Medicare Supplement (Medigap), California
2027 Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Plans in California
Medigap plans are federally standardized: the same letter covers the same benefits at every company, so in California the only real differences are the premium, the carrier, and the service. Compare the letters below, see what Medigap costs in California, and price your exact age and ZIP with a licensed agent, free to you.
Mon to Thu 9 AM to 8 PM, Fri 9 AM to 3 PM, Sat 9 AM to 2 PM PT · CA license #4551902
Compare Medigap plan benefits in California
Every plan covers Part A hospital costs at 100%, and every plan covers Part B coinsurance, the first 3 pints of blood, and hospice coinsurance at 100% too, except Plans K and L, which pay 50% and 75% of those three until their out-of-pocket limit.
| Medigap benefit | Available to people new to Medicare | Only if you were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medigap benefit | Plan A | Plan B | Plan D | Plan GMost chosen | Plan K | Plan L | Plan M | Plan NLower premium | Plan F | Plan C |
| Part B coinsurance or copayment | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 50% | 75% | 100% | 100%* | 100% | 100% |
| Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance | Not covered | Not covered | 100% | 100% | 50% | 75% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Part A deductible ($1,736 per hospital stay in 2026) | Not covered | 100% | 100% | 100% | 50% | 75% | 50% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Part B deductible ($283 in 2026) | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | 100% | 100% |
| Part B excess charges (extra some doctors bill above Medicare's rate) | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | 100% | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | 100% | Not covered |
| Foreign travel emergency (up to plan limits) | Not covered | Not covered | 80% | 80% | Not covered | Not covered | 80% | 80% | 80% | 80% |
Only Plans K and L have an out-of-pocket limit: $8,000 for Plan K and $4,000 for Plan L, in 2026.
* Plan N pays 100% of the Part B coinsurance, but you pay a copay of up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for emergency room visits that do not lead to a hospital admission. Plans F and G also come in a high-deductible version in California: you pay the first $3,050 in 2027 of Medicare-covered costs before the policy pays.
Chart source: Medicare.gov, Compare Medigap plan benefits.
What Medigap costs in California
Premiums are set by each carrier for each ZIP code and age, so treat these statewide ranges as the general picture, not a quote. We publish ranges only from the California Department of Insurance rate guide, with the source printed next to the numbers, and we quote your exact age and ZIP for free.
| Plan | Annual premium range at 65, statewide | Per month, for comparison | Companies in the guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plan G | $1,946 to $4,517 per year | About $162 to $376 per month | 19 |
| Plan N | $1,369 to $3,331 per year | About $114 to $278 per month | 18 |
| High Deductible Plan G | $476 to $1,162 per year | About $40 to $97 per month | 8 |
Ranges across 8 California ZIPs checked in the California Department of Insurance 2026 Medicare Supplement Rate Guide, individual, non-tobacco, at age 65, checked October 2026. Guide survey rates, not quotes. Ranges span every company in the guide tables for those ZIPs; your own premium depends on the carrier, your exact age, your ZIP code, and tobacco use.
Plan G, Plan N, or High Deductible Plan G?
Three questions sort most people. Do you want the lowest possible surprise bill, even if the premium is highest? Do you see doctors often, or only a few times a year? And would you rather pay a deductible in a bad year than pay higher premiums every year?
Plan G
The most complete option for people new to Medicare
Covers the hospital (Part A) deductible, coinsurance, and copays, plus Part B coinsurance and excess charges. After the annual Part B deductible, you typically pay nothing for covered care.
- Any doctor who takes Medicare
- No networks or referrals
- Most predictable costs
Plan N
A lower premium in exchange for small copays
Covers the same hospital costs as Plan G. You pay the Part B deductible, up to $20 for office visits, up to $50 for ER visits, and any Part B excess charges, in exchange for a lower monthly premium.
- Any doctor who takes Medicare
- Lower premium than Plan G
- Small, capped copays
High-Deductible Plan G
The lowest premiums, for people who want backstop coverage
Identical coverage to Plan G once you meet an annual deductible ($3,050 in 2027). Premiums are often a fraction of standard Plan G: you trade first-dollar coverage for a much smaller monthly bill.
- Lowest Medigap premiums
- Same coverage after deductible
- Catastrophic protection
Stuck between the two? Compare plan g vs plan n
The differences are only three, and the break-even depends on how often you see a doctor. The comparison page runs it with California prices.
Already on Plan F?
Plan F is closed to new buyers and its premiums rise faster than Plan G. The Plan F page covers what it still does well, and when a switch is worth running the numbers on.
When can you buy a Medigap plan in California without health questions?
Your first six months on Part B
The Medigap Open Enrollment Period. Any carrier must sell you any plan it offers, with no health questions. It runs once and does not come back.
The California Medigap Birthday Rule
Already have a Medigap policy? For 60 days from your birthday, every year, you can switch to equal or lesser benefits with no health questions, at any carrier.
How the Birthday Rule worksMedigap guaranteed issue in California
Certain events force a carrier to sell you a policy, including your Medicare Advantage plan ending or leaving your area. Deadlines apply, some as short as 63 days after coverage ends.
See the guaranteed issue triggersStill on Plan F?
Still on Plan F? Your birthday is your annual chance to check Plan G with no health questions. Plan F and Plan G differ by exactly one benefit, the Part B deductible, so the switch is a price test, and the window to run it without underwriting opens on your birthday. Compare plan f vs plan g california before your window opens.
One cost reminder before any of this: Medigap never includes drug coverage. Your monthly total is the Part B premium, plus the Medigap premium, plus a standalone Part D premium. We compare the drug plan against your actual prescriptions at the same time, because the cheapest supplement can pair badly with the wrong drug plan. See all 10 California Part D plans for 2027, with premiums and deductibles for each one.
Talk with an independent Medicare agent for help in California
I am Eric Ullrich, a licensed independent Medicare agent (CA license #4551902, NPN 22200900). I help Californians compare Medicare Supplement plans carrier by carrier, because with standardized benefits the premium and the carrier behind it are the decision. I will tell you when your current plan is still the right one to keep, and I never charge you: the carrier pays the agent, and your premium is the same either way. If you are weighing Medigap against Medicare Advantage, start with our Medigap vs Medicare Advantage guide, or read Medigap in 5 minutes.
Mon to Thu 9 AM to 8 PM, Fri 9 AM to 3 PM, Sat 9 AM to 2 PM PT
Questions about Medigap in California
Does Medigap cover prescription drugs?
No. No Medigap plan sold today includes prescription drug coverage. People on Original Medicare with a Medigap policy buy a standalone Part D drug plan for prescriptions, and skipping creditable drug coverage can lead to a late enrollment penalty later. Your real monthly total is three parts: the Part B premium, the Medigap premium, and the Part D premium.
Can I keep my doctor with a Medigap plan?
Yes, if the doctor accepts Original Medicare patients. Medigap has no provider network and no referrals, anywhere in the country. Choosing any provider who accepts Original Medicare patients is the key benefit of a Medicare Supplement plan, and it is the biggest single difference from a Medicare Advantage plan.
Is a Medigap Plan G from one company the same as Plan G from another?
The coverage is identical. Medigap benefits are standardized by the federal government, so the same letter means the same benefits at every insurance company and in every state except Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, which run older state systems. Companies compete on premium, rate increase history, household discounts, and service, not on the core benefits.
When can I buy a Medigap plan without health questions?
Three main times in California: during your six month Medigap Open Enrollment Period, which starts the month you are 65 or older and on Part B; during a guaranteed issue situation, such as your Medicare Advantage plan ending; and, if you already hold a Medigap policy, during your 60 day California Birthday Rule window each year, for a switch to equal or lesser benefits. Outside those windows, carriers can ask health questions and may decline.
Do my spouse and I need separate Medigap policies?
Yes. A Medigap policy covers one person only, so spouses each buy their own. Some carriers offer a household discount when both spouses hold policies with them, which is worth asking about when we quote you.
What is the best Medicare Supplement plan in California?
For most people new to Medicare, the practical shortlist is Plan G for the most predictable costs, Plan N for a lower premium with small copays, and High Deductible Plan G for the lowest premium with a deductible first. Which of the three is best depends on your health, your doctors, and how you prefer to pay. Existing Plan F holders have a separate question, whether to keep F or switch, and it turns on one $283 comparison covered on the Plan F pages in this section.
Written by Eric Ullrich, licensed Medicare insurance agent, CA license #4551902, NPN 22200900. Last reviewed October 27, 2026. Medigap benefits on this page follow the federally standardized plan chart published by Medicare.gov. Sources: Medicare.gov, Compare Medigap plan benefits, California Department of Insurance, Medicare Supplement Rate Guide. Verify plan details with the carrier or at Medicare.gov before enrolling.