible is $2,950 for Medicare-covered costs before the policy starts paying.
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How Seniors Should Choose a Medigap Plan
Choosing the right policy isn’t only about picking the letter. The premium can be very different from one company to another even when the plan benefits are exactly the same. Medicare says, “Price is the only difference between policies with the same letter sold by different companies.” Seniors should look at these points before buying:
- Check the monthly premium: Medigap premiums are paid to the private insurance company, and they are separate from the Medicare Part B premium. Premiums can also rise over time.
- Compare the same plan from different companies: A Plan G from one insurer has the same standardized benefits as Plan G from another insurer, but the prices can be very different.
- Look at how the premium is priced: Companies may use community-rating, issue-age-rating or attained-age-rating. This can affect how much the policy costs as the years go by.
- Check the enrollment window: The Medigap Open Enrollment Period lasts 6 months and starts when a person is 65 or older and has Part B. During this period, an insurer generally can’t refuse coverage or charge more because of pre-existing health problems.
- Remember what Medigap doesn’t cover: Medigap generally doesn’t pay for prescription drugs, dental care, vision care, hearing aids or long-term care. A separate Part D plan is needed for prescription drug coverage.
