How Much Does a Medicare Supplement Plan Cost in 2026?

Average Medicare Supplement Cost in 2026

The national average monthly premium for Medigap in 2026 lands somewhere between $165 and $220 at age 65 depending on which dataset you use, but that single number hides huge variation by plan letter, age, state, gender, tobacco status, and insurer. A healthy 65-year-old non-smoker shopping the most popular plans can expect a realistic monthly range of about $50 to $350, with extremes pushing past $500 in high-cost states.

Three plans dominate the new-enrollee market: Plan G, Plan N, and High Deductible Plan G (HDG). Plan G is the most comprehensive option still open to people newly eligible for Medicare, Plan N trades a small copay structure for lower premiums, and HDG offers catastrophic-style coverage at the cheapest monthly cost. You can dig deeper into each option in our Plan G coverage guide, Plan N breakdown, and our High Deductible Plan G analysis.

2026 national average monthly premiums

HDG carries a $2,950 annual deductible in 2026 (up from $2,870 in 2025) before benefits kick in, so the savings versus standard Plan G come with real out-of-pocket risk. That deductible includes the 2026 Part B deductible of $283, which counts toward the $2,950 threshold. The 2026 standard Part B premium of $202.90 (up $17.90 or nearly 10% from $185 in 2025) is separate and not paid by your Medigap plan. You can see how the pieces fit together in our overview of what Medicare doesn't cover.

Medicare Supplement Premiums by Age

Most Medigap plans use attained-age pricing, which means your premium climbs with each birthday on top of any general rate increase. The table below shows representative national averages for Plan G at each common shopping age in 2026, based on industry data from MedicareSupplement.com, The Big 65, and MoneyGeek.

A few patterns worth noting:

• Premiums are roughly 75% to 90% higher at 80 than at 65 for attained-age plans.
• Women generally pay 5 to 10% less than men with most carriers.
• Tobacco users typically pay 10 to 20% more, regardless of age.
• HDG and Plan N follow the same age curve but at lower absolute dollars.

Medicare Supplement Cost by State

Where you live is the single biggest cost factor outside of plan choice. State regulations, local medical costs, and how competitive the carrier market is all push premiums up or down. For more on how state rules shape your options, see our guide to Medicare Supplement plans by state.

Five cheapest states for Plan G (age 65)

Five most expensive states for Plan G (age 65)

In New York, where community rating is required, 2026 data shows Plan G averaging around $354 a month, with Plan N quotes commonly landing between $280 and $520 depending on carrier and region. In Texas in 2026, many shoppers see Plan G around $120 to $170 per month, Plan N around $95 to $150, and High Deductible Plan G around $40 to $70. That is a $2,800+ annual gap for identical federally standardized benefits.

The Three Pricing Methods (and Why They Matter)

How your insurer prices your policy determines how the premium behaves over the next 10 to 20 years. There are three methods, and the difference can amount to tens of thousands of dollars across your retirement. Our Medicare Supplement quotes guide walks through how to identify which method a carrier uses before you sign.

Community-rated (no-age-rated)

Everyone in the same area with the same plan pays the same base premium regardless of age or gender. Premiums can still rise for inflation and claims experience, but not because you personally turned a year older. Common in New York, Connecticut, Vermont, Maine, Washington, and Massachusetts.

Issue-age-rated

Your premium is locked to the age at which you bought the policy. A buyer who enrolled at 65 keeps a 65-year-old's rate forever (subject to general increases), while a 75-year-old buyer starts on the 75-year-old curve. There are no birthday-related bumps after purchase. Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, and New Hampshire are notable issue-age states.

Attained-age-rated

The most common method nationally. Your premium is recalculated against your current age every year, so it starts cheap at 65 and climbs steadily. It looks like the best deal at enrollment but often becomes the most expensive choice in your 70s and 80s.

Why Medigap Premiums Increase Every Year

Even if you never file a claim and your health is unchanged, your Medigap rate is almost guaranteed to rise annually. The drivers:

• Medical inflation. Hospital charges, physician fees, and drug-administration costs keep climbing, so the insurer pays more per claim.
• Claims experience of your block. Insurers price each "block" of policyholders together. As the block ages, claims rise and premiums adjust.
• Closed blocks. When a carrier stops selling a plan to new members, the remaining pool gets older and sicker, producing larger hikes.
• Your age (attained-age plans only).
• Rising loss ratios. Industry-wide Medigap loss ratios have climbed over the past several years, with some blocks above 100%, forcing carriers to re-price.

2026 rate-increase examples by carrier

According to Telos Actuarial, Q1 2026 Plan G rate filings among the six largest Medigap carriers ranged from just over 12% to more than 26%. Notable actions include:

At 13% per year a premium doubles in roughly 5½ years, and 2026 filings suggest some AARP-branded blocks could double even faster. That is exactly why shopping at renewal has become so important. Carriers' rate histories are one of the key factors examined in our ranking of the best Medigap insurance companies.

Discounts That Lower Your Medigap Premium

Carriers do not advertise these aggressively, but most of the big names offer at least one or two. Always ask.

Common Medigap discounts

• Household discount: 5 to 12% (occasionally higher). Available when you live with another adult (sometimes a spouse, sometimes any roommate over a certain age) and one or both of you have a policy with the same insurer. Mutual of Omaha offers up to 12% in most states (10% in North Dakota, 7% in select states like Florida), Aetna typically runs 5-7%, and HealthSpring (formerly Cigna, now under HCSC ownership) stacks up to 20% for spouses.
• Electronic funds transfer (EFT) discount. Most carriers in 2026 offer a small autopay credit of roughly $2 to $5 per month when you pay by automatic bank draft.
• Annual payment discount. Pay the year up front and save a few percent.
• Non-tobacco rate. Most carriers price tobacco use as a separate, higher tier rather than as a "discount," but the effective savings can be 10 to 20%.
• Online enrollment discount. Humana offers 6% for applying online (not available in CA, CT, OH, or PA), and HealthSpring stacks a 5% online discount on top of its household discount for up to 25% total savings.

Stacking a household discount with an EFT credit and a non-tobacco rate can quietly trim 15 to 20% off your monthly premium for the life of the policy. The AARP Medicare Supplement plans underwritten by UnitedHealthcare build community-rating and multi-year discounts directly into filed rates in most states. For a deeper look at how to qualify for one of the biggest single savings, see our guide to the Mutual of Omaha Medicare Supplement plans which offer the industry's most generous household discount.

How to Lower Your Medicare Supplement Cost

1. Shop at renewal, not just at enrollment

Once your annual rate increase letter arrives, request fresh quotes from three to five carriers. Identical Plan G benefits often vary by $50 to $100 a month between insurers in the same ZIP code. Our Humana Medigap review is a good example of the kind of carrier-level detail worth checking before you switch.

2. Use your state's birthday rule

Sixteen states now have some version of a Medigap "birthday rule" giving current policyholders a guaranteed-issue window each year to switch plans without medical underwriting: California, Delaware (effective January 1, 2026), Idaho, Illinois, Indiana (effective January 1, 2026), Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia (effective June 2026), and Wyoming. New Mexico's birthday rule joins the list effective January 1, 2027, and Connecticut, Maine, New York, and Washington already allow year-round or annual guaranteed-issue switching. Our complete Medigap plans by state guide walks through each state's exact window length and switching rules.

3. Consider High Deductible Plan G

HDG charges roughly one-third the premium of standard Plan G. After meeting the $2,950 annual deductible, coverage is identical to Plan G. For healthy enrollees who rarely hit the deductible, the math is overwhelmingly in HDG's favor.

4. Buy young and healthy

The Medigap Open Enrollment Period at 65 is the only time most people are guaranteed acceptance at the best rate. Outside that window, insurers in most states can deny you or surcharge you for pre-existing conditions. If you are new to Medicare or considering leaving MA, our Medigap vs Medicare Advantage comparison explains how timing affects underwriting.

5. Pick an issue-age or community-rated carrier if available

You will pay slightly more at 65, but you will likely pay far less at 78.

What a Fair Quote Looks Like (and Red Flags to Avoid)

A fair 2026 quote for a healthy 65-year-old non-smoker generally falls in these ranges by state tier:

Red flags

• A "teaser" quote far below the market average. Often a new block from a carrier with a history of double-digit hikes once you are locked in.
• Carrier refuses to disclose pricing method. Always ask: community, issue-age, or attained-age.
• No published rate-increase history. Reputable agents will share 3-5 years of historical increases.
• Pressure to enroll today. Medigap benefits are federally standardized. There is no genuine urgency outside your Open Enrollment Period.
• Steering you toward Medicare Advantage instead. Some agents earn higher commissions on MA. Read our side-by-side comparison chart of all Medigap letters before being talked out of supplemental coverage.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much should I pay for Medigap in 2026?

A healthy 65-year-old should expect roughly $110 to $200 a month for Plan G, $85 to $140 for Plan N, and $35 to $75 for High Deductible Plan G, depending on state and carrier. Anything materially above those ranges deserves a second quote from a competing insurer. Remember that benefits are identical between carriers for the same plan letter, so paying more never buys you better coverage.

Why did my Medicare Supplement premium go up so much this year?

Q1 2026 filings from the six largest Medigap carriers ranged from just over 12% to more than 26% for Plan G, according to Telos Actuarial. AARP-branded plans hit some members with a 24.5% increase, HealthSpring implemented around 19% effective February, and Aetna filed about 16% following an 18% increase the prior year. If you are in an attained-age plan, part of the increase is also from your own aging, and closed blocks (plans no longer open to new members) tend to see the steepest hikes.

Is community-rated, issue-age, or attained-age cheaper long-term?

Attained-age is usually cheapest at 65 but most expensive by your late 70s because the premium climbs with every birthday. Issue-age locks in your starting-age rate and tends to be the best value if you plan to keep the policy 10+ years. Community-rated removes age from the equation entirely and is most common in states like New York and Connecticut.

Can I switch Medigap plans to save money?

Yes, but in most states you will face medical underwriting and could be denied. The exceptions are the 16 birthday-rule states plus Connecticut, Maine, New York, and Washington, where you can switch without health questions during specific windows. Always apply for the new plan and get approval before cancelling the old one. See our guide to Medicare Supplement quotes for a step-by-step process when switching.

Are cheap Medicare Supplement plans actually any good?

The benefits are federally standardized, so a "cheap" Plan G covers exactly the same services as an expensive Plan G. What you need to scrutinize is the carrier's rate-increase history, financial strength (AM Best rating), and whether the block is open or closed. A low premium from a carrier that raises rates 20% a year is not actually cheap, while a moderately priced plan from a stable carrier often wins over a decade. Our review of Cigna's HealthSpring Medigap plans is a good example of evaluating long-term value rather than just the headline rate.