What Is Medigap? How Medicare Supplement Insurance Works in Utah

Sources: Medicare.gov: What's Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap)? · Medicare.gov: Compare Medigap plan benefits

If you're new to Medicare, "Medigap" is one of the first terms you'll run into. This guide explains what a Medigap policy is, what it covers and doesn't cover, how the plan letters work, and when you can buy one in Utah. There's a short quiz near the end so you can check what you've learned.

Just getting started? Read turning 65 in Utah and how to apply for Medicare in Utah first, since you need Part A and Part B before Medigap comes into play.

What is Medigap?

Medigap is short for "Medicare gap" insurance. Original Medicare pays for much of your covered care, but not all of it. For most Part B services, for example, you usually pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the yearly deductible, and Original Medicare has no yearly limit on what you pay out of pocket (Medicare.gov).

A Medigap policy helps fill those gaps. Medicare pays its share of the Medicare-approved amount first, and then your Medigap policy pays its share, based on the plan letter you have (Medicare.gov).

Medigap and Medicare Supplement mean the same thing

You'll see "Medigap," "Medicare Supplement," "Medicare Supplement Insurance" and "Med Supp." They all describe the same kind of policy. Private insurance companies sell it, and Medicare sets the rules for the standard benefits.

How Medigap works with Original Medicare

With Original Medicare, you can see any doctor or hospital in the U.S. that takes Medicare. A Medigap policy works alongside Original Medicare, so it generally goes where your Medicare goes. Most Medigap policies don't use a network; one type, called Medicare SELECT, does. You pay a monthly premium to the insurance company for the policy, in addition to your Part B premium (Choosing a Medigap Policy).

A few more rules to know:

• One person per policy. Each Medigap policy covers one person, so spouses buy their own.
• No drug coverage in policies sold today. If you want drug coverage, you join a separate Medicare drug plan (Part D).
• Medigap can't be used with a Medicare Advantage plan. It's for people in Original Medicare.

What does Medigap cover?

Every Medigap plan letter covers some mix of the same standardized benefits. Here's what Medigap can help pay, depending on the letter (Medicare.gov):

• Part A coinsurance and hospital costs, up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits are used
• Part B coinsurance or copayment
• The first 3 pints of blood
• Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment
• Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance
• The Part A deductible and, in some plans, the Part B deductible
• Part B excess charges (in some plans)
• Foreign travel emergency care, up to plan limits (in some plans)

What Medigap doesn't cover

Medigap policies generally don't cover long-term care, vision or dental care, hearing aids, eyeglasses or private-duty nursing. Policies sold today don't cover prescription drugs either (Choosing a Medigap Policy). If drug coverage matters to you, read about the Part D out-of-pocket cap.

The Medigap plan letters

Medigap plans are standardized and named by letter: A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M and N. In Utah, as in most states, a given letter has the same basic benefits no matter which insurance company sells it. What can differ between companies is the premium and how they serve their customers (Medicare.gov).

• Plans C and F aren't available to people who became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. If you were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020, you may still be able to buy Plan C or Plan F.
• Plans K and L pay a share of some costs and have a yearly out-of-pocket limit.
• Plans G and N differ in only a few benefits. See Plan G vs Plan N for a side-by-side chart, or read our guide to Medicare Supplement Plan N.

When can you buy a Medigap policy?

The key timing rule is your Medigap Open Enrollment Period. It's a one-time, 6-month federal window that starts the first month you're 65 or older and enrolled in Part B (Medicare.gov).

• Inside the window: this is the time Medicare.gov points to for buying a Medigap policy. A company can't turn you down or charge more because of your health, though it may make you wait up to 6 months to cover a pre-existing condition.
• Outside the window: insurers may ask health questions, charge more or turn you down, unless you have a guaranteed issue right. In certain situations, such as when a Medicare Advantage plan leaves your area or employer coverage ends, federal law gives you this right to buy certain Medigap plans (Medicare.gov).

This window is different from Medicare's fall Open Enrollment (October 15 to December 7) and the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 to March 31). Those windows are for Medicare Advantage and drug plans. See every window in one place on our Medicare enrollment dates page.

Medigap vs Medicare Advantage

Medigap and Medicare Advantage are two different paths, and you can't have both at once. Medigap adds to Original Medicare. Medicare Advantage, also called Part C, is a different way to get your Part A and Part B coverage through a private plan. Learn how Part C works in What is Medicare Part C?, compare the two coverage styles in Medicare Advantage vs. Medicare Supplement, or line up Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage in our comparison tool.

Medigap basics quiz

Test what you know. Pick True or False for each statement, and you'll see why right away.

How to buy a Medigap policy in Utah

How our team helps

We're Boo Insurance Services, a licensed independent Medicare agency in Draper, licensed since 2014. We've helped 1,000+ Utahns with Medicare and have 170+ 5-Star Google Reviews. We meet by phone or video anywhere in Utah, explain how Medigap and the other Medicare paths work, and answer your questions in plain language. You decide, with no obligation.

Frequently asked questions

What is Medigap in simple terms?

Medigap is extra insurance from a private company that helps pay your share of costs in Original Medicare, like coinsurance, copayments and deductibles. You need Part A and Part B to buy it.

Is Medigap the same as a Medicare Supplement plan?

Yes. Medigap and Medicare Supplement Insurance are two names for the same kind of policy. Medicare sets the standard benefits for each plan letter, and private companies sell the policies.

Can I have Medigap and a Medicare Advantage plan?

No. Medigap can't be used with a Medicare Advantage plan. Medigap works only with Original Medicare.

Does Medigap cover prescription drugs?

No. Medigap policies sold today don't include drug coverage. If you want drug coverage, you join a separate Medicare drug plan (Part D).

When is the Medigap Open Enrollment Period?

It's a one-time 6-month window that starts the first month you're 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. During it, a company can't turn you down or charge more because of your health, though it may make you wait up to 6 months to cover a pre-existing condition. Outside it, insurers may ask health questions, charge more or turn you down, unless you have a guaranteed issue right.

Are Medigap plans the same in Utah as in other states?

Utah uses the standard lettered plans, so a given letter has the same basic benefits with every company that sells it in Utah. Massachusetts, Minnesota and Wisconsin standardize their plans differently.

Does a Medigap policy cover my spouse?

No. Each Medigap policy covers one person, so spouses who both want Medigap buy separate policies.

Can I see any doctor with Medigap?

With Original Medicare, you can see any doctor or hospital in the U.S. that takes Medicare, and your Medigap policy works alongside it. Most Medigap policies don't use a network. One type, called Medicare SELECT, does, so ask before you buy.

Serving Utah residents. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 9 organizations which offer 58 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.

Sources

• Medicare.gov, What's Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap)?
• Medicare.gov, Compare Medigap plan benefits
• Medicare.gov, When can I buy a Medigap policy?
• Medicare.gov, Choosing a Medigap Policy (CMS Product 02110)
• Medicare.gov, Compare Original Medicare & Medicare Advantage
• CMS, Medicare Monthly Enrollment (Utah, June 2026)
• SSA, Sign up for Medicare

Not connected with or endorsed by the United States government or the federal Medicare program. Fores Boo, licensed independent Medicare agent, NPN 17255694, Boo Insurance Services, 61 W 13490 S Ste 201, Draper, UT 84020.

Last updated: October 21, 2026.