A Medigap policy is different from a Medicare Advantage Plan. Medicare Advantage gives you a different way to get your Medicare benefits. A Medigap policy, on the other hand, helps fill in the gaps by covering some of the costs that Original Medicare doesn’t, like copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles.

You’ll pay a monthly premium to a private insurance company for your Medigap policy. (This is separate from your regular Medicare Part B premium.)

If you choose to get a Medigap policy, you’ll still need to pay your monthly Part B premium to Medicare, too.

A Medigap policy only covers one person. If your spouse or partner also wants Medigap coverage, they’ll need their own separate policy.

You must already be signed up for Original Medicare (Parts A and B) before you can buy a Medigap policy.

Good news: Medigap policies are guaranteed to be renewable! As long as you pay your premium, the insurance company can’t cancel your policy, even if your health changes.

Medigap policies do not include prescription drug coverage. If you need help with medication costs, you can enroll in a separate Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (Part D).

There are ten types of Medigap plans available: A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N. (Quick tip: Plans C and F are only available if you qualified for Medicare before January 1, 2020.)

Each lettered plan offers a different level of coverage, but the benefits for each letter are the same no matter which insurance company you choose.