6-Month Open
Enrollment Period
MEDICARE COVERAGE OPTIONS
Medicare Supplement Plans (Medigap)
Freedom to see any doctor. No networks, no referrals, no surprises. Here’s everything you need to know — explained clearly and honestly.
At a Glance
- Works alongside Original Medicare — not a replacement
- No provider networks — see any Medicareaccepting doctor nationwide
- Covers deductibles, copays, and coinsurance
- Plans standardized by federal government — same benefits, different pricing
- Best time to enroll: your 6-month open enrollment window at 65
- Does not include prescription drug coverage — Part D needed separately
Independent & Unbiased
Year-Round Support
25+ Carrier Options
Education-First Approach
Always Free to You
UNDERSTANDING MEDICARE ADVANTAGE
What Medicare Advantage Is — and What It Is Not
Medicare Advantage (also called Part C) is a federally regulated alternative to Original Medicare, delivered through private insurance companies that contract with CMS. When you enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, you are not leaving Medicare. Medicare pays the insurance company a monthly amount to manage your care — and the plan must follow strict government rules about what it covers.
By law, every Medicare Advantage plan must cover all medically necessary services that Original Medicare Part A and Part B cover. What varies between plans is how that care is accessed — through provider networks, copays, referral requirements, and prior authorization processes.
Most dissatisfaction with Medicare Advantage isn’t about coverage — it’s about access. People who enroll without understanding how their specific plan handles networks, referrals, and authorizations are the ones who end up frustrated. That’s exactly why working with an experienced independent broker makes such a significant difference.
Not sure if Medigap or Medicare Advantage is right for you? That’s exactly the kind of question Bill helps with — an honest, side-by-side comparison based on your doctors, prescriptions, and budget. No pressure, no agenda.
Value your current doctors
With Medigap, any doctor who accepts Medicare accepts your plan — no network to worry about.
Travel frequently or split your time
Snowbirds and frequent travelers benefit greatly — your coverage goes with you anywhere in the U.S.
Prefer knowing your monthly costs upfront
With Medigap, any doctor who accepts Medicare accepts your plan — no network to worry about.
Want to avoid referrals and prior authorizations
No gatekeeper. You see the specialist you need, when you need them.
Use your healthcare regularly
The more you use it, the more value a comprehensive Medigap plan tends to deliver.
HOW IT WORKS
Two Plans. One Seamless System.
Medigap doesn’t replace Medicare — it works alongside it. Here’s how your coverage flows every time you receive care.
- STEP 1
You Receive Medical Care
You visit a doctor, specialist, or hospital. Because Medicare is accepted everywhere, there are no in-network requirements to worry about.
- STEP 2
Original Medicare Pays First
Medicare Part A or Part B processes the claim and pays its covered portion. This leaves behind deductibles, copays, and coinsurance.
- STEP 2
Your Medigap Plan Covers the Rest
Depending on your plan, Medigap picks up most or all of what Medicare left behind. In many cases, your out-of-pocket cost is zero.
One important thing to know: Medigap plans do not include prescription drug coverage. You’ll need a separate Medicare Part D plan for your medications. This is something Bill coordinates for every client — making sure your Medigap and Part D plans work together efficiently.
PLAN OPTIONS
The Plans Most Clients Ask About
Medigap plans are standardised by the federal government — meaning Plan G has identical benefits no matter which company sells it. What varies is the monthly premium, rate increase history, and how the insurance company is managed longterm. Choosing the right company is just as important as choosing the right plan letter
MOST POPULAR
Plan G
The most comprehensive Medigap plan available
to new enrollees
- Covers Medicare Part A coinsurance & hospital costs
- Covers Medicare Part B coinsurance or copayment
- Covers Part A deductible (up to $1,736 in 2026)
- Covers skilled nursing facility coinsurance
- Covers Part B excess charges
- Foreign travel emergency coverage (80%, up to plan limit)
BEST FOR
People who want maximum coverage and the fewest surprise bills. You pay the Part B deductible once annually ($283 in 2026) — that's typically it for the year.
Higher monthly premium than Plans N or HD-G, but often the lowest total annual cost for regular healthcare users.
Plan N
A cost-effective middle ground with modest out-of-pocket costs
- Covers Medicare Part A coinsurance & hospital costs
- Covers Part B coinsurance (with small copays)
- Covers Part A deductible
- Covers skilled nursing facility coinsurance
- Foreign travel emergency coverage (80%)
- Does not cover Part B excess charges
BEST FOR
People who want a lower monthly premium and are comfortable with small copays ($20 office / $50 ER) and the possibility of excess charges from some doctors
Lower premium than Plan G, but requires more attention to which doctors you see.
High-Deductible Plan G
Same comprehensive coverage — activated after a higher annual deductible
- Identical benefits to Plan G once deductible is met
- Lowest monthly premium of the three options
- 2026 annual deductible: $2,950
- After deductible, Medigap covers everything Plan G covers
- Foreign travel emergency coverage (80%)
- Nationwide doctor access — no networks
BEST FOR
Generally healthy individuals who want the security of comprehensive coverage but prefer a lower monthly premium and are comfortable meeting a deductible in a bad year.
The monthly premium savings often exceed the deductible for people who stay healthy most years.
Not sure which one fits your situation? Bill will walk you through it — no obligation
WHAT "STANDARDIZED" REALLY MEANS
Same Benefits Everywhere. Very Different Prices.
The federal government standardizes Medigap plan benefits. That means a Plan G from Company A provides exactly the same coverage as a Plan G from Company B.
What the government does not standardize is pricing. Each insurance company sets its own premium, uses its own rate-increase methodology, and manages its risk pool differently. Over a 10 or 20-year retirement, choosing the wrong company — even with identical benefits — can cost thousands of dollars more.
This is one of the most underappreciated parts of Medigap shopping, and one of the most valuable things an experienced independent broker brings to the table.
Value your current doctors
With Medigap, any doctor who accepts Medicare accepts your plan — no network to worry about.
Travel frequently or split your time
Snowbirds and frequent travelers benefit greatly — your coverage goes with you anywhere in the U.S.
Prefer knowing your monthly costs upfront
With Medigap, any doctor who accepts Medicare accepts your plan — no network to worry about.
Want to avoid referrals and prior authorizations
No gatekeeper. You see the specialist you need, when you need them.
Use your healthcare regularly
The more you use it, the more value a comprehensive Medigap plan tends to deliver.
2026 Key Medigap Numbers
Part B Annual Deductible (Plan G gap)
$283
Part A Inpatient Deductible
$1,736
HD Plan G Annual Deductible
$2,950
Skilled Nursing Facility (days 21–100)
$217.00/day
Plan N Office Visit Copay (max)
$20
Plan N ER Copay (if not admitted)
$50
Foreign Travel Emergency Coverage
80% (G, N, HD-G)
All figures reflect 2026 Medicare parameters. Medigap monthly premiums vary by plan, company, age, gender, tobacco use, and state. Bill provides personalized quotes based on your exact situation.
WHAT WE DO
The Honest Guide to Who Medicare Advantage Serves Well — and Who It Doesn't
Medicare Advantage isn’t good or bad. It works exceptionally well for some
people and poorly for others. The question isn’t whether the plan is good — it’s whether it’s the right fit for your specific situation.
65
Years Old
+
Part B
Active
=
- AFTER OPEN ENROLLMENT ENDS
The Rules Change Significantly
- Medical underwriting may be required
- Pre-existing conditions may result in denial
- You may be charged higher rates based on health
- Fewer plan and company options available to you
- Waiting too long can permanently limit your choices
- This is where many people encounter unexpected and frustrating challenges — and where guidance makes the biggest difference.
- DURING OPEN ENROLLMENT
You Have Full Guaranteed Access
- No medical underwriting required
- Health conditions cannot be used to deny you
- Cannot be charged higher rates due to health history
- Access to any Medigap plan offered in your state
- Full freedom to choose any participating insurance company
- These protections apply to everyone — regardless of pre-existing conditions or ongoing health issues.
Not sure when your open enrollment window started — or whether it’s already
passed? Bill will sort it out for you, clearly and without pressure. There are also
special enrollment situations (leaving employer coverage, certain Advantage plan circumstances) that can reopen your access.
WHO WE HELP
You Deserve More Than a Quote. You Deserve a Guide.
Choosing a Medigap plan involves more than picking the lowest monthly premium. It means evaluating rate histories, understanding pricing methods, confirming your doctors are protected, and pairing the right Part D plan alongside it.
Bill has spent over a decade doing exactly this — for hundreds of clients across New York and 30+ states. He doesn’t just help you pick a plan. He makes sure the plan you choose still makes sense five years from now.
Truly Independent — 25+ Carriers
No allegiance to any company. Bill shops the entire market on your behalf.
Education-First, Always
You'll understand exactly what you're choosing and why before you sign anything.
Year-Round Support
Billing questions, appeals, annual reviews — Bill is available all year, not just at enrollment.
Always Free to You
Bill is paid by the insurance companies. His service costs you nothing — ever.
People come to me having already chosen the lowestpriced Medigap plan — without anyone explaining what that price might look like at 75. My job is to give you the full picture before you commit, not after.
Bill Wilkie
Independent Medicare Specialist · 10+ Years
What to Have Ready for Your Free Review
- Your Medicare card (Part A and Part B effective dates)
- Names of your current doctors and specialists
- List of current prescriptions (name and dosage)
- Your preferred pharmacy
- A sense of your monthly budget for premiums
OUR REACH
New York Roots. Near-Nationwide Reach.
Bill started on Long Island and now serves clients across 30+ states — by
phone, Zoom, or in person.
A: A Medicare Supplement plan — commonly called Medigap — is a private insurance policy that fills in the cost gaps that Original Medicare leaves. The name is literal: it supplements Medicare rather than replacing it.
Here is how the mechanics work. When you receive a covered service, Medicare pays its share first — generally 80% of approved costs after your deductibles are met. Your Medigap plan then pays its share according to the plan's benefit structure. For Plan G in 2026, after you have paid the Part B deductible of $283, the plan covers essentially everything else Medicare approves — the 20% coinsurance, Part A deductibles, hospital copays for extended stays, skilled nursing facility coinsurance through day 100, and Part B excess charges. You receive care, Medicare processes the claim, and the Medigap insurer covers the remainder. In most cases you pay nothing at the point of service beyond that annual deductible.
What Medigap does not cover: routine dental, vision, hearing, prescription drugs, or long-term custodial care. For prescriptions you need a separate standalone Part D plan. The tradeoff for comprehensive medical coverage is the monthly Medigap premium — but for people who want complete predictability in their healthcare costs and the freedom to see any Medicare-accepting provider anywhere in the country, it is frequently worth it.
A: Plan G is the most comprehensive Medigap plan available to new enrollees since Plan F was closed to beneficiaries who became Medicare-eligible after January 1, 2020. The only gap Plan G leaves is the Part B deductible — $283 in 2026. That is a modest exposure in exchange for meaningfully lower premiums than legacy Plan F, which is why Plan G has become the default recommendation for most new enrollees who want comprehensive coverage.
What distinguishes Plan G from current alternatives: compared to Plan N, Plan G covers Part B excess charges — Plan N does not — and Plan G carries no $20 office visit copay or $50 emergency room copay that Plan N includes. For people who see specialists frequently or whose physicians do not accept assignment, Plan G's cleaner coverage justifies the premium difference.
Compared to High Deductible Plan G, standard Plan G offers lower annual exposure. You pay the $283 Part B deductible and then nothing else on Medicare-approved services for the rest of the year. HD Plan G requires you to pay up to $2,950 in combined Medicare cost-sharing before the plan kicks in fully, but in exchange the monthly premium is dramatically lower. For a healthy 65-year-old, the math on HD Plan G often favors lower total annual costs. For someone with known health conditions or frequent healthcare utilization, standard Plan G's predictability is usually the right call. I walk through both scenarios with actual numbers for every client.
A: High Deductible Plan G is a Medigap option that provides identical coverage to standard Plan G — covering everything Medicare approves — but only after you have met a combined annual deductible of $2,950 in 2026. Until you reach that threshold, you pay your standard Medicare cost-sharing out of pocket. Once you hit $2,950, coverage engages exactly as standard Plan G operates, covering 100% of remaining Medicare-approved costs for the year.
The premium difference is significant. Where standard Plan G in Florida might run $130 to $180 per month for a 65-year-old depending on carrier and county, High Deductible Plan G often comes in between $40 and $70 per month. That is a difference of $720 to $1,680 per year in premiums alone. If you stay healthy and your total Medicare cost-sharing for the year falls well below $2,950, you come out ahead — sometimes dramatically ahead.
The calculation I work through with clients is straightforward: if your expected annual medical utilization is low and your primary concern is catastrophic protection rather than first-dollar coverage, HD Plan G gives you exactly that protection at a much lower monthly cost. It pairs particularly well with a Health Savings Account if you are still working and HSA-eligible.
The important caveat is that HD Plan G is not right for everyone. Someone managing multiple chronic conditions with frequent hospitalizations, regular specialist visits, or expensive outpatient procedures should think carefully about whether the $2,950 annual exposure is comfortable. I help clients model both plans with realistic utilization scenarios so the decision is based on math, not guesswork.
A: No — and this is one of the most consequential differences between Florida and states like New York that former New Yorkers moving to the Treasure Coast and South Florida need to fully understand.
New York has guaranteed-issue Medigap protections that allow residents to enroll in or switch a Medigap plan at any time of year, without medical underwriting and without being declined for health reasons. Florida does not have this protection. Outside of your six-month Initial Enrollment Period at age 65 and a limited set of qualifying Special Enrollment Periods, Florida Medigap insurers can apply full medical underwriting — reviewing your health history and declining you or charging significantly higher premiums based on pre-existing conditions.
This makes the initial Medigap enrollment decision in Florida considerably more consequential than it is in New York. If you get into the wrong plan at 65, or choose a carrier with poor rate stability history and want to switch at 70, you may find that health developments since your initial enrollment have narrowed your options substantially. I have worked with clients in their mid-70s who wanted to switch Medigap plans and found it significantly more complicated than they anticipated.
The practical guidance: get into the right Medigap plan from the start, choose a carrier with a documented record of stable rate increases, and work with a broker who understands both the Florida and New York markets if you have ties to both. Getting this decision right the first time is far easier than correcting it later.
A: This is exactly the right question to ask, and most people do not ask it. They see that Plan G benefits are standardized across carriers, pick the lowest current premium, and assume they have made the optimal choice. The benefits are standardized. The carriers are not, and the differences between them matter over a 20-year time horizon.
The factors that meaningfully differentiate Medigap carriers when the plan letter is identical:
Current premium — what you pay in year one. Rate stability history — how much the carrier has increased premiums over the past five to ten years. A carrier with a lower starting premium but a history of 8 to 10% annual increases may cost you significantly more by age 75 than a carrier with a slightly higher starting premium and consistent 3 to 4% annual increases. This long-term view is the analysis most agents never show you.
Claims payment reputation — how efficiently and reliably the carrier processes and pays claims. Household discounts — many carriers offer 5 to 12% premium discounts when two people in the same household hold policies with the same carrier. Financial strength rating from agencies like A.M. Best — for a product you may hold for 20 or more years, the carrier's long-term financial stability matters. I compare carriers across all of these dimensions for every Medigap recommendation, not just the premium line on day one.
Ready to Find the Right Medigap Plan?
Get a free, no-pressure review with an independent Medicare
specialist who has helped clients across 30+ states find the right fit.