Medicare Supplement plans are standardized by law, so every company's Plan G covers exactly the same things. The only real difference is what you pay.
Two questions. No health questions, no obligation.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to the plans we do offer.
The part that actually decides it
Every company has to sell the identical standardized Plan G. What they don't have to match is the price — and in California the spread between the cheapest and most expensive company can run hundreds of dollars a year for coverage that is identical by law.
The one thing most people are never told
So the only question worth asking is whether you're paying the lowest price for it.
In one California county we recently checked, the cheapest and most expensive Plan G quotes for the same 65-year-old were about $425 a year apart — for coverage that is identical by law. Which company is lowest changes with your age and ZIP.
Side-by-side comparison
Plan N usually costs less each month. Here is exactly what you give up for it, so you can decide for yourself.
| Feature | Plan G | Plan N |
|---|---|---|
| Medicare Part B deductible | Not covered | Not covered |
| Part B coinsurance | Covered after the Part B deductible | Covered after the Part B deductible, except for certain office and emergency-room copays |
| Office-visit copays | No Plan N-style office copay | Up to $20 for some office visits |
| Emergency-room copays | No Plan N-style ER copay | Up to $50 when the visit does not result in an inpatient admission |
| Part B excess charges | Covered | Not covered |
| Part A hospital deductible and coinsurance | Covered | Covered |
| Skilled nursing facility coinsurance | Covered | Covered |
| Foreign travel emergency benefit | 80% up to plan limits | 80% up to plan limits |
| Monthly premium | Often higher, but pricing varies by company and applicant | Often lower, but pricing varies by company and applicant |
Plan benefits are standardized, but premiums, rate-increase history, household discounts, underwriting, and availability vary by insurance company and applicant. This section is educational and is not a guarantee of eligibility, price, or coverage.
The practical tradeoff
Neither plan is automatically better. It usually comes down to the actual premium difference and how much predictability you want.
Eight states ban providers from billing above the Medicare-approved amount. California is not one of them, so a provider who does not accept Medicare assignment can bill up to 15% more. Plan G covers that. Plan N does not.
California's birthday rule lets you switch to a plan with equal or lesser benefits without health questions. Plan N is lesser than Plan G — so moving down is simple, and moving back up usually means answering health questions.
California law gives every Medicare Supplement holder a 60-day window each year, starting on your birthday, to switch to an equal or lesser plan with any company — with no health questions asked. If you've been putting off shopping because you worried about being turned down, this is the window that removes that worry.
Applies to current Medigap policyholders switching to same-or-lesser benefits. You must apply within your 60-day window — we recommend starting about 30 days before your birthday.
Where are you today?
This is the one window where no company can turn you down or charge you more because of your health. It's the best chance you'll ever have to lock in Plan G at the right price. Get it right the first time.
Get my turning-65 rates →If you've had your plan a few years, there's a good chance you're paying more than you need to for the exact same coverage. It costs nothing to check — and we'll tell you honestly if you're already at a great rate.
See if I'm overpaying →
A single company can only quote you their own price. We're independent, so we compare Plan G across the companies we represent and place you with the lowest-priced one — then keep an eye on it as rates change. If you're already at a good rate, we'll tell you that and you've lost nothing but two minutes.
Simple and unhurried
Your age, your ZIP, and what you have now. No health questions to get a quote.
A licensed California agent pulls your exact Plan G price across the companies we represent and tells you the lowest — plainly.
If it saves you money, we handle the paperwork. If not, we'll say so. No obligation, ever.
Rather not type
Leave your number and a licensed California agent gets you your actual Plan G rates — usually within a couple of minutes. No health questions, no cost, no obligation.
Straight answers
Two minutes with a licensed California agent. No health questions to get your rate, no pressure, no cost.
Serving Medicare beneficiaries throughout California.
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