08/12/2026
What Is a Medicare Supplement Plan?
If you’re on Original Medicare, you may have heard the term Medicare Supplement, also known as Medigap. But what exactly does it do?
Original Medicare (Parts A & B) covers many healthcare expenses, but it doesn’t cover everything. A Medicare Supplement plan is designed to help with certain out-of-pocket costs that Original Medicare leaves behind, such as deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance, depending on the plan.
Some important things to know:
• You can generally see any doctor or hospital in the U.S. that accepts Medicare—there are no provider networks with Medigap itself.
• Coverage is standardized by plan letter in most states, so benefits for the same letter are generally the same regardless of the insurance company.
• Medicare Supplement plans work alongside Original Medicare, rather than replacing it.
• Prescription drug coverage is not included, so many people with a Medicare Supplement also enroll in a separate Part D prescription drug plan.
• Depending on the Medigap plan, it can help make healthcare expenses more predictable by reducing certain out-of-pocket costs.
Medicare can be confusing, especially when you're first becoming eligible. Understanding the difference between Original Medicare, Medicare Supplement, Medicare Advantage, and Part D can make it much easier to decide which type of coverage fits your needs.
My goal is to keep sharing helpful Medicare information so you can better understand your options and make informed decisions.
Let us know if you have any questions.