Medigap Plans (A, G, N, etc.)—What the Letters Actually Mean
If you’ve ever looked into Medicare Supplement insurance (also called Medigap) and thought, “What in the world do these letters mean?”—you’re not alone.
The good news is the letters are actually simpler than they look. In most states, Medigap plans are standardized, which means a Plan G is a Plan G no matter which company sells it. The main differences from one carrier to another are usually price, rate history, discounts, and customer service—not the medical benefits.
Let’s break down what those letters mean and how to choose the right one.
What is Medigap (Medicare Supplement)?
Medigap is optional insurance you can buy from a private company to help pay the “gaps” that Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) doesn’t fully cover—things like:
Deductibles
Coinsurance (your portion of the bill)
Copays
Extended hospital costs
Medigap is designed to work with Original Medicare, not replace it.
Important note: Medigap plans generally do not include prescription drug coverage. If you want drug coverage, you typically add a separate Part D plan.
Why are they called Plan A, Plan G, Plan N, etc.?
The letter is basically a package of benefits. Think of each letter as a preset “bundle” of coverage.
In most states, the standardized Medigap plans you’ll commonly see are:
A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N
(Some states have different standardization rules.)
The quick truth: Plan A is not “worse” because it’s A
A lot of people assume “Plan A” must be the best because it’s first—or the worst because it’s basic. Neither is true.
Plan A is the most basic standardized Medigap plan, and every Medigap company must offer it if they offer Medigap at all. From there, the other letters add more benefits.
What each Medigap letter actually means (plain English)
Here’s a simple way to understand the most common options:
Plan A: The basic foundation
Plan A covers a core set of costs (like Part B coinsurance), but does not cover things like the Part A deductible or skilled nursing facility coinsurance.
Good fit if you want the lowest Medigap premium and don’t mind more cost-sharing.
Plan B: Adds the Part A deductible
Plan B is like Plan A, but it also helps cover the Part A deductible (the deductible tied to inpatient hospital stays).
Plan D: Solid coverage, but doesn’t cover “excess charges”
Plan D covers more than A/B (including skilled nursing facility coinsurance and foreign travel emergency), but does not cover Part B excess charges.
Plan G: The “most complete” option for most new Medicare beneficiaries
Plan G is extremely popular because it’s very comprehensive.
In plain terms: Plan G generally pays almost everything after Medicare, except you still pay the Part B deductible.
For many people turning 65 today, Plan G is the closest thing to “set-it-and-forget-it” coverage.
Plan N: Lower premium, with a few copays
Plan N is also a favorite because it often has a lower premium than Plan G.
With Plan N, you may have:
Small copays for some office visits and ER visits
No coverage for Part B excess charges
Plan N can be a great fit if you’re healthy, don’t go to the doctor constantly, and want to keep premiums down.
Plan K and Plan L: Lower premium + cost-sharing + an out-of-pocket limit
Plans K and L work differently than G/N.
They typically have lower premiums but cover a percentage of many costs (instead of nearly all of them). The tradeoff is they include an annual out-of-pocket limit, and once you hit it, the plan pays 100% of covered costs for the rest of the year.
Plan K covers less (but usually costs less)
Plan L covers more (but usually costs more)
Plan M: A middle-ground option (less common)
Plan M is a blend-style plan that covers many gaps, but typically only covers part of the Part A deductible. It’s not available everywhere and isn’t as commonly chosen as G or N, but it can make sense in certain situations.
What about Plan F and Plan C?
You may still hear people talk about Plan F (and sometimes Plan C) because they were historically very popular.
But here’s the key rule:
If you became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020, you typically can’t buy Plan F or Plan C.
If you were eligible before that date, you may still be able to buy them (depending on your situation and state rules).
The 3 biggest “letter myths” that trip people up
Myth #1: “A Plan G from Company A covers more than a Plan G from Company B.”
In most states, no. The benefits are standardized by the plan letter.
Myth #2: “Medigap includes prescriptions, dental, vision, and hearing.”
Usually no (prescriptions are typically Part D; dental/vision/hearing may require separate coverage).
Myth #3: “I can buy Medigap anytime with no health questions.”
Not always. The easiest time to enroll is typically your Medigap Open Enrollment window (often when you first start Part B). Outside that, you may have underwriting depending on the situation.
How to choose between Plan G vs Plan N (the most common decision)
A simple way to decide:
Choose Plan G if you want:
The most predictable costs
Minimal copays and surprises
Strong coverage for frequent doctor visits
Choose Plan N if you want:
A lower monthly premium
You don’t mind occasional copays
You rarely go to the doctor and want to save monthly
Final tip: The “best” Medigap letter depends on your goals
The right plan is usually the one that fits:
Your doctor usage
Your budget comfort level
Whether you want predictable costs or lower premiums
Your enrollment timing and eligibility rules
Need help comparing Medigap letters in Kentucky?
If you want, we can do a quick side-by-side comparison based on your doctors, medications, and budget goals and help you understand which plan letter fits best.
Jackson Insurance Group (JIGKY)
Website: jigky.com
Email: support@jigky.com