Medicare Supplement Costs: Your 2026–2027 Budget Guide
Bottom Line
Medicare Supplement costs depend on your location, plan letter, insurer and eligibility. Budget for Part B and drug coverage separately; Plan N adds copays and excess-charge exposure, while high-deductible G requires cash for cost sharing.
Medicare Supplement insurance has no single national monthly price. Maryland’s July 1, 2026 rate guide lists about $234 for Plan G, $176 for Plan N and $68 for high-deductible G for a 65-year-old woman qualifying for CareFirst MedPlus Level 1 rates in Western Maryland, before household discounts. These are published examples; your location, insurer and eligibility affect your quote.
If you also own a business and are considering an SBA loan, keep any discussion of life insurance for an SBA loan separate from your Medicare coverage decision.
2026 monthly premium examples
The carrier’s rate sheet provides the exact amounts below for a 65-year-old woman in Garrett, Allegany, Washington, Carroll or Frederick County, Maryland. The example assumes Level 1 eligibility through Medigap open enrollment or a qualifying guaranteed-issue period. Rates are effective January 1, 2026, before household or payment discounts, and are subject to change.
| Medicare Supplement option | Published monthly premium | Annual premium at that rate |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Plan G | $233.86 | $2,806.32 |
| Plan N | $175.62 | $2,107.44 |
| High-deductible Plan G | $67.81 | $813.72 |
Annual figures multiply each monthly premium by 12 and assume no rate change. They exclude other Medicare premiums and medical expenses. This single-carrier example is neither a national average nor a ranking of the cheapest insurers.
What does the premium buy?
Medicare Supplement and Medigap mean the same product category: private insurance that helps pay your share of costs under Original Medicare, Part A and Part B. As you explore Medicare Supplement plan options, select the benefits first, then compare insurers selling that plan letter. Basic benefits are standardized across insurers. Massachusetts, Minnesota and Wisconsin use different standardization systems.
Standard Plan G: predictable costs for covered care
Plan G covers the Part A deductible, Part B coinsurance and Part B excess charges. You remain responsible for the Part B deductible—$283 in 2026. That can make budgeting easier if you prefer paying more in premiums to reduce bills when you receive Medicare-covered care.
Plan N: weigh the premium difference against copays
Plan N also leaves the Part B deductible to you. It has copays of up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for emergency room visits that do not result in inpatient admission. It does not cover Part B excess charges. Consider your visit frequency and ask providers about excess charges before choosing solely on premium.
High-deductible G: keep money available for cost sharing
In 2026, the annual high deductible is $2,950. You pay eligible deductibles, copays and coinsurance until the supplement’s deductible is met. Premiums do not count toward it.
Original Medicare still pays its share under its normal rules. The Part B deductible is not covered, but payments toward it count toward the high deductible. This is not a cap on every healthcare expense.
Add the rest of your Medicare budget
Your supplement premium is only one part of the monthly bill. Add your Part B premium, any standalone Part D premium and any Part A premium you owe. Most people qualify for premium-free Part A. The standard Part B premium is $202.90 per month in 2026; higher-income beneficiaries pay more.
Using the published Plan G example, $233.86 plus $202.90 equals $436.76 per month before drug coverage and care costs, assuming premium-free Part A and the standard Part B premium.
Medigap policies sold today do not include prescription drug coverage; a standalone Part D plan provides a separate coverage option. Budget separately for services Medigap generally excludes, such as routine dental and vision care, hearing aids and long-term custodial care.
Medicare Advantage is another way to receive Medicare benefits. Medigap cannot pay an Advantage plan’s copays, deductibles or premiums, so an Advantage premium is not a comparable price for a supplement.
These figures describe 2026 coverage. For a 2027 start date, obtain rates for that effective date and use the official 2027 Medicare amounts when available.
Why quotes differ—and premiums can rise
Your ZIP code, insurer, plan letter, age, tobacco status, available discounts and, where permitted, medical underwriting can affect the premium. Also check whether a lower quote is for Medicare SELECT, which may require particular providers for full benefits.
Ask how each policy is priced:
- Attained-age: Your current age affects the premium, so aging can increase it.
- Issue-age: The age when you buy determines the age-based rate; later birthdays do not themselves raise it.
- Community-rated: The premium is not based on your age.
All three approaches can still have increases for inflation or other factors. Issue-age pricing does not freeze your premium.
For household savings on Medigap premiums, check the actual eligibility rules. CareFirst, for example, advertises a 10% discount when two or more household members enroll in its MedPlus plans. Marriage or sharing an address alone does not establish eligibility for that discount. Ask for the premium with and without every proposed discount.
If you are comparing Medigap plans in Pennsylvania for yourself and a spouse, obtain two individual quotes. Pennsylvania’s Insurance Department explains that each spouse needs a separate policy. Compare the combined household premium after confirmed discounts; Maryland’s example rates do not establish Pennsylvania prices.
Compare annual cost before choosing the lowest premium
A practical approach to finding lower-cost Medigap coverage is to compare annual premiums, expected cost sharing, eligibility and the insurer’s rate history. Ask about recent increases for the same policy in your state, while recognizing that past increases do not predict future rates.
Using the published premiums above, Plan N costs $698.88 less per year than standard G. In a hypothetical year with ten office visits each carrying a $20 Plan N copay, those copays total $200. That leaves a $498.88 difference before any emergency room copays or excess charges. Both plans leave the Part B deductible to you. This illustrates the calculation; it is not a prediction of your medical use or savings.
High-deductible G has $1,992.60 less in annual premiums than standard G in this example. Consider whether you could comfortably pay the $2,950 deductible if substantial care were needed early in the year. A lower monthly bill is more useful when you also have the cash reserve to handle its tradeoff.
Check your enrollment rights before buying or switching
Your federal Medigap open enrollment period lasts six months, starting the first month you are both 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. During that period, insurers cannot use your health to deny a policy they sell or charge you more. Outside protected enrollment rights, underwriting may lead to a higher price or denial. States can provide additional protections.
If you have Medicare before 65, check your state’s rules and available rates. Federal law generally does not require insurers to sell Medigap to people under 65.
Annual Medicare open enrollment, October 15–December 7, does not generally give you a new right to buy Medigap without underwriting. Being able to change Medicare Advantage or drug coverage does not automatically establish Medigap eligibility.
When deciding what to do when Medigap rates rise, ask whether the increase reflects aging, a general rate adjustment or a discount change. Then compare alternatives and confirm whether you qualify to switch. Keep your existing coverage until the replacement is accepted, its premium and effective date are confirmed, and you have reviewed the new policy.
Get comparable quotes
When you request Medicare Supplement rate comparisons, use the same applicant, residential ZIP code, plan letter and coverage start date for every insurer. Have these details ready:
- Date of birth and Part A and Part B effective dates.
- Tobacco status and any applicable enrollment or guaranteed-issue documentation.
- Household information needed to verify discounts.
- Current policy, premium and renewal notice, if you are considering a replacement.
Ask for written premiums, discount conditions, the pricing method and any underwriting requirements. Compare at least two insurers for the same plan letter, then assess whether Plan N or high-deductible G offers a premium reduction large enough for you to accept the additional costs.