Arizona Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Plans
Medicare Supplement (Medigap) insurance helps pay some out-of-pocket costs left by Original Medicare. Benefits are standardized by plan letter, so one insurer’s Plan G has the same standardized benefits as another insurer’s Plan G. Plan G and Plan N differ in the costs you may still pay yourself. Premiums for the same plan letter can vary by insurer.
Medigap works with Original Medicare (Parts A and B). It does not cover every healthcare cost, and it does not replace Medicare. I help Arizona residents compare standardized letter plans and pair them with a standalone Part D drug plan when needed.
Standardized Medigap plan letters
Medigap policies sold in most states use lettered plans (A through N). For a given letter, the standardized benefits are the same from one insurance company to another. What changes is the premium and the insurer’s underwriting and rating rules.
Not every letter is available to every buyer. Plans C and F (including high-deductible Plan F) are generally limited to people who became eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020. Arizona does not have a Medigap “birthday rule” that creates an annual guaranteed window to switch insurers. Options for people under 65 with Medicare are limited in Arizona — federal law does not require insurers to sell Medigap under 65, and Arizona does not require it either. Ask before you assume a letter plan is open to you.
Plan G vs Plan N
Plan G and Plan N are common choices for people who want Original Medicare plus a Supplement. Both leave you responsible for the yearly Part B deductible. After that, they differ mainly in office and emergency-room cost sharing and in whether Part B excess charges are covered.
| Cost you may still pay | Standard Plan G | Plan N |
|---|---|---|
| Part B deductible | You pay the Part B deductible | You pay the Part B deductible |
| Part B coinsurance or copays | Plan covers Part B coinsurance | Plan covers Part B coinsurance except copays of up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for emergency-room visits that do not result in inpatient admission |
| Part B excess charges | Covered | Not covered — you may owe excess charges if a provider does not accept Medicare assignment |
High-deductible Plan G is a different policy from standard Plan G. With the high-deductible option, you pay Medicare-covered costs up to the plan’s deductible before the Medigap policy pays. For the full standardized benefit grid, see Medicare.gov’s Medigap plan comparison chart.
What affects Medigap premiums
Premiums for the same letter plan can differ by insurance company and by where you live. You also keep paying your Medicare Part B premium. Medigap premiums typically change over time.
Insurers may price Medigap using community rating, issue-age rating, or attained-age rating. Other factors can include your age when you apply, tobacco use, sex, household or payment discounts, medical underwriting when you are outside a guaranteed-issue window, Medicare SELECT network rules, and whether you choose a high-deductible option. Compare the same letter plan across insurers rather than comparing different letters as if they were priced the same way.
When to enroll or switch
Your Medigap Open Enrollment Period is a one-time, six-month window that starts the first month you are 65 or older and have Medicare Part B. During that period, insurers that sell Medigap in your area generally must offer you any Medigap policy they sell, without denying you or charging more because of pre-existing health conditions.
That window is not the same as Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period (October 15–December 7), which is mainly for Medicare Advantage and Part D changes. Missing Medigap Open Enrollment can mean medical underwriting — insurers may ask about your health and medications, charge more, delay coverage, or decline the application. Limited guaranteed-issue rights can apply in specific situations outside Open Enrollment, but Arizona does not add an annual birthday switching right. If you want to change Medigap plans later, there is no guarantee you can do so on the same terms.
Medigap vs Medicare Advantage
Medigap adds coverage to Original Medicare. Medicare Advantage (Part C) is a different way to receive Medicare benefits through a private plan, often with a provider network and often including Part D drug coverage. You generally choose one path: Original Medicare plus Medigap, or Medicare Advantage — not both. You cannot use a Medigap policy to pay Medicare Advantage copays, deductibles, or premiums.
For Advantage plan comparisons in Arizona, see Arizona Medicare Advantage.
Prescription coverage and Part D
Medigap plans sold after 2005 do not include prescription drug coverage. If you want Medicare drug coverage with Original Medicare and Medigap, you need a separate Part D plan. You may owe a late-enrollment penalty if you go too long without creditable drug coverage. I compare Part D formularies for your medications when we review Supplement options.
Why work with an independent broker
Letter-plan benefits are standardized, but premiums, rating methods, and underwriting rules are not. An independent broker compares policies from multiple insurers, explains what each letter covers — including Plan G versus Plan N trade-offs — and helps you pair Supplement coverage with a standalone Part D plan.
Timing matters. Your strongest guaranteed-issue window is usually Medigap Open Enrollment. I help you sort enrollment timing so you understand when underwriting applies and when it does not.
Free plan comparison
What I help you compare
I help Arizona residents compare plan options at no cost to you — I am compensated by the insurance companies I represent when you enroll.
- Medigap letter plans available to you in Arizona, with eligibility caveats
- Premium and rating-method differences between insurers for the same letter plan
- Plan G versus Plan N cost sharing, including excess charges
- Standalone Part D plans to pair with Original Medicare and Medigap
- Enrollment timing — Medigap Open Enrollment, underwriting, and limited guaranteed-issue rights
- Whether Medigap or Medicare Advantage fits your doctors, travel habits, and budget
Common questions
How do Plan G and Plan N differ?
Both leave you responsible for the Part B deductible. Standard Plan G then covers Part B coinsurance and Part B excess charges. Plan N covers Part B coinsurance but can require copays of up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for emergency-room visits that do not become an inpatient stay, and it does not cover Part B excess charges. Premiums for each letter still vary by insurer.
Can I switch Medigap plans whenever I want?
Not usually. Medigap Open Enrollment is a one-time six-month period when you are 65 or older and first have Part B. Outside that window, insurers may use medical underwriting unless a specific guaranteed-issue right applies. Arizona does not have a birthday rule that creates an annual guaranteed switch. Medicare’s fall Annual Enrollment Period is a different set of rules focused on Advantage and Part D.
Does Medigap cover prescription drugs?
No — not for Medigap policies sold after 2005. Enroll in a separate Part D plan if you need Medicare drug coverage with Original Medicare and Medigap, and avoid long gaps without creditable drug coverage that can trigger a late-enrollment penalty.
What is the difference between Medicare Supplement and Medicare Advantage?
Medigap supplements Original Medicare and generally lets you use any provider that accepts Medicare. Medicare Advantage replaces Original Medicare with a private plan that usually has a network and often includes Part D. You typically choose one approach. I help you understand both before you enroll.
Serving Arizona Medicare beneficiaries
Arizona residents who prefer Original Medicare plus a Supplement often value seeing any Medicare-accepting doctor — including when traveling, visiting family out of state, or splitting time between Arizona and a second home. Carrier premiums and Part D formularies still vary, so comparing options matters. I help beneficiaries across the Phoenix metro and statewide review Supplement and Part D combinations that fit their healthcare needs and budget.
