August 18th 2023
By Ari Parker
Texas Medigap plans help Medicare beneficiaries save on out-of-pocket costs. Learn about Medigap plan options, the best Medigap plans, and how to enroll.
By Ari Parker
Medicare Supplement (also called Medigap) plans are a popular option among Medicare beneficiaries who are enrolled in Original Medicare. Medigap plans help Medicare beneficiaries with the gaps in their Original Medicare coverage. In other words, they help pay for the 20% of costs that aren’t covered by Original Medicare.
There are 10 Medicare Supplement plan types in Texas, each labeled by letters A through N. Two of these types are high-deductible options for two of the most popular plans: Plan F and Plan G.
Note: Plans F and C and not available for Medicare beneficiaries who turn 65 after January 1, 2020.
There are ten types of Medicare Supplement plans in Texas.
The most popular Medicare Supplement plans nationwide are Plans F, G, and N.
Plans F and C are not available to those who turn 65 after January 1, 2020.
Each plan of the same type, (e.g., every Plan G) is identical in coverage, but pricing may vary based on personal factors, pricing structures, and insurance carriers.
We have a separate Texas Medicare guide that explains Medicare options, enrollment, and ways to save.
Each Medicare Supplement plan covers a different set of costs. Look at this Medigap plan comparison chart to learn about the differences. Each plan of the same type, (e.g., every Plan G) is identical in coverage, although pricing will vary from one insurance carrier to another.
Medigap Plan F, which is no longer an option for anyone who turns 65 after January 1, 2020, provides the highest level of coverage. For this reason, it’s often called the Cadillac of Medicare. Plan C is also not available to people who turn 65 after January 1, 2020.
For those who are new to Medicare, the most popular plans are Plan G and Plan N.
For new Medicare beneficiaries who don’t have Medigap Plan F as an option, Plan G is the “best” Medigap, in that it provides the most coverage. Which plan is right for you, depends on a number of other factors, including your financial situation.
There are 53 Medigap Plan G policies in Texas, with premiums ranging from $94-$714. These Plans are offered by 36 insurance carriers, including AARP - United Healthcare, Cigna, Humana, and Wellcare. (Data from 2023.)
There are multiple factors that can affect the cost of a Medicare Supplement plan. For all Medigap plans in Texas in 2023, premiums range from $29/mo for a high-deductible Plan G, to $1,887 for the highest cost Medigap Plan A.
Personal factors that may affect a plan’s cost:
Your age
Your gender
Whether or not you smoke tobacco products
Your location
Household discounts available with some Medigap plans
Plan factors that affect cost are:
Insurance carriers
The policy’s pricing structure
There are three ways that Medigap policies can be priced (also called rated). For each of these pricing structures, your premiums may be higher or lower due to personal factors. Your premiums also may increase because of economic factors.
For community-rated policies (also called no age-rated), everyone on the policy has the same price, regardless of age, and your premium will not go up as you get older.
For issue-age-rated policies (also called entry age-rated), your premium is determined by the age you were when you first enrolled in the plan. Premiums are lower for people who joined these plans at a younger age, and your premiums won’t increase as you age.
Attained-age-rated policies have premiums based on your current age (the age you’ve “attained"). This means that premiums may be much lower at first, but will increase as you age.
Because Medigap plans of the same type have identical coverage, once you’ve decided which plan type you want, it’s all about looking at insurance carrier reputations and premiums costs—both for now as well as future estimates.
Our Texas Medicare Advisors are here to help you determine the best Medicare coverage based on your unique health and financial needs. We provide free, unbiased advice and extended support to ensure every American gets access to the affordable, high-quality healthcare they deserve.
Our licensed Medicare Advisors provide free advice and support! Schedule a free consultation or call us at (855) 900-2427 to get your questions answered and feel confident in your Medicare decisions.
