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 health questions to decide whether to issue a policy and at what rate. You can read more about Medigap underwriting health questions and how to qualify before you apply.

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.

National 2026 data shows the average Medicare Supplement Plan G premium climbs steeply with age: roughly $165.85 per month at age 65, $181.41 at age 70, $205.12 at age 75, $251.92 at age 80, and $266.87 by age 85. That is roughly a $100 monthly jump over 20 years, largely driven by attained-age policies and cumulative rate actions.

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. For a deeper look at how Medigap pricing works by state, check our state-by-state breakdown.

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 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. Read our full comparison of broker vs direct carrier shopping to see which channel fits your situation.

Direct from the carrier

You can request a quote directly from Mutual of Omaha, Aetna, HealthSpring (formerly Cigna), UnitedHealthcare and 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. According to Telos Actuarial's Q3 2026 update, the industry-wide average Plan G rate hike for 2026 is 16.8 percent, with the six largest Medigap carriers filing increases ranging from just over 12 percent to more than 26 percent. Cigna/HealthSpring, Humana, and UnitedHealthcare filed roughly 5 to 9 percentage points higher than they did in 2025. A handful of closed-block outliers (including Chubb filings reported as high as 45 percent in certain markets) sit even further above the pack. Repeated 20-percent-plus jumps are a red flag; single-digit historical increases are a strong sign.
• 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. Mutual of Omaha's A+ (Superior) rating was reaffirmed in April 2026, while UnitedHealthcare was downgraded to A (Excellent) in August 2025 and remains at A in 2026. See our best Medigap carriers of 2026 for ranked picks.

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 offers household discounts of 7, 10, or 12 percent depending on the state, and in most 12 percent states you can qualify if you live with a spouse, domestic partner, or up to three adults age 60 or older, even if the other person does not have a Mutual of Omaha policy. HealthSpring (formerly Cigna, now under HCSC after the brand transition took effect January 1, 2026) advertises stacked discounts of up to 25 percent, with the largest piece being up to 20 percent for living with a cohabiting adult plus a 5 percent online enrollment discount (state availability varies). Humana offers a 5 percent household discount standard (12 percent on its Humana Achieve product), plus a 6 percent online enrollment discount in most states (excluded in CA, CT, OH, and PA) and a $2 per month autopay discount. See our full guide to the Medigap household discount for state-by-state details, or compare full carrier options in our best Medigap plans of 2026 roundup.
• 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 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. If you are coming off a Medicare Advantage plan, our guide on switching from MA to Medigap explains what to expect, and there is a separate deep dive on Medigap underwriting when leaving MA if you want to prepare for the health questions.

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 before showing you any prices.

How accurate are online Medicare Supplement quotes in 2026?

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. With 2026 Plan G rate hikes averaging 16.8 percent industry-wide (and reaching 26 percent or more at some carriers), 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. Our complete Medigap cost guide breaks down the typical spread by carrier.

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 usually the same because brokers are paid by the carrier, not by you. Our Medigap plan comparison chart can help you narrow down the right plan letter before you start requesting quotes.

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, unless you live in a state with a birthday rule or year-round guaranteed issue.