Jump To
Choosing a Medicare Supplement — also called Medigap — is one of the most consequential decisions a new Medicare beneficiary in Florida will make. Medigap plans fill the gaps that Original Medicare leaves: deductibles, coinsurance, and cost-sharing that can otherwise expose you to unlimited out-of-pocket medical costs. The good news is that the federal government standardizes Medigap benefits, making the comparison process simpler than it might appear. Once you understand which plan letter you want, the comparison comes down to price, insurer reputation, and pricing methodology.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) standardizes Medigap benefits nationally. Every insurance company that sells a Plan G in Florida must provide exactly the same set of benefits as every other company selling a Plan G in Florida. There are no riders, no bells and whistles, and no meaningfully different benefit structures between insurers for the same plan letter.
This standardization is the key fact that simplifies Medigap shopping: once you have selected your plan letter, you are essentially comparing commodity insurance products. The only variables are the monthly premium, the insurer's pricing methodology, and their historical rate increase track record.
The following table shows which Medicare cost-sharing gaps each available Medigap plan covers. Plans K and L have cost-sharing of 50% and 75% respectively for some benefits, up to annual out-of-pocket limits.
| Benefit Covered | Plan A | Plan B | Plan D | Plan G | Plan K | Plan L | Plan M | Plan N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part A coinsurance + hospital costs (365 extra days) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Part B coinsurance or copayment | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 50% | 75% | Yes | Yes* |
| Part A deductible ($1,676/benefit period) | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 50% | 75% | 50% | Yes |
| Part B deductible ($257/year) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Part B excess charges | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Skilled nursing facility coinsurance | No | No | Yes | Yes | 50% | 75% | Yes | Yes |
| Foreign travel emergency (80%, up to limits) | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes |
*Plan N pays 100% of Part B coinsurance except up to $20 copay for office visits and up to $50 for ER visits not resulting in inpatient admission.
Medigap Plan G is the most popular plan choice among Florida beneficiaries who are newly eligible for Medicare (turning 65 on or after January 1, 2020). Plan G covers every Medicare gap except the annual Part B deductible ($257 in 2026). After you pay that deductible once at the start of each calendar year, Plan G covers 100% of your Medicare-approved costs — no coinsurance, no copays, no cost exposure beyond that $257.
For Floridians who travel frequently, plan to see specialists, or want peace of mind in case of serious illness, Plan G delivers the most comprehensive protection available in the current Medigap market. Monthly premiums for Plan G in Florida typically range from approximately $120 to $250 per month for a 65-year-old, depending on the insurer, county, gender, and tobacco use status.
Plan N provides nearly the same coverage as Plan G but with a different cost-sharing structure for outpatient visits. Under Plan N, you pay up to $20 per office visit (after your Part B deductible) and up to $50 for emergency room visits that do not result in hospital admission. Plan N does not cover Part B excess charges — the difference between what a doctor charges and what Medicare approves — which means you should seek out providers who accept Medicare assignment if you choose Plan N.
Plan N premiums are generally $20–$50/month lower than Plan G for the same age and insurer. If you are generally healthy, rarely visit specialists, and are comfortable with occasional small copays, Plan N can save meaningful money over time.
High-Deductible Plan G (HDG) offers the same comprehensive coverage as standard Plan G, but you must pay a deductible of $2,870 (in 2026) before the plan begins paying benefits. After the deductible is met, HDG covers 100% of your costs just like standard Plan G. In exchange for taking on that deductible, your monthly premium is dramatically lower — often $50–$80/month for a 65-year-old in Florida versus $120–$250 for standard Plan G.
HDG is a strong option for healthier, newly enrolled beneficiaries who are comfortable managing a potential $2,870 annual deductible in exchange for lower monthly premiums. Many financial planners recommend it for people with adequate emergency savings.
Florida Medigap insurers use three different methods to set and increase premiums. Understanding which method an insurer uses is critical to projecting your long-term costs:
Several large national insurers dominate the Florida Medigap market. All of them offer standardized Plan G and Plan N benefits — the differences lie in pricing, customer service, and rate stability:
Because benefits are identical across insurers for the same plan letter, a licensed independent agent can compare rates from all these carriers in a single conversation — and can also research each company's rate increase history in Florida, which is a key factor in long-term affordability.
Your Medigap Open Enrollment Period is the 6-month window that begins the first day of the month you are both age 65 (or older) and enrolled in Medicare Part B. During this window, you have guaranteed issue rights — no Florida Medigap insurer can deny you coverage or charge you a higher premium due to pre-existing conditions, health history, or current medical status.
Outside this window, Florida law allows Medigap insurers to require medical underwriting. This means a past cancer diagnosis, heart condition, COPD, diabetes complications, or kidney disease could result in higher premiums or outright denial of coverage. The open enrollment window is not renewable — you get one 6-month window, and it does not restart if you switch Medicare Advantage plans and return to Original Medicare (with some limited exceptions for guaranteed issue events).
Speak with a licensed Florida Medicare specialist at no cost. Compare plans, understand your options, and enroll with confidence.
Licensed agent · No sales pressure
What is the difference between Medigap Plan G and Plan N?
Medigap Plan G covers all Medicare gaps except the Part B deductible ($257 in 2026). You pay no coinsurance for doctor visits, outpatient procedures, or Part B services after that deductible. Plan N also covers Part B coinsurance but charges up to $20 for office visits and up to $50 for emergency room visits that do not lead to inpatient admission. Plan N premiums are generally $20–$50/month less than Plan G for the same age and insurer. Plan G is better if you have frequent specialist or ER visits; Plan N may save money if you rarely use outpatient services.
Are Medigap benefits the same regardless of which insurance company I choose?
Yes. Medigap plans are standardized by CMS — every insurer selling Plan G in Florida must provide exactly the same benefits as every other insurer selling Plan G. The only difference between insurers is the monthly premium and the quality of customer service. This means you should compare premium prices across multiple insurers once you have selected the plan letter that meets your needs.
When is my Medigap open enrollment window in Florida?
Your Medigap Open Enrollment Period begins the first day of the month you are both age 65 (or older) and enrolled in Medicare Part B. It lasts 6 months. During this window you have guaranteed issue rights — no insurer can deny you a Medigap policy or charge you more based on your health. Outside this window, insurers in Florida can require medical underwriting, which may result in higher premiums or denial of coverage.
Can I switch Medigap plans after my open enrollment window ends?
You can apply to switch Medigap plans at any time, but outside your Open Enrollment Period or a guaranteed issue event, Florida insurers can apply medical underwriting. This means you may be denied or charged a higher premium based on your health history. If you are in good health, switching to a lower-premium plan later is often possible. If you have ongoing health conditions, it may be difficult to switch without a guaranteed issue right.
What is attained-age pricing for Medigap and why does it matter?
Attained-age pricing means your Medigap premium is based on your current age and increases every year as you get older. This is the most common pricing method used by Florida Medigap insurers. While premiums may start lower with attained-age plans, they increase predictably over time. Issue-age pricing — where your premium is set at the age you first enrolled and only increases with inflation — typically starts higher but can be more cost-effective over a long retirement.