Plans & Coverage
Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Plans
Medicare Supplement — Medigap — works alongside Original Medicare to pay the share you'd otherwise owe: the $1,736 Part A hospital deductible, the 20% Part B coinsurance, and more. Unlike Medicare Advantage there are no networks, so you can see any provider in the country who accepts Medicare. Medigap does not include drug coverage, so nearly everyone pairs it with a standalone Part D plan.
What Medigap pays for
Original Medicare covers most of your care but leaves gaps with no annual ceiling. Medigap fills them. Plans are standardized by letter, so a Plan G from one carrier covers exactly what a Plan G from another covers — only the price and the service differ.
- The Part A hospital deductible — $1,736 per benefit period in 2026, and you can have more than one benefit period in a year.
- The 20% coinsurance Part B leaves on doctor visits, outpatient care, and durable medical equipment.
- Hospital costs for an extra 365 days after Medicare's benefits are used up.
- Skilled nursing facility coinsurance, Part A hospice cost sharing, and blood.
- Foreign travel emergency care on most letter plans — useful if you travel.
The full standardized benefit grid is on Medicare.gov's Medigap comparison chart.
Plan G vs Plan N in 2026
Plan G and Plan N are what most people actually choose in New Mexico. Plan F is closed to anyone who became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020.
| Plan G | Plan N | |
|---|---|---|
| Part A deductible | Paid in full | Paid in full |
| Part B coinsurance | Paid in full | Paid, minus small copays |
| Office visit copay | None | Up to $20 |
| Emergency room copay | None | Up to $50 (waived if admitted) |
| Part B excess charges | Covered | Not covered |
| Part B deductible | You pay $283 | You pay $283 |
| Monthly premium | Higher | Lower |
The maths is simply whether the premium you save on Plan N exceeds the copays you'd pay. Our Plan G vs Plan N break-even calculator works it out from how often you actually see a doctor.
The 6-month window that decides everything
Your Medigap Open Enrollment Period runs for the 6 months that begin the month you're 65 or older AND enrolled in Part B. During it you have a guaranteed right to buy any Medigap policy sold in New Mexico at the best available rate, regardless of your health history.
Once that window closes, carriers in most situations may use medical underwriting — they can ask health questions, charge more, or decline you. This is the single most consequential deadline in Medicare, and it does not repeat.
The rules, including the limited guaranteed-issue rights that exist outside the window, are on Medicare.gov's when-to-buy page.
What Medigap does not cover
- Prescription drugs — you add a standalone Part D plan.
- Dental, vision, and hearing — not included; these are bought separately.
- Long-term custodial care — Medicare and Medigap both exclude it. See long-term care coverage.
- Your Part B premium — you still pay $202.90 a month in 2026, plus the Medigap premium.
Medigap vs Medicare Advantage
The honest summary: Medigap costs more every month and less when you're sick; Advantage costs less every month and more when you use care.
| Medigap + Part D | Medicare Advantage | |
|---|---|---|
| Networks | None — any provider taking Medicare | HMO or PPO network |
| Monthly cost | Higher and predictable | Often $0 plan premium |
| Cost when you're sick | Very low | Copays up to the plan's maximum |
| Referrals / prior authorization | Rare | Common |
| Extra benefits | Bought separately | Often bundled |
| Drug coverage | Separate Part D plan | Usually built in |
Switching later, and New Mexico's rules
Premiums rise with age and inflation, so shopping your Medigap policy periodically is worth doing — the benefits are identical by letter, so a cheaper Plan G is genuinely the same coverage.
Whether you can switch without health questions depends on your situation and on state law, which has changed recently in New Mexico. We'll tell you plainly whether you can move and what it would cost before you do anything.
Not sure which of these fits you? A free 15-minute call with a licensed local advisor sorts it out — no pressure, and no cost to you. We do not offer every plan available in your area. For a complete list of every plan in your county, use Medicare Plan Compare or call 1-800-MEDICARE.
Questions, answered
Can I switch to Medigap later?
You get a 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period — the 6 months that begin the month you're 65 or older AND enrolled in Part B — with guaranteed acceptance. After that, switching may require medical underwriting and you can be declined, except in specific guaranteed-issue situations. We'll tell you which window you're in.
Does Medigap cover prescriptions?
No. Medigap never includes drug coverage — you add a standalone Part D plan. We set both up together so there's no gap and no late-enrollment penalty.
Is Plan F still available?
Only if you were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020. Everyone newly eligible after that date chooses among the other letters, and Plan G is the closest equivalent.
Are Medigap plans the same from every company?
The benefits are — they're standardized by federal law, so any Plan G covers the same services. What differs is the premium, how the carrier raises rates over time, and the service. That's why comparing carriers is worth doing.
How much does Medigap cost in New Mexico?
It depends on your age, ZIP code, tobacco use, and the carrier's rating method — we quote real carrier prices for your county rather than a national average. Remember the premium is on top of the $202.90 Part B premium in 2026.
Sources
- Medicare.gov — Medigap (Medicare Supplement Insurance)
- Medicare.gov — Compare Medigap plan benefits
- Medicare.gov — When to buy a Medigap policy
- CMS — 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles
- Medicare.gov — Medicare costs
- Medicare & You handbook (PDF)
Figures are for 2026 and come from the official sources above. Plan-specific costs vary by county and carrier — confirm yours on Medicare Plan Compare or with a licensed agent.
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Content reviewed by Brian Penner, Independent Medicare advisor — no pressure.