How to Get Medicare Supplement Quotes: A Shopper's Guide

What Information You Need to Request a Medicare Supplement Quote

Getting an accurate Medigap quote takes only a few minutes if you have the right details ready. Insurers and brokers need enough information to confirm eligibility, apply the correct rating tier, and pull state-specific rates for your area.

Have these items handy before you start requesting quotes:

• Full name and date of birth (used to confirm age and rating tier)
• Sex/gender (many carriers still use sex-based rating in most states)
• ZIP code and state (rates can vary by ZIP within the same state)
• Medicare Part A and Part B effective dates
• Tobacco use status (smokers typically pay 10 to 20 percent more)
• Plan letter you want to quote (Plan G, Plan N, or High-Deductible Plan G are the most common 2026 choices)
• Desired policy effective date

If you are shopping outside your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period or do not have a guaranteed issue right, expect additional questions about current health conditions, recent hospitalizations, prescription medications, and sometimes height and weight. Carriers use these to decide whether to issue a policy and at what rate.

How Rating Methods Change What You Pay Today and Later

Two carriers can quote the same Plan G at nearly identical monthly premiums today and yet cost thousands of dollars apart over a decade. The reason is the rating method, which determines how your premium changes as you age.

There are three pricing methods used in 2026:

• Community-rated: Everyone pays the same base premium regardless of age. Your rate does not go up just because you turn 75 or 85, although it can still rise due to inflation and claims.
• Issue-age-rated: Your premium is locked to the age you were when you bought the policy. You will never get an age-based increase, but general rate hikes still apply.
• Attained-age-rated: Your premium is based on your current age and goes up every year or every few years as you get older, on top of any general rate increases.

Attained-age policies often look like the best deal at 65 but climb the fastest. Community-rated and issue-age plans typically start higher but age more gracefully. Always ask the broker which method the carrier uses before you focus on the headline premium.

Why Two Carriers Can Charge Very Different Premiums for the Same Plan

Federal law standardizes Medigap benefits by letter, not prices. A Plan G from Carrier A covers the exact same expenses as a Plan G from Carrier B, but premiums can differ by hundreds of dollars per year. Several factors drive the gap:

1. Different rating methods. Community vs. attained-age pricing can produce wildly different numbers.
2. Actuarial assumptions. Each insurer makes its own projections about claims, profit margin, and administrative costs.
3. Underwriting strictness. Carriers that screen harder tend to keep claims lower and pass the savings on as lower premiums.
4. Block of business health. A "closed block" with no new healthy enrollees joining often raises rates faster than an open, growing block.
5. Discounts. Household, spousal, electronic-funds-transfer, and online-enrollment discounts can swing a premium 5 to 25 percent.
6. Geography. Premiums vary by state and even by ZIP code based on local medical costs.
7. Plan variations. Standard Plan G, High-Deductible Plan G, and Medicare SELECT versions of Plan G all carry different price tags.

Where to Get Medicare Supplement Quotes

You have three main paths to pull Medigap quotes. Each has trade-offs.

Independent broker or agent

A licensed independent broker can quote multiple carriers in your ZIP code and explain the differences. They are paid by the insurance company you eventually choose, so their service is free to you. The best ones run the same plan letter across 5 to 10 carriers and show you a sorted list.

Direct from the carrier

You can request a quote directly from Mutual of Omaha, Aetna, Cigna Healthspring, UnitedHealthcare/AARP, Humana, and other large carriers. This is fine if you already know which company you want, but you only see one carrier's rates and may miss a cheaper option two clicks away.

Online comparison sites

Comparison sites and quote engines (including the Medicare.gov plan finder) let you punch in your ZIP, age, gender, tobacco status, and plan letter to see estimated premiums across many carriers at once. Medicare.gov labels its prices as estimates and tells you to confirm with the carrier before applying.

How to Read a Medigap Quote Sheet

A typical quote sheet lists the carrier, plan letter, base monthly premium, any discounts applied, and the effective date. To interpret it well, look beyond the lowest number:

• Is the discount already applied? Some sheets show pre-discount premiums; others show net.
• What is the rating method? A note like "AA" (attained-age), "IA" (issue-age), or "CR" (community-rated) often appears in small print.
• Is the carrier's rate-increase history reasonable? Ask the broker for the company's average annual increase over the last 5 years. Single-digit increases are typical; 12 to 15 percent year after year is a red flag.
• Is it the same plan version? Confirm standard Plan G vs. High-Deductible Plan G vs. Medicare SELECT.
• Does the carrier have a strong financial rating? AM Best ratings of A- or better are a reasonable floor.

Common Quote Pitfalls to Avoid

The most common mistakes are easy to fix once you know to look for them:

• Teaser rates from closed blocks. Some carriers price aggressively to attract new members, then approve large rate hikes once the block closes. Always ask about historical increases.
• Forgetting discounts. Mutual of Omaha advertises up to a 12 percent household discount; Premera's 2026 Washington filings show roughly 10 percent spousal discounts on Plan G; many carriers add 5 to 6 percent for paying by EFT or enrolling online.
• Comparing different plans. Quoting a High-Deductible Plan G against a standard Plan G makes the standard plan look overpriced when it really is not.
• Ignoring underwriting. Outside your Open Enrollment Period, the carrier can decline you or "rate up" your premium based on health. A low online quote can vanish on the application.

Are Online Medigap Quotes Binding?

No. Online and broker-quoted prices are estimates, not binding offers. Medicare.gov, HealthMarkets, and every major comparison tool include disclaimers that the actual rate is only finalized when the insurer accepts your application.

Here is the key distinction:

If you are inside your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period or have a guaranteed issue right, underwriting cannot change your premium based on health, so your quote will usually match your final rate closely. Outside those windows, expect a possible adjustment.

Questions to Ask Before You Apply

Before you sign anything, ask your broker or carrier representative:

• Are you an independent broker, or do you only represent one carrier?
• How many Medigap carriers are licensed to sell in my ZIP code, and which ones are you quoting?
• What rating method does this policy use?
• What is this carrier's average annual rate increase over the last 5 years?
• What discounts do I qualify for (household, spousal, EFT, online enrollment, non-tobacco)?
• Am I in my Open Enrollment Period or eligible for a guaranteed issue right?
• What health questions will the application ask?
• Can I see the carrier's AM Best financial rating?
• If I am declined or rated up, what are my next-best options?

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to give my Social Security number to get a Medigap quote?

No. A quote only requires basic information like age, ZIP code, gender, tobacco use, and the plan letter you want. Your Social Security number, banking details, and detailed medical history are only required when you submit a formal application. Be wary of any quote site that demands sensitive information upfront.

How accurate are online Medicare Supplement quotes?

Online quotes are usually accurate within a few dollars per month for the basics, but they are still estimates. They may not reflect the most recent rate filing, may not include every discount you qualify for, and may not show health-based adjustments if you are applying outside Open Enrollment. Always confirm the final premium with the carrier before you assume the quoted price is what you will pay.

Why is the same Plan G cheaper from one company than another?

Medigap benefits are standardized by federal law, but pricing is not. Each carrier picks its own rating method, claims assumptions, underwriting rules, discounts, and profit margin. Differences in the health of their existing customer base and how aggressively they price for market share can easily create premium gaps of $50 to $100 per month for the identical Plan G.

Should I use a broker or buy directly from the carrier?

For most shoppers, an independent broker is the better choice because they can compare 5 to 10 carriers in one sitting at no cost to you. Buying directly makes sense only if you already know which carrier you want and prefer to skip the middleman. Either way, the price is the same; brokers are paid by the carrier, not by you.

What is the best time to shop for Medigap quotes to get the lowest rate?

The single best time is during your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period, which begins the month you turn 65 and are enrolled in Part B. During that window, you can buy any Medigap plan sold in your state at the best available rate without medical underwriting. After that, you can still shop any time, but carriers may use your health to set the price or decline coverage.