By Bill Wilkie, Licensed Medicare Advisor | ABCD Health Plans | Port St. Lucie, FL
Bill Wilkie has over 10 years of experience helping people understand Medicare, and has been in the insurance business since 2001. He is licensed in more than 30 states and certified by every company he represents. He started ABCD Health Plans to give people on the Treasure Coast a real local expert they can call, instead of a 1-800 number that changes every time you call.
Turning 65 soon? You probably have a lot of questions about Medicare. One big question is this: should you get a Medicare Supplement plan?
This guide breaks it down in plain, simple words. No confusing terms. Just the facts you need to make a smart choice.
Key Takeaways
- A Medicare Supplement plan, also called Medigap, helps pay the costs that Original Medicare doesn’t cover.
- You get one special window to sign up with no health questions asked — the 6 months after you turn 65 and start Part B.
- The two most popular plans are Plan G and Plan N. There’s also a cheaper option called High Deductible Plan G.
- Medigap prices vary a lot from person to person — your age, your specific plan choice, and which company you ask all change the number. There’s no single “Florida price” that applies to everyone.
- A local advisor can get you your real, specific price for free — call 844-900-1468.
What Is a Medicare Supplement Plan?
Original Medicare pays for a lot. But it does not pay for everything. You still pay some costs yourself — like a 20% share of most doctor bills, with no limit on how high that can go.
A Medicare Supplement plan helps cover those leftover costs. It works alongside your regular Medicare. You keep your same red, white, and blue Medicare card. You can still see any doctor in the country who takes Medicare. There are no networks to worry about and no referrals needed.
According to Medicare.gov, every Medicare Supplement plan is standardized by the federal government. That means a Plan G from one company covers exactly the same things as a Plan G from another company.
Why This Matters in Port St. Lucie
If you ever need a hospital stay at places like Cleveland Clinic Martin Health in Stuart or HCA Florida Tradition Hospital or HCA Florida St. Lucie Hospital, both right here in Port St. Lucie, the bills can add up fast. A Medicare Supplement plan helps protect you from those surprise costs.
Unlike Medicare Advantage plans, a Supplement plan never has a “network.” That means you never have to worry about your hospital or doctor suddenly becoming “out of network.” Any hospital or doctor that takes Medicare will take your Supplement plan too — every time, no exceptions.
The Most Important Rule: Your 6-Month Window
This is the most important thing to understand.
When you turn 65 and sign up for Medicare Part B, you get a 6-month window. According to the Social Security Administration, during this time insurance companies must accept you for any Medicare Supplement plan. They cannot ask you health questions. They cannot charge you more because you are sick. They cannot say no.
This window only happens once. If you miss it and try to sign up later, the insurance company can ask you health questions. They might charge you more. They might even say no.
In Florida, there is no “do-over.” Some states let you switch plans every year around your birthday with no health questions — that’s often called the “birthday rule.” Florida does not have this rule. Outside of your 6-month window (or a handful of specific situations, like losing employer coverage or a Medicare Advantage plan being discontinued), switching plans later means answering health questions again.
The Fall Enrollment Period Does NOT Apply Here
Many people think the big enrollment period every fall — October 15 to December 7 — applies to Supplement plans. According to Medicare.gov, it does not. That period is only for Medicare Advantage and drug plans.
For Medicare Supplement plans, your best and safest time to sign up is the 6 months right after you turn 65.
The 3 Main Plans to Know
Plan G — This is the most popular plan for people turning 65 today. It covers almost everything Medicare doesn’t pay for. The only thing you pay yourself is the yearly Part B deductible, which is $283 in 2026 according to CMS.gov. After that, you pay $0 for your covered care.
Plan N — This plan costs less every month than Plan G. The trade-off is small copays — up to $20 when you see a doctor and up to $50 if you go to the ER, unless you get admitted to the hospital. Most healthy people save money overall with Plan N.
High Deductible Plan G — This plan has the lowest monthly cost. But you pay your own costs first, up to $2,950 for the year in 2026. After you hit that amount, the plan pays 100% just like regular Plan G. This is a good choice if you are healthy and rarely go to the doctor.
Side-by-Side: What Each Plan Actually Covers
Unlike prices, this part is never a guessing game — every company’s Plan G covers exactly the same things, by federal law. Here’s how the three most popular plans compare:
| What’s Covered | Plan G | High Deductible Plan G | Plan N |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part A hospital coinsurance & costs (up to 365 extra days) | ✅ Covered | ✅ Covered after deductible | ✅ Covered |
| Part A deductible | ✅ Covered | ✅ Covered after deductible | ✅ Covered |
| Part B coinsurance (your 20% share) | ✅ Covered | ✅ Covered after deductible | ✅ Covered, but with copays below |
| Part B deductible ($283 in 2026) | ❌ You pay this | Counts toward your $2,950 deductible | ❌ You pay this |
| Part B excess charges | ✅ Covered | ✅ Covered after deductible | ❌ You pay this |
| Copay for doctor visits | None | None after deductible | Up to $20 per visit |
| Copay for ER visits | None | None after deductible | Up to $50 (waived if admitted) |
| Skilled nursing facility coinsurance | ✅ Covered | ✅ Covered after deductible | ✅ Covered |
| Foreign travel emergency (up to plan limits) | ✅ 80% covered | ✅ 80% covered after deductible | ✅ 80% covered |
| Annual deductible before plan pays | None (besides Part B) | $2,950 (2026) | None (besides Part B) |
| Monthly premium | Highest of the three | Lowest of the three | In between |
The short version: Plan G gives you the most predictable costs with the highest monthly premium. High Deductible Plan G flips that — the lowest premium, but you’re on the hook for real money first if you have a bad health year. Plan N sits in the middle: a lower premium than Plan G, with small, capped copays in exchange, and one real difference — Plan N doesn’t cover Part B excess charges, which Plan G and High Deductible Plan G both do.
Why Medigap Prices Are So Different From Person to Person
Here’s something worth understanding clearly: if you look online, you’ll see wildly different “Florida price ranges” from different websites. That’s not because anyone’s making up numbers — it’s because Medigap pricing genuinely varies more than most people expect, for a few real reasons:
Your age matters a lot. A healthy 65-year-old shopping for High Deductible Plan G and an 85-year-old on Plan F (an older plan no longer sold to new enrollees, but some longtime members still have it) are going to see completely different numbers — sometimes hundreds of dollars apart. A single “Florida average” that blends every age and every plan type together isn’t really telling you much about your own price.
Your plan choice matters just as much. High Deductible Plan G, standard Plan G, and Plan N aren’t just priced differently — they’re priced very differently, often by hundreds of dollars a month between the cheapest and richest options.
Timing matters too. Insurance companies don’t all raise their rates on the same schedule. One company might file a rate increase in January, another in July, another in October. So the “current price” for the same plan can shift throughout the year depending purely on when you happen to be looking.
What this means for you: don’t trust a generic online price range, including ones you might see elsewhere on the internet — they’re often built by blending every age and plan type together, which can make the numbers technically accurate but practically useless for your specific situation. The only number that actually matters is the one built around your age, your zip code, and the specific plan you’re considering. That’s a two-minute phone call, not a guessing game.
Why Prices Are Different Between Companies
Here’s something most people don’t know: every company’s Plan G covers the exact same things. The government makes sure of that. The only difference is the price.
That means two companies can charge very different monthly amounts for the exact same Plan G coverage. This is exactly why it pays to compare more than one company before you choose — and why working with someone who checks multiple carriers, instead of representing just one, actually matters.
Which Plan Is Right for You?
Choose Plan G if you want to never worry about a medical bill again, or you see doctors often.
Choose Plan N if you are healthy, don’t mind small copays, and want to save money every month.
Choose High Deductible Plan G if you are healthy, rarely go to the doctor, and want the lowest possible monthly cost.
Local Hospitals That Accept Medicare Supplement Plans
Every hospital that accepts Medicare will accept your Medicare Supplement plan. That includes:
- Cleveland Clinic Martin Health — Stuart
- Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital — Vero Beach
- HCA Florida Tradition Hospital — Port St. Lucie
- HCA Florida St. Lucie Hospital — Port St. Lucie
- HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital — Fort Pierce
- Holmes Regional Medical Center — Melbourne
This is one of the biggest benefits of a Supplement plan. You never have to check if your hospital is “in network,” because there is no network.
Local County and Community Resources
- St. Lucie County
- Martin County
- Indian River County
- Florida SHINE Program (free Medicare counseling)
Local & Travel Questions People Actually Ask
Is HCA Florida St. Lucie Hospital covered under my Medicare Supplement plan? Yes. Since Medigap plans don’t use networks, any hospital that accepts Medicare — including HCA Florida St. Lucie Hospital, HCA Florida Tradition Hospital, or Cleveland Clinic Martin Health — is automatically covered. You don’t need to check an “in-network” list, because there isn’t one.
What if I spend the summer visiting family in New York, or anywhere else out of state? Your Medigap plan works exactly the same way there as it does here. As long as the doctor or hospital accepts Medicare, your Supplement plan covers your share of the cost — no matter what state you’re in. This is one of the biggest advantages Medigap has over a Medicare Advantage plan, which usually only covers you at full benefits within its specific service area.
I split time between Florida and another state — does my plan travel with me? Yes. Your Medigap policy isn’t tied to Florida specifically. Whether you’re a full-time Florida resident heading north for a few months, or you split your year between two homes, your coverage works the same way everywhere in the country, as long as the provider accepts Medicare.
What happens if I need emergency care outside the United States? Plan G, High Deductible Plan G, and Plan N all include a foreign travel emergency benefit — generally 80% of the cost, up to your plan’s lifetime limit, for emergency care that begins within the first 60 days of your trip. Original Medicare alone almost never covers care outside the U.S., so this is a real benefit worth knowing about if you travel internationally.
Does it matter which specific doctor or hospital I use in St. Lucie, Martin, or Indian River County? Not for coverage purposes. Because there’s no network, you can see any Medicare-accepting doctor or use any Medicare-accepting hospital in any of these counties — or anywhere else — without worrying about a referral or an “out-of-network” bill.
Common Questions
Can I be turned down for a Medicare Supplement plan in Florida? Not during your first 6 months on Medicare Part B. After that, according to Medicare.gov, the company can ask health questions and may charge you more or say no, unless you qualify for one of a few specific exceptions.
Does my plan cost more every year just because I get older? No. Florida locks in your price based on the age you were when you signed up. It can still go up each year for other reasons — inflation, medical costs, claims experience — but not just because of your birthday.
What’s the difference between Plan G and Plan N? Plan G costs more each month but you pay almost nothing extra. Plan N costs less each month but you pay small copays here and there.
Does Plan G cover my prescriptions? No. According to Medicare.gov, you need a separate Part D drug plan for that.
How do I find my real price? Prices depend heavily on your age, your plan choice, and which company you ask — there’s no single number that applies to everyone. Call 844-900-1468 and we’ll get you real, current quotes from several companies, for free.
Get Free Help Today
Turning 65 brings a lot of decisions. You don’t have to figure it out alone. Bill Wilkie at ABCD Health Plans will compare plans and prices for you — at no cost.
Call or text: 844-900-1468 Website: abcdhealthplans.com Facebook: facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564562317330 YouTube: youtube.com/@ABCDHealthPlans
Serving Port St. Lucie, Stuart, Jensen Beach, Fort Pierce, Palm City, Hobe Sound, Vero Beach, Sebastian, Tradition, and the entire Treasure Coast.
Sources: Medicare.gov, CMS.gov 2026 Premiums and Deductibles Fact Sheet, CMS.gov High Deductible Plan G/F/J Deductible Announcement (October 2025), Social Security Administration.
DISCLAIMER: ABCD Health Plans is not connected with or endorsed by the United States government or the federal Medicare program. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE for full information on all your options.