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The top 5 Medicare supplement plans for most new enrollees are Plan G, Plan N, Plan F, Plan K, and Plan D. A Medicare supplement plan, also called Medigap, is a private policy that pays part of the costs Original Medicare leaves behind, such as the Part A deductible and the 20 percent Part B coinsurance. Plan G leads the list because it covers every standardized gap except the Part B deductible, which is $283 in 2026.
Medicare.gov standardizes these plans by letter, so a Plan G from one company pays the same benefits as a Plan G from another company. Price, rate increases, and service differ. Benefits do not. The ranking below follows how much of the gap each plan closes, who can buy it, and what it asks you to share in costs.
What are the top 5 Medicare supplement plans?
The top 5 Medicare supplement plans are Plan G for the broadest coverage open to everyone, Plan N for lower premiums with small copays, Plan F for people eligible before 2020 who want every gap covered, Plan K for the lowest premiums with cost sharing and an annual cap, and Plan D as a mid priced option with foreign travel emergency coverage.
| Rank | Plan | What it covers | What you still pay | Who can buy it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Plan G | All standardized gaps except the Part B deductible; Part B excess charges; foreign travel emergency at 80 percent | Part B deductible, $283 in 2026 | Everyone with Medicare Parts A and B |
| 2 | Plan N | Nearly the same as Plan G, with copays at the doctor and emergency room | Part B deductible; up to $20 per office visit; up to $50 per emergency room visit that does not lead to admission; Part B excess charges | Everyone with Medicare Parts A and B |
| 3 | Plan F | Every standardized gap, including both deductibles | Nothing on covered Medicare services after the premium | Only people first eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020 |
| 4 | Plan K | 50 percent of most gap costs, with an annual out of pocket limit | The other 50 percent until the yearly limit, then nothing for the rest of the year | Everyone with Medicare Parts A and B |
| 5 | Plan D | Most gaps, including skilled nursing coinsurance and foreign travel emergency at 80 percent | Part B deductible and Part B excess charges | Everyone with Medicare Parts A and B |
For a benefit by benefit chart covering all ten letters, see our explainer on Medigap plans A through N. Medicare publishes the same standardized chart at Medicare.gov, and that page is the reference every agent works from.
Why is Plan G ranked first for new enrollees?
Plan G covers the Part A deductible, skilled nursing facility coinsurance, Part B coinsurance in full, and Part B excess charges, which are the extra amounts some doctors bill above the Medicare approved rate. The only standardized gap it leaves is the annual Part B deductible, $283 in 2026. After you pay that amount once in the year, Plan G leaves you with no cost sharing on covered services.
People searching for what are the top 5 medicare supplement plans for 2026 usually land on Plan G because Plan F, its fuller twin, closed to new buyers in 2020. Plan G premiums often run lower than Plan F premiums for the same person, and the gap can exceed the $283 deductible over a year. Our breakdown of Medigap Plan G costs by age shows how premiums look at 65, 75, and 85, which gives you a realistic sense of how the bill grows over time.
When does Plan N make more sense than Plan G?
Plan N makes sense when you see the doctor a few times a year and prefer a lower monthly premium in exchange for small copays. It pays the Part A deductible and Part B coinsurance, then charges up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for emergency room visits that do not end in admission. It does not cover Part B excess charges.
The arithmetic is simple. Divide the yearly premium saving between Plan N and Plan G by $20 and you get the number of office visits where Plan N still comes out ahead. Healthy enrollees who visit twice a year usually keep most of the saving. People with weekly therapy or frequent specialist visits often find Plan G cheaper by December. Our head to head of Medigap Plan N vs Plan G costs runs that math on a full year of visits.
Readers asking what are the top 5 medicare supplement plans for seniors in good health often pick between these two letters and nothing else. That is a reasonable shortlist.
Who should keep or choose Plan F?
Plan F fits people who became eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020 and who value a bill free year. It is the only widely sold plan that pays the Part B deductible, so covered services cost nothing at the point of care. Congress closed Plans C and F to newly eligible buyers under a 2015 law, which is why younger retirees cannot buy it today.
Keeping Plan F still deserves a price check. Because no new members join, the Plan F pool at many companies ages and shrinks, and premiums can climb faster than Plan G premiums for the same age. If your Plan F premium exceeds a Plan G quote by more than the $283 Part B deductible each year, switching letters saves money, subject to medical underwriting rules in your state. Our guide on switching Medigap plans after 65 explains when you can change without health questions.
How do Plan K and Plan D round out the top 5?
Plan K is the budget entry in the top 5. It pays 50 percent of the Part A deductible, Part B coinsurance, skilled nursing coinsurance, and hospice cost sharing, and it carries an annual out of pocket limit set by Medicare each year. After you reach that limit, Plan K pays 100 percent of covered services for the rest of the year. Premiums are the lowest among the five because you carry half of most bills.
Plan D sits in the middle. It pays the Part A deductible, skilled nursing coinsurance, and foreign travel emergency care at 80 percent, and it leaves the Part B deductible and excess charges with you. Shoppers in states where Plan G pricing runs high sometimes find Plan D priced noticeably lower for a benefit set they can live with. Readers comparing what are the top 5 medicare supplement plans in california will find the same five letters, since California uses the same standardized designs as most states, with state specific pricing and a birthday rule that lets residents switch to an equal or lesser plan each year without underwriting.
How much do the top 5 Medicare supplement plans cost?
Premiums for the top 5 plans vary widely by age, ZIP code, tobacco use, and pricing method, so any national figure is a rough guide. Plan G and Plan F usually carry the highest premiums of the five, Plan N and Plan D sit in the middle, and Plan K is cheapest. The same Plan G can differ by hundreds of dollars a year between companies in one ZIP code, because the benefits are identical and price is the real variable.
Three pricing methods shape what you pay later. Community rated policies charge the same premium at every age in an area. Issue age rated policies price you by the age you buy and rise mainly with inflation adjustments. Attained age rated policies start low and step up as you age. A cheap attained age quote at 65 can become the expensive option at 80. Ask for the company’s rate increase history on the exact plan letter before you enroll.
Budget for the rest of Medicare too. Our overview of how much Medicare costs in 2026 adds Part B premiums, drug coverage, and supplement premiums into one yearly picture, and our comparison of Medicare Advantage vs Medigap covers the main alternative if supplement premiums strain the budget.
Key takeaways
Plan G is the default pick for new enrollees who want predictable costs, Plan N trades small copays for a lower premium, and Plan F remains the fullest coverage for pre 2020 eligible buyers. Plan K cuts premiums in half step with cost sharing and a yearly cap, and Plan D offers a mid priced set with travel coverage. Compare at least three companies per letter, because the benefits are standardized and the price is where companies differ.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular Medicare supplement plan?
Plan G is the most popular choice among new enrollees. It covers every standardized gap except the $283 Part B deductible for 2026, including excess charges and skilled nursing coinsurance. Plan F held that position before it closed to new buyers in 2020.
Why is Plan F no longer available to everyone?
A federal law passed in 2015 barred plans that pay the Part B deductible from being sold to people who became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. People eligible before that date can still buy Plan F or keep an existing policy.
Does a Medicare supplement plan include drug coverage?
No. Medigap policies do not include prescription drug coverage. You buy a standalone Part D plan for medicines, and you keep paying your Part B premium to Medicare alongside the supplement premium you pay the insurance company.
Can I be denied a top 5 Medicare supplement plan?
During your six month Medigap open enrollment window, which starts when you are 65 and enrolled in Part B, companies must sell you any plan they offer without health questions. Outside that window, most states allow medical underwriting, and a company can charge more or decline you, with exceptions for guaranteed issue events and state birthday rules.
Is Plan G or Plan N better for seniors?
Plan G suits seniors who visit doctors often or who want no copays after the yearly Part B deductible. Plan N suits seniors in good health who visit a few times a year and prefer a lower premium, accepting copays up to $20 per office visit and up to $50 per emergency room visit.
