January 5th 2024
By Ari Parker
Considering Pennsylvania Medicare Supplement plans? Learn how to compare plans and find the best coverage for your health and financial needs.
By Ari Parker
If you're enrolled in Original Medicare, it’s important to consider enrolling in a Medicare Supplement plan to control your healthcare costs. Medicare Supplement plans (also called Medigap plans) help to cover the 20% of costs that Original Medicare doesn't pay. These plans aim to supplement or fill in the gaps left by Original Medicare.
Pennsylvania residents have ten Medigap plans to choose from. Among these, Plans F and G are the most popular, making up 60% of enrollments in the state.
Medicare Supplement plans in Pennsylvania are the same as those available in most states. We’ll dive into the benefits and plan differences below.
*Note that Plans F and C are unavailable for Medicare beneficiaries who turn 65 after January 1, 2020.
There are ten types of Medicare Supplement plans in Pennsylvania, labeled by letters A-N. Plans F and G each also have a high-deductible option.
The most popular Medicare Supplement plans are Plans F and G, which made up 60% of the state’s Medigap enrollments in 2023.
Coverage is the same for plans of the same letter, but personal factors, pricing structures, and insurance carriers can affect pricing.
Read oour Pennsylvania Medicare guide for information on how to enroll, plan comparisons, and ways to save money on your healthcare needs.
There are ten different Medicare Supplement plans that cover different out-of-pocket charges. Take a look at this Medigap comparison chart to familiarize yourself with plan benefits, costs, and coverage.
Plans of the same type will all have the same coverage, but the pricing will depend on the specific plan. For example, every Medicare Plan G covers the same costs, but what you pay for your plan (your premium) can vary based on personal factors and the insurance carrier’s pricing.
Yes—there is a Medicare Supplement plan that covers all out-of-pocket costs that Original Medicare doesn’t cover. Medigap Plan F has the most comprehensive coverage, but it's only available for those who turned 65 before January 1, 2020. If you turned 65 after that date, you can't enroll in Plan F. The same goes for Plan C.
However, if you're new to Medicare or turned 65 after January 1, 2020, popular alternatives like Plan G and Plan N provide great coverage.
Plan G is considered the “best” Medigap plan since it provides the most coverage at a good price. While Plan G is widely regarded as the best option, the right plan for you depends on your unique health and financial needs. We recommend talking to an independent Medicare advisor who can help you understand all your Medicare choices and help you pick the right coverage for your unique needs.
There are 56 Medigap Plan G policies in Pennsylvania, with premiums ranging from $0–999. Various insurance carriers offer these plans, including Wellcare, Cigna, Humana, and AARP - United Healthcare (data from 2024).
How much you pay for a Medigap Plan G in Pennsylvania can depend on various factors, including when you enroll and how the insurance carrier prices the plan. For reference, a 70-year-old woman who is a non-smoker can expect to pay somewhere between $0-501 per month on her monthly premium.
For all Medigap plans in Pennsylvania for 2024, premiums range from $32/mo (for a high-deductible Plan G) to $999 (for the highest-cost Medigap Plan A).
How much you pay for Medicare Supplement plans can vary based on the following factors:
Your age
Your gender
Your location
Your smoking status
Whether or not the plan has a household discount
The insurance carrier’s plan pricing
It’s important to note that when you enroll matters. You are guaranteed issuance of any Medigap plan of your choosing if you enroll during your Medigap Open Enrollment Period. Insurance carriers also cannot make you pay more based on your health history. Outside of the Medigap Open Enrollment Period, you may be required to go through Medicare Supplement underwriting, and insurance carriers can charge you more due to your health history.
Medigap policies are priced in three different ways. You can find a community-rated plan, issue-age-rated plan, or attained-age-related plan. Here’s how each of these pricing structures works:
With a community-rated policy, everyone on the policy pays the same monthly premium, regardless of age. This means that your premium does not increase as you grow older.
An issue-age-rated policy is priced according to your age when you first purchase the Medigap plan. While your premium may increase over time due to factors like inflation, it won't rise because of your age. Initially, your premiums may be higher than average, but they won't increase based on age.
Attained-age-rated policies are priced based on your current age. Initially, premiums are lower than average, but what you pay increases as you age.
Understanding Medicare Supplement plans in Pennsylvania is essential in choosing your Medicare coverage. If you need help, our Pennsylvania Medicare Advisors are here to provide personalized advice. We provide free, unbiased consultations and ongoing support to make sure everyone has access to the affordable, high-quality healthcare they deserve.canva
Have questions about Medicare, including which Medigap plan is right for you? Pick a time to speak with one of our licensed Medicare Advisors or give us a call now at (855) 900-2427 to get your questions answered and feel confident in your Medicare coverage.
