No official single average
Premiums vary widely by insurer, letter, and location. A useful comparison holds all applicant and policy variables constant.
Medigap costs • 2027 planning guide
Average Cost of Medicare Supplemental Insurance: 2027 Guide
The average cost of Medicare supplemental insurance cannot be reduced to one reliable national 2027 number. Medicare states that Medigap premiums vary widely by insurance company, standardized plan letter, and location. Age or rating method, tobacco use, sex where permitted, household facts, discounts, application timing, underwriting, and state rules may also change the quote.
A useful average is personal and local: collect official quotes for the same plan letter, same applicant, same ZIP code, same effective date, and same payment method. Then compare the monthly premium and how it can change over time. A mixed average combining different letters, ages, and states may look precise while telling a shopper almost nothing.
If you searched for Medicare Supplement prices “near me,” begin with the residential ZIP code rather than a national range. A Plan G quote for one applicant cannot be compared fairly with a Plan N quote for someone in another state. Standardization makes benefits comparable by letter; it does not standardize premiums.
2027 planning status: This guide was substantively reviewed on August 25, 2026. Final 2027 Medigap premiums, Medicare deductibles, high-deductible thresholds, Plans K and L out-of-pocket limits, company offerings, discounts, and Part D costs may not yet be complete. The 2026 amounts below are labeled reference points—not 2027 estimates.
The Wellcare pathway is carrier-specific and concerns current Medicare Advantage options. It does not quote, compare, or enroll anyone in Medigap, and it is not an all-carrier comparison. The Blake Insurance Group form requests contact and a coverage review; it is not an insurance application or enrollment. Assistance depends on licensing, appointments, certifications, eligibility, and the intended effective date.
The honest answer: calculate the local premium and the full coverage budget
The Medigap premium is only one layer. A person normally pays the Medigap insurer’s monthly premium, the Medicare Part B premium, any stand-alone Part D premium, and applicable deductibles or cost sharing. A spouse needs a separate Medigap policy and premium because one policy covers only one person.
Premiums for the same letter can differ substantially between companies even though the standardized medical benefits are the same. Compare matching letters first, then evaluate rating method, future rate exposure, enrollment rights, and company-specific terms.
Annual budget = 12 × monthly Medigap premium + 12 × Part B premium + 12 × Part D premium + expected deductibles and cost sharing + costs for services not covered
Cost quick facts
Separate the policy premium from Medicare and health-care expenses
Medicare premiums continue
Buying Medigap does not replace the Part B premium. Medicare does not pay the premium for a Medigap policy.
Benefits are standardized
The same letter has the same standardized basic benefits, but premiums, rating methods, discounts, service, and rate histories can differ.
The following table distinguishes recurring premiums from annual or event-based costs. The federal dollar amounts are official 2026 reference values. They must not be presented as final 2027 amounts.
| Cost component | 2026 reference or rule | How to use it for 2027 planning |
|---|---|---|
| Medigap policy premium | No single federal rate. The private insurer sets the approved premium using the state’s permitted rating method and applicant information. | Obtain an official quote for the exact letter, ZIP code, applicant, and effective date. |
| Medicare Part B premium | The 2026 standard premium is $202.90 per month; higher-income beneficiaries may pay more. | Keep this separate from the Medigap quote. Replace it with the official 2027 amount when announced. |
| Part B deductible | $283 for 2026. Standard Plan G and Plan N do not pay it. Plans C and F cover it only for people eligible to buy those letters. | Include one annual deductible in a scenario when the chosen letter does not cover it. |
| Part A hospital deductible | $1,736 per benefit period in 2026. Coverage varies by Medigap letter, and more than one Part A benefit period can occur. | Confirm whether the letter pays all, part, or none of this cost. Do not model it as a single guaranteed annual expense. |
| High-deductible F or G threshold | $2,950 in 2026 before the high-deductible policy begins paying most benefits; premiums do not count toward it. | Confirm the official 2027 threshold and maintain enough liquid funds for possible front-loaded expenses. |
| Plan K out-of-pocket limit | $8,000 in 2026. After the limit and Part B deductible are met, the plan pays 100% of covered services for the rest of the year. | Use the official 2027 limit in a high-use scenario; premiums and noncovered care remain separate. |
| Plan L out-of-pocket limit | $4,000 in 2026, with the same Part B deductible condition before 100% covered-service payment. | Compare the premium savings with the partial cost sharing and official 2027 limit. |
| Part D and prescriptions | New Medigap policies do not include modern outpatient drug coverage. | Add the selected Part D premium, deductible, pharmacy costs, drug cost sharing, and any income adjustment. |
| Noncovered services | Medigap generally does not cover long-term custodial care, routine dental, routine vision, hearing aids, eyeglasses, or private-duty nursing. | Budget separately for benefits not covered by Original Medicare or the chosen Medigap letter. |
These figures demonstrate why the Medigap premium alone is not a complete answer. A lower-premium design can shift more expense to deductibles, partial coinsurance, office visits, emergency care, or a high-deductible threshold. A broader design may reduce covered cost sharing but require a higher recurring premium.
Costs by plan design
The plan letter changes how premium and cost sharing trade places
Medigap letters are standardized in most states, so the starting point is the benefit design—not the company name. Compare the same letter across insurers after choosing which cost-sharing pattern fits the household’s budget and tolerance for variable expenses.
| Design | Premium tendency—not a quote | Costs the member should model |
|---|---|---|
| Plan A | Core-benefit design; price still varies by insurer and applicant. | Part A and Part B deductibles, skilled-nursing coinsurance, excess charges, and foreign travel are not among its standardized benefits. |
| Plan G | Broader standardized coverage often carries a different premium from leaner designs. | The annual Part B deductible, the policy premium, Part D, and noncovered care. Standard G covers Part B excess charges. |
| Plan N | Uses additional member cost sharing that can affect the premium relationship with Plan G. | Part B deductible, certain office and emergency-room copayments, Part B excess charges, premium, and Part D. |
| Plans K and L | Partial-benefit designs can lower the amount paid by the policy before the annual limit is reached. | 50% or 25% member shares for specified benefits, Part B deductible, annual out-of-pocket limit, premium, and noncovered care. |
| Plans M and N | Cost-sharing designs may appeal to someone who accepts more variable expense in exchange for a different premium. | Plan M’s share of the Part A deductible; Plan N’s visit cost sharing; both designs’ Part B deductible and excess-charge rules. |
| High-deductible G | Typically designed around a lower premium and a larger annual threshold. | Medicare-covered costs up to the annual high deductible, the separate premium, cash-flow timing, Part D, and noncovered services. |
| Plans C and F | Eligibility is limited to people first eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020, and premiums can reflect the eligible pool. | Compare current premium, rating method, rate history, and whether broader first-dollar coverage remains affordable long term. |
Do not choose by premium alone
A monthly difference becomes meaningful only after the benefit differences are priced. Calculate the annual premium difference, add predictable deductibles and copayments, stress-test a high-use year, and consider whether switching later could require underwriting.
What changes premiums
Ten variables can make an “average” quote misleading
1. Standardized plan letter
Each letter covers a different combination of Original Medicare cost sharing. A quote comparison that mixes Plan G, Plan N, and high-deductible G is measuring different benefit designs.
2. Insurance company
Companies can charge different premiums for the same standardized letter. The medical benefits are the same, but pricing, administration, discounts, service, and future rate experience can differ.
3. State and ZIP code
Medigap is regulated jointly by federal and state rules. Premium territories, required under-65 access, continuous or event-based switching protections, community-rating laws, and available letters can vary. Use the actual residence and confirm move rules.
4. Rating method
A community-rated or no-age-rated policy does not use age to set the premium, although approved class increases can occur. An issue-age policy bases the starting rate on age at purchase. An attained-age policy can become more expensive as the insured ages. State law may restrict which methods are used.
5. Age and Medicare eligibility basis
Age can affect issue-age or attained-age pricing. People eligible for Medicare under 65 because of disability, end-stage renal disease, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis may face different access and rating rules depending on the state.
6. Tobacco use and sex where permitted
Some states and companies allow these facts to affect the premium; other state rules restrict them. Do not assume a household member’s quote applies to a spouse.
7. Discounts and payment method
Medicare notes that companies may offer discounts tied to household status, nonsmoking status, sex, annual payment, electronic funds transfer, or multiple policies. A discount is not universal. Confirm eligibility, duration, amount, and what happens if circumstances change.
8. Open enrollment, guaranteed issue, and underwriting
During the federal six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period, health problems cannot be used to deny a policy the insurer sells or charge more because of health. Outside that window or a guaranteed-issue right, medical underwriting may affect acceptance or price unless state law provides broader protection.
9. Medicare SELECT
A Medicare SELECT policy may have a lower premium but require specific hospitals and sometimes physicians for full benefits outside emergencies. Price the network limitation, travel, relocation, and access—not just the premium.
10. High-deductible structure
A high-deductible design shifts more Medicare-covered expense to the member before the policy pays benefits. The lower premium is only advantageous if the household can manage the threshold and total cost across both routine and high-use years.
A spouse needs a separate quote
Medigap policies cover one person. Even spouses choosing the same letter must each apply and pay a separate premium. Compare each person’s age, tobacco status, open-enrollment right, eligibility, ZIP code, and discounts, then add both premiums to the household budget.
How to compare total cost
Build three scenarios instead of relying on a generic average
A good comparison uses the same coverage year and separates predictable expense from uncertain use. Build a routine year, a moderate-use year, and a high-use year. Do not assign invented medical claims; use the standardized benefits, official Medicare amounts, and realistic personal utilization patterns.
Routine-use scenario
Add twelve months of premiums, the applicable Part B deductible, expected visit cost sharing, regular prescriptions, and known services not covered by Medicare.
Moderate-use scenario
Add specialist, therapy, diagnostic, outpatient, or emergency use that is plausible for the individual, applying the chosen letter’s standardized cost sharing.
High-use scenario
Test hospital, skilled-nursing, Part B coinsurance, high-deductible thresholds, or Plans K and L limits while keeping noncovered care separate.
Compare the same letter across companies
First request multiple official quotes for one letter. Use the same applicant facts, effective date, ZIP code, tobacco answer, payment frequency, and household information. Ask whether every quoted discount is already reflected. An estimated website price is not a final offer.
Compare different letters using annual differences
When comparing Plan G and Plan N, calculate the annual premium difference and then add Plan N’s possible visit cost sharing and excess-charge exposure. When comparing standard Plan G with high-deductible G, calculate the annual premium savings and compare it with the amount that could be paid before policy benefits begin.
Examine future affordability
Ask how the policy is rated, when age increases occur, what approved increases have affected the policy class, and whether a discount changes later. Past rate experience does not guarantee future rates, but understanding the mechanism is more useful than comparing first-month premiums alone.
Protect the enrollment right
The federal six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period starts the first month a person is at least 65 and enrolled in Part B. After it ends, switching or purchasing can require medical underwriting unless a guaranteed-issue event or broader state rule applies. A low introductory premium should not outweigh the risk of giving up suitable coverage without a confirmed replacement.
Review Part D and noncovered care separately
Medigap policies sold after 2005 do not include modern outpatient prescription coverage. Add the Part D premium, deductible, formulary cost sharing, preferred pharmacy, and any income-related adjustment. Budget separately for dental, vision, hearing, custodial long-term care, and other services that Original Medicare and Medigap generally do not cover.
Quote checklist
Gather consistent information before requesting prices
A matched quote comparison reduces false differences and makes the result easier to audit. Keep a written record of the assumptions behind every premium.
Confirm Medicare dates and current coverage
Record Part A and Part B effective dates, age, state, ZIP code, Medicare eligibility basis, employer or retiree coverage, Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, VA, TRICARE, and existing drug coverage.
Identify the enrollment right
Determine whether the application uses Medigap Open Enrollment, a guaranteed-issue event, a state switching protection, an under-65 rule, or medical underwriting. Preserve supporting notices.
Select two or three plan designs
Compare standardized benefits, including deductibles, coinsurance, office or emergency cost sharing, excess charges, foreign travel, partial benefits, and high-deductible exposure.
Request matched official quotes
Use identical applicant facts, letter, ZIP code, effective date, payment method, and discount assumptions. Ask for the rating method and complete premium disclosure.
Create annual scenarios
Multiply premiums by twelve, then add applicable deductibles, expected cost sharing, a Part D scenario, and noncovered services. Keep 2026 references separate from final 2027 amounts.
Review long-term features
Compare age-related changes, approved rate increases, discount duration, household rules, guaranteed renewability, Medicare SELECT restrictions, and company administration.
Coordinate acceptance before cancellation
Submit accurate information and wait for an issue decision, final premium, policy delivery, and effective-date confirmation. Use the free-look period and do not end prior coverage prematurely.
Information and documents to gather
- Medicare card and Part A and Part B effective dates.
- Residential ZIP code, age, sex, and tobacco status when applicable.
- Current Medigap schedule, premium notice, rating basis, and discount information.
- Employer, retiree, COBRA, Medicaid, Medicare Savings Program, VA, or TRICARE records.
- Guaranteed-issue notices, termination letters, move documents, and coverage-ending dates.
- Medication list, preferred pharmacies, and present Part D details.
- Expected provider use, travel patterns, and tolerance for variable expenses.
- Matched quotes, outlines of coverage, discount disclosures, issue decisions, and effective dates.
Questions every quote should answer
What plan letter is quoted? Is the price official or estimated? Which ZIP code and effective date were used? Is pricing community-rated, issue-age, or attained-age? Which discounts are included? Can the premium rise with age? Does underwriting apply? Is Medicare SELECT involved? What costs remain after the policy pays?
Related Medicare cost resources
Medigap cost FAQ
Frequently asked questions
1. What is the average cost of Medicare supplemental insurance?
There is no single official national premium that reliably applies to an individual. Medicare says premiums vary widely by company, plan, and location. Calculate a local average from matched official quotes for the same letter and applicant.
2. Why not publish a generic monthly price range?
A range mixing different states, ages, letters, rating methods, and underwriting situations can mislead. It may omit unusually low or high markets and does not tell a person what an insurer will actually charge.
3. Is the Medigap premium the only Medicare cost?
No. The person continues paying the Part B premium and may also have a Part D premium, Medicare deductibles, policy cost sharing, income adjustments, and expenses for services Medicare does not cover.
4. Does Medicare pay the Medigap premium?
No. The policyholder pays the private insurance company. Some people qualify for Medicaid or Medicare Savings Programs that help with Medicare costs, but these programs do not turn Medigap into a Medicare-paid policy.
5. Do all companies charge the same price for the same letter?
No. Standardization fixes the basic benefits, not the premium. Companies can charge different approved rates and use different discounts or rating approaches, subject to state law.
6. What is community-rated Medigap pricing?
Age is not used to set the premium for the community-rated policy. Premiums can still change because of approved class-wide increases, location, discounts, or other factors allowed by state law.
7. What is issue-age pricing?
The starting premium is based on age when the policy is purchased. It does not rise simply because the insured gets older, but approved increases for inflation, claims, or the policy class can still occur.
8. What is attained-age pricing?
The premium is based on current age and can increase as the insured grows older. It can also change for other approved reasons. Request the age schedule before applying.
9. Does Plan G cost the same everywhere?
No. Plan G’s standardized benefits are consistent, but its premium varies by company, location, rating method, applicant facts, discounts, and timing. Compare Plan G with Plan G using matched data.
10. Is Plan N always cheaper than Plan G?
Do not assume it is. Plan N uses additional member cost sharing and does not cover Part B excess charges, but actual premiums depend on the market and applicant. Compare total annual scenarios.
11. What was the 2026 high-deductible Plan G amount?
The official 2026 high-deductible amount for Plans F and G was $2,950. Premiums do not count toward it. The final 2027 amount must be confirmed when CMS announces it.
12. What were the 2026 Plans K and L limits?
The 2026 out-of-pocket limits were $8,000 for Plan K and $4,000 for Plan L. After meeting the applicable limit and Part B deductible, the policy pays 100% of covered services for the rest of that year.
13. Does Medigap include prescription coverage?
No. Medigap policies sold after 2005 do not include modern outpatient prescription coverage. Add a compatible stand-alone Part D plan or other creditable drug coverage to the budget.
14. Can underwriting change the premium?
It can outside Medigap Open Enrollment or a guaranteed-issue right, subject to state law and company practices. During a protected federal window, health problems cannot be used to charge more.
15. Do spouses share one Medigap premium?
No. Each spouse needs a separate policy and premium. A household discount may apply from some insurers, but it is not universal and its rules must be verified.
16. Can a discount disappear later?
Possibly. Eligibility, duration, and continuation rules vary. Ask whether the discount is permanent, age-limited, household-dependent, payment-dependent, or subject to change.
17. Are 2027 Medigap premiums finalized?
Not necessarily. Premium filings, company offerings, discounts, and federal cost-sharing amounts can be announced or approved at different times. Use the official quote and policy materials for the intended effective date.
18. Can I switch later if the premium rises?
You may apply, but outside open enrollment or a guaranteed-issue right, underwriting can apply unless state law provides broader protection. Do not cancel current coverage before the replacement is accepted.
19. Is Medicare SELECT cheaper?
It may have a lower premium, but it can require designated providers for full supplemental benefits outside emergencies. Compare network access, travel, and relocation rules before treating the difference as savings.
20. What does the Wellcare button do?
It opens a sponsored, carrier-specific pathway for current Wellcare Medicare Advantage options. It is not a Medigap price, Medigap quote, all-carrier comparison, or proof of availability or suitability.
21. Does the Blake Insurance Group form enroll me?
No. The form requests contact and a Medicare coverage review. It is not an application, enrollment, guaranteed quote, or promise of eligibility. Any later action requires official materials, consent, and a completed process.
Replace the generic average with a matched cost comparison
Choose one or two standardized letters, request official quotes using identical applicant information, add Medicare and Part D costs, and compare routine, moderate-use, and high-use years. Review the rating method and enrollment right before replacing coverage.
Wellcare is a carrier-specific Medicare Advantage pathway, not a Medigap or all-carrier comparison. The Blake form requests contact and review only. Neither action confirms availability, eligibility, acceptance, premium, provider participation, savings, or enrollment.
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