Medigap Plan A Benefits: What You Need to Know

Medicare Supplement Plan A offers all of the basic benefits included in every Medicare Supplement Insurance plan without any extras.

Updated Jun 26, 2024 · 1 min read Written by Alex Rosenberg Lead Writer

Alex Rosenberg
Lead Writer | Medicare, health care, legislation

Alex Rosenberg is a NerdWallet writer focusing on Medicare and information technology. He has more than 10 years of experience researching and writing about health care, insurance, technology, data privacy and public policy. His research has supported lawmakers in the Wisconsin State Legislature as well as health systems and national health authorities in the U.S. and more than 10 other countries. He is based in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

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Holly Carey
Assigning Editor | Medicare

Holly Carey joined NerdWallet in 2021 as an editor on the team responsible for expanding content to additional topics within personal finance. She currently leads the Medicare team. Previously, Holly wrote and edited content and developed digital media strategies as a public affairs officer for the U.S. Navy. She is based in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

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Nerdy takeaways

Medigap Plan A is a baseline Medicare Supplement Insurance plan with no extras.
About 1% of Medicare beneficiaries choose Medigap Plan A. (Plan G and Plan N are top choices for new members.)
Medicare Supplement Plan A sometimes has lower prices than higher-coverage options — but not always.

Medigap Plan A is a Medicare Supplement Insurance plan that covers certain out-of-pocket expenses such as copays and coinsurance associated with Medicare Part A and Part B coverage. Medigap Plan A includes only the basics for Medigap plans — the benefits that every Medigap plan covers.

Most Medicare beneficiaries opt for higher-coverage options like Plan G or Plan N — only about 1% choose Plan A [0]

America's Health Insurance Plans . The State of Medicare Supplement Coverage. Accessed Jun 3, 2024.

. But if you don't want the added coverage, Plan A sometimes has lower premiums than other Medigap options .

Plan A isn’t always the cheapest, even though it has basic benefits. Read your quotes carefully when you’re shopping for plans. Sometimes, Medigap pricing can be unintuitive; for example, you might even see a high-coverage plan such as Plan G with prices below Plan A.

Still deciding on the right carrier? Compare Medigap plans

What is Medicare Supplement Plan A?

Original Medicare beneficiaries can buy a Medigap plan to help pay for out-of-pocket costs like deductibles, copays and coinsurance . These plans aren’t available for Medicare Advantage members [0]

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services . Learn How Medigap Works. Accessed Jun 3, 2024.

There are 10 standardized Medigap plans available in most states (except Massachusetts, Minnesota and Wisconsin, which use different standards). The plans differ in terms of coverage for services, out-of-pocket limits and premium costs.

Medicare Supplement Plan A is the most basic of the standardized plans. It offers the benefits every Medicare Supplement Insurance plan has to cover, but nothing more.

What Medigap Plan A covers

Here’s what Medigap Plan A covers, according to Medicare.gov [0]

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services . Compare Medigap Plan Benefits. Accessed Jun 3, 2024.

Part A coinsurance and hospital costs up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits are used up.

Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment. Part B coinsurance or copayment. Blood transfusion (first three pints).

What Medigap Plan A doesn’t cover

Here are the benefits Medigap Plan A doesn’t cover that are included in some other plans:

Part A deductible.

Part B excess charges (if a provider is permitted to charge more than Medicare’s approved amount and does so).

Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance. Emergency care during travel outside the U.S.

Additionally, all Medigap plans, including Plan A, sold to new Medicare members don’t cover the following [0]

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services . Learn What Medigap Covers. Accessed Jun 3, 2024.

Part B deductible (since 2020, new Medicare members can’t buy any plan that covers the Part B deductible, although existing members may own older plans that do).

Long-term care (like non-skilled care you get in a nursing home). Private-duty nursing.

Shopping for Medigap plans? We have you covered.

MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT , or Medigap, is private health insurance that covers “gaps” in traditional Medicare coverage. Compare options from our Medigap roundup .

Best for Medigap plan options

Best for member satisfaction

Best for premium discounts

Best for extra benefits

How much does Medigap Plan A cost?

Medicare Supplement Plan A is regulated by the federal government, but premiums are set by the private health insurance companies that sell the plan.

Medigap Plan A premiums for a 65-year-old female nonsmoker range from $109 to $225 per month in Atlanta, which has average costs among major U.S. metro areas for the most popular Medigap plan types [0]

Medicare.gov . Find a Medigap Policy that Works for You. Accessed Jun 3, 2024.

A $109 Medigap Plan A policy has the same standardized Medicare coverage as one that costs $225. Companies may add on extra perks like discounted gym memberships, but the core Medicare benefits are the same, so go ahead and compare based on price.

Buy Medigap Plan A during Medigap open enrollment

The easiest and least expensive time to enroll in a Medigap policy is during your Medigap open enrollment period .

This period happens only once. It starts once you’re 65 and enrolled in Medicare Part B, and lasts for six months. (If you're still working after 65 and covered by a group employer plan that is deemed creditable coverage, your six-month period starts after you’ve ended active employment or no longer have that insurance.)

Medigap policies are cheapest and easiest to get during this open enrollment period because insurance companies aren’t allowed to factor your health or medical history into your price. After the period ends, the prices may go up or you may be denied coverage due to your health status or medical history.

In some states, insurance companies sell Medigap plans to those under 65 who are living with a disability and are eligible for Medicare. You can find more information through your State Health Insurance Assistance Program , or SHIP.

If you have additional questions about Medicare, visit Medicare.gov or call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227, TTY 877-486-2048).

Compare alternative plans

Get details on Medicare Supplement Insurance options

Basics plus some extras

Lower premiums, but higher copays

Lowest premiums — partial coverage

No longer for sale to new Medicare members

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Alex is a NerdWallet writer focusing on Medicare and information technology. He has written about health, tech, and public policy for over 10 years. See full bio.

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