What is the Average Cost of Medicare Supplement Insurance?

Age is one factor that Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) companies can use when determining the premiums for plans. Your Medigap premium is how much you pay per month to be a member of the plan.

Medicare Supplement Insurance premiums tend to increase with age. As you compare Medigap quotes, it may be helpful to consider how your age could affect your Medigap premium costs over time.

In this guide, we break down the average monthly premiums of Medigap Plan G, Plan F and Plan N by age, from age 65 to age 85.

How Much Does Medigap Cost?

The average monthly cost for a Medicare Supplement plan is $139, though average costs for individual plans vary.¹

The table below displays the average cost of Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan G and Plan N by age.

Based on our analysis, we noted several key takeaways:

• The average Medicare Supplemental health insurance cost for Plan N premiums in 2023 are lowest for beneficiaries at age 66 ($100.57 per month) and highest at age 85 ($173.83 per month).¹ 10% of Medigap beneficiaries have Plan N.²

• Average Medicare Supplement Plan F premiums in 2023 are lowest for beneficiaries at age 66 ($153.29 per month) and highest for beneficiaries at age 84 ($257.57 per month).¹ 41% of Medigap beneficiaries have Plan F.²

• The average cost of Medicare Supplement Plan G in in 2023 are lowest for beneficiaries at age 66 ($128.44 per month) and highest at age 85 ($215.37 per month).¹ 32% of Medigap beneficiaries have Plan G.²

Is Medigap Plan G Better Than Plan F and Plan N?

While there can be a sizable difference in average premiums between Plan F vs. Plan G vs. Plan N, there are only a few differences in benefits these three popular plans offer.

• Plan F provides coverage each of the 9 possible benefits that the 10 standardized Medigap plans can offer, including the Medicare Part B deductible. 

• Plan G does not cover the Medicare Part B deductible, but it offers coverage for all of the same out-of-pocket Medicare costs that Medigap Plan F covers.

• Plan N doesn't cover the Part B deductible or Part B excess charges, and you may be required to pay a $20 copay for some doctor's office visits and up to a $50 copay for trips to the ER that don't result in inpatient admission. In exchange for these copays, Plan N premiums are generally lower than some other Medigap plans.

Medigap Plan F, Plan N and Plan G are the most popular Medigap plans.²

In 2023, the Part B deductible is $226 per year, or roughly $19 per month. 

This means that a Plan G with a premium of no more than $19.00 per month more than a Plan F option could actually serve as a better value, provided you meet the entire Part B deductible.

Important: Plan F is not available to new Medicare beneficiaries who became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. If you already had Medicare before that date, you can still enroll in Plan F if the plan is available in your area.

Do Medigap Premiums Increase with Age?

Yes, there are three different age-related pricing models that Medicare Supplement Insurance companies use to determine their Medigap plan rates in 2023.

Each type of cost model can affect the average price of a given Medigap plan.

• Community-rated Medigap plans
  With community-rated Medigap plans, every member of the plan pays the same rate, regardless of age.

  For example, an 82-year-old who enrolls in a community-rated Plan G will pay the same Medigap premiums as a 68-year-old beneficiary who has the same Plan G in the same market.

• Issue-age-rated Medigap plans
  With issue-age-rated Medigap plans, premiums are based on your age at the time you enrolled in the plan.

  You will typically pay less for an issue-age-rated plan if you enroll in the plan when you're younger. Your premiums also won't increase based on your age.

• Attained-age-rate Medigap plans
  Attained-age-rated Medigap plans set their premiums based on your current age. As you age, your Medigap plan premiums will gradually increase each year.

Medigap premiums can increase over time due to inflation and other factors, regardless of the pricing model your insurance company uses.

Compare Medigap Plan Costs in Your Area

Bear in mind that the premium averages listed above are just that — averages. There may be plans available in your area that cost less than the average listed above for your age.

Other factors such as gender, smoking status, health and where you live can also affect Medigap plan rates.

A licensed insurance agent can help you compare Medicare Supplement Insurance plan costs in your area so that you can find a plan that fits your coverage needs as well as your budget.