In 2024 more than 65 million Americans had Medicare coverage according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Yet roughly one in four people on Medicare also bought a supplement plan known as Medigap to cover what original Medicare does not pay.
These plans pay for copayments, coinsurance and deductibles that can add up fast. The average couple on Medicare spent more than 11000 dollars out of pocket in 2023 according to a Kaiser Family Foundation report.
Choosing the right supplement plan at the right time can lock in lower premiums for life and protect savings built over decades of work. The window to buy without medical underwriting usually opens when you turn 65 and lasts six months.
Missing that window can make coverage far more expensive or even impossible to obtain.
What Medicare Supplement Plans Actually Cover
Original Medicare pays about 80 percent of approved hospital and medical costs after the deductible. The remaining 20 percent falls on the patient. Medicare supplement plans labeled A through N pay some or all of that 20 percent.
Plan F for example covers the Part A deductible of 1712 dollars in 2025, the Part B deductible of 257 dollars, excess charges and foreign travel emergencies. Plan G offers nearly identical benefits except it does not cover the Part B deductible.
Plan N covers most of the same items but requires copayments of up to 20 dollars for some office visits and 50 dollars for emergency room visits. In 2024 the monthly premium for a 68-year-old male buying Plan G in a medium-cost state averaged 165 dollars according to data compiled by the American Association for Medicare Supplement Insurance.
Premiums vary by age, gender, location and tobacco use.
The Best Time to Buy a Supplement Plan
The federal government guarantees that during the six-month period after you turn 65 and enroll in Part B you can buy any Medicare supplement plan sold in your state without medical questions. Insurance companies cannot deny coverage or charge higher rates based on health conditions during that open enrollment.
After the six months end an insurer may ask health questions and decline applicants with recent heart attacks, cancer or other serious conditions. Data from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission show that only 42 percent of new Medicare beneficiaries buy a supplement plan in their first year.
Those who wait often pay more or lose the chance entirely. Some states offer additional protections. New York and Connecticut for example allow people to switch plans later with few restrictions.
Popular Plans and Their Costs in 2025
Plan G remains the most purchased Medicare supplement in 2025. It covers the Part A deductible, coinsurance, 80 percent of foreign travel emergencies and all Part B excess charges.
The national average monthly premium for a 65-year-old buying Plan G is about 148 dollars for men and 132 dollars for women according to the 2025 Medicare Supplement Rate Report by Weiss Ratings. Plan N costs roughly 30 percent less but leaves the policyholder responsible for those small copayments.
Plan F is no longer available to people newly eligible for Medicare after January 1 2020. People already enrolled in Plan F may keep it. High-deductible versions of both G and F exist.
The high-deductible Plan G carries a 2800 dollar deductible in 2025 and costs about 60 dollars per month on average yet still protects against truly large bills.
How Household Income Affects Your Choice
Higher-income households often choose Plan G or high-deductible G to minimize future risk. A couple with 120000 dollars in annual retirement income might prefer the certainty of predictable premiums over the uncertainty of medical bills.
Lower-income households sometimes select Plan N to keep monthly costs down. The average annual premium difference between Plan G and Plan N for a 67-year-old couple equals about 780 dollars according to a 2024 study by the Commonwealth Fund.
Over ten years that difference grows to more than 8000 dollars before any claims. Households with substantial savings often view the supplement as true insurance against the possibility of a hospital stay that could cost tens of thousands of dollars.
Steps to Compare and Purchase a Plan
First confirm you have both Part A and Part B in place. Then request rate quotes from at least three insurers in your ZIP code. Use the Medicare.gov plan finder or call the State Health Insurance Assistance Program which offers free unbiased counseling.
Ask each company for its rate history over the past five years. Some insurers have raised premiums by less than 3 percent annually while others have increased rates more than 10 percent in a single year.
A.M.에서 재무 건전성 등급을 확인하세요. 최고 또는 Weiss 등급. 마지막으로 가구 할인 정책을 검토합니다. 많은 보험사에서는 두 배우자가 같은 회사에서 보험을 구입할 경우 보험료를 5~12% 삭감합니다. |||9월||| 의료 보험 인수를 방지하려면 공개 등록 기간 동안 신청서를 작성하세요. |||9월||| 피해야 할 일반적인 함정 |||9월||| 많은 사람들은 가격을 비교하지 않고 TV에서 처음 광고하는 요금제를 구매합니다. 동일한 플랜 G의 요금은 같은 도시 내 회사 간에 월 70달러 이상 차이가 날 수 있습니다. |||9월||| 다른 사람들은 메디케어 보충 플랜이 처방약을 보장하지 않는다는 사실을 잊어버립니다. 별도의 파트 D 플랜이 필요합니다. 일부 등록자는 몇 년 후 건강해졌을 때 보충제를 중단했지만 나중에 의학적 질문에 대답하지 않고는 다른 보충제를 구입할 수 없다는 사실을 발견했습니다. |||9월||| 2023년 정부 회계감사원(Government Accountability Office) 보고서에 따르면 Medigap 보험을 중단한 사람들의 약 18%가 나중에 건강이 바뀌자 결정을 후회했습니다. |||9월||| 올바른 결정의 장기적 가치 |||9월||| 65세에 구입한 잘 선택된 메디케어 보충 플랜은 보험료를 지불하는 한 남은 생애 동안 유효하게 유지될 수 있습니다. 많은 플랜이 도달 연령 등급을 사용하기 때문에 보험료는 매년 인상되지만 새로운 건강 문제 때문에 인상되는 것은 아닙니다. |||9월||| 전국 보험 감독관 협회(National Association of Insurance Commissioners)는 보충 플랜이 있는 메디케어 가입자가 그렇지 않은 사람보다 본인 부담금을 약 30% 적게 지출한다고 보고합니다. 20년이 지나면 그 차이는 50,000달러를 초과할 수 있습니다. |||9월||| 심각한 질병이 퇴직금을 낭비하지 않을 것이라는 사실을 아는 데서 오는 마음의 평화는 무엇보다도 가장 귀중한 혜택일 수 있습니다. |||9월||| 2024년에는 미국인 100만 명이 메디케어를 이용하게 됩니다. |||9월||| 2023년 메디케어 부부의 연간 평균 본인 부담 지출 |||9월||| 65세가 된 후 한 달 동안 등록 기간이 열립니다. |||9월||| 2025년 플랜 G에 가입한 65세 남성의 월평균 보험료 |||9월||| 첫해에 보충제를 구입하는 새로운 수혜자의 비율 |||9월||| 2025년 공제액이 높은 Plan G에 대한 공제액 |||9월||| Medicare 보충 플랜별 월 평균 보험료(2025년 65세) |||9월||| 플랜 G |||9월||| 플랜 N |||9월||| 높은 공제액 G |||9월||| 플랜 F(가능한 경우) |||9월||| 출처: Weiss Ratings Medicare 보충 보고서, 2025 |||9월||| 인기 있는 Medigap 플랜이 보장하는 주요 혜택 |||9월||| 혜택 |||9월||| 파트 A 공제액 |||9월||| 예 |||9월||| <,800 이후 |||9월||| 파트 B 공동보험 |||9월||| 파트 B 공제액 |||9월||| 초과요금 |||9월||| 해외여행 |||9월||| 진료소 방문 자기부담금 |||9월||| 없음 |||9월||| 최대 <0 |||9월||| 올바른 Medicare 보충 플랜을 선택하려면 세부 사항에 주의를 기울여야 하지만 의료 요구가 자주 증가하는 수년 동안 재정적 안정을 얻을 수 있습니다. 공개 등록 규칙을 이해하는 것부터 시작하고 안정적인 회사의 실제 견적을 비교하고 보장 없이 직면할 수 있는 잠재적인 본인 부담 비용과 월 보험료를 비교해보세요. |||9월||| 65세에 여러 가지 옵션을 공부하는 데 몇 시간을 투자하면 저축을 보호하고 남은 은퇴 생활에 대한 걱정을 줄일 수 있습니다. 많은 사람들은 주 건강 보험 지원 프로그램 상담사와 대화하면 혼란이 사라지고 수십 년 동안 만족스러운 선택을 할 수 있다는 것을 알게 됩니다. |||9월||| 출처 |||9월||| 메디케어 및 메디케이드 서비스 센터, '메디케어 등록 대시보드'(2024) |||9월||| Kaiser Family Foundation, '메디케어 본인부담 지출 동향'(2023) |||9월||| 미국 메디케어 보충 보험 협회, 'Medigap 등록 보고서'(2024) |||9월||| Weiss Ratings, '메디케어 보충 보험 보고서'(2025) |||9월||| 메디케어지불자문위원회, '의회 보고'(2024) |||9월||| 미국 회계감사원, 'Medigap 정책 유지 연구'(2023) |||9월||| 더 깊게 |||9월||| 기존 질환이 있는 경우 메디케어 보충 플랜을 구입할 수 있나요? |||9월||| 예, 65세가 되어 파트 B에 등록할 때 시작되는 6개월의 공개 등록 기간 동안 가능합니다. 해당 기간이 지나면 보험사는 건강 기록에 따라 보장을 거부할 수 있습니다. 일부 주에서는 추가적인 발행 보장 권리를 제공합니다. |||9월||| 모든 Medicare 보충 플랜에 동일한 내용이 적용됩니까?
Complete the application during your open enrollment window to avoid medical underwriting.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Many people buy the first plan they see advertised on television without comparing prices. Rates for the same Plan G can differ by more than 70 dollars per month between companies in the same city.
Others forget that Medicare supplement plans do not cover prescription drugs. A separate Part D plan is required. Some enrollees drop their supplement after a few years when healthy only to discover they cannot buy another one later without answering medical questions.
According to a 2023 Government Accountability Office report nearly 18 percent of people who dropped their Medigap policy later regretted the decision when health changed.
Long-Term Value of the Right Decision
A well-chosen Medicare supplement plan bought at age 65 can remain in force for the rest of your life as long as premiums are paid. Because many plans use attained-age rating your premium will rise each year but not because of new health problems.
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners reports that the average person on Medicare with a supplement plan spends about 30 percent less out of pocket than someone without one. Over twenty years that difference can exceed 50000 dollars.
The peace of mind that comes from knowing a serious illness will not drain retirement savings may be the most valuable benefit of all.
Key Benefits Covered by Popular Medigap Plans
| Benefit | Plan G | Plan N | High-Deductible G |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part A Deductible | Yes | Yes | After $2,800 |
| Part B Coinsurance | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Part B Deductible | No | No | No |
| Excess Charges | Yes | No | Yes |
| Foreign Travel | 80% | 80% | 80% |
| Office Visit Copay | None | Up to $20 | None |
Selecting the right Medicare supplement plan requires attention to detail but the reward is financial security during years when medical needs often increase. Start by understanding the open enrollment rules, compare real quotes from stable companies and weigh the monthly premium against the potential out-of-pocket costs you could face without coverage.
A few hours spent studying options at age 65 can protect your savings and reduce worry for the rest of your retirement. Many people find that talking with a State Health Insurance Assistance Program counselor removes the confusion and leads to a choice they feel good about for decades.
Sources
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 'Medicare Enrollment Dashboard' (2024)
- Kaiser Family Foundation, 'Medicare Out-of-Pocket Spending Trends' (2023)
- American Association for Medicare Supplement Insurance, 'Medigap Enrollment Report' (2024)
- Weiss Ratings, 'Medicare Supplement Insurance Report' (2025)
- Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, 'Report to Congress' (2024)
- U.S. Government Accountability Office, 'Medigap Policy Retention Study' (2023)