The Best Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Plans in Georgia

Medicare supplement insurance is sold by private insurance companies in Georgia to help Medicare beneficiaries cover expenses related to Original Medicare. These plans, which are often referred to as Medigap, work in conjunction with Medicare Parts A and B to defray a percentage of the costs that remain after Medicare has paid for its portion of reimbursable services and supplies.

Medigap plans typically cover costs such as copays, coinsurance and deductibles, but coverage varies by plan type and may extend to medical services that aren’t covered under Original Medicare.

Almost a third of Medicare beneficiaries in Georgia currently rely on Medigap insurance to help with their medical expenses. If you’re thinking about joining the nearly 370,000 Georgians who enjoy the benefits of this supplemental insurance, the information below can help you better understand your eligibility and coverage options.  

You can find Medicare Supplement plans where you live by comparing plans from several different insurance companies online.

What Are the Best Georgia Medicare Supplement Plans?

Georgia has 10 different types of Medicare supplement plans. These plans, which are distinguished by letter designations, offer the same foundational benefits, including at least a percentage of Part A and B coinsurance, and extended hospital care. Some plans may also offer additional benefits, including:

• Foreign travel exchange
• Hospice care or skilled nursing facility coinsurance
• Part A and B deductible coverage
• Coverage of medical charges that exceed Medicare-approved amounts

Coverage amounts also vary by plan type, with some policies paying up to 100% of the expenses left after Medicare reimbursement. Certain plans may also be subject to limitations or restrictions. To compare the coverage terms of Medigap plans by letter designation, refer to this Medigap plans comparison chart.

The Medigap plan you choose should reflect your medical needs and your budget. Plans F, G and N tend to be the most popular Medigap plans, likely due to lower premiums, although Plan F isn’t available to beneficiaries who initially became eligible for Medicare after January 1, 2020. If you opt for one of these popular plans, you may have to meet a high deductible before you’re eligible for reimbursement. Beneficiaries who purchase Plan N also incur copayments for office visits and ER trips that don't result in hospital admission.

Because Georgia’s Medigap policies are sold by multiple private insurance companies, each insurer may offer a different selection of plans. However, every company that sells Medicare supplement insurance is required to offer Plans A, C and F. Premiums for these plans, and others, may vary by insurer.  

How Do I Enroll in a Georgia Medigap Plan?

Medigap’s open enrollment period begins at the start of your 65th birthday month. You must be enrolled in Medicare Part B before you're eligible to purchase this supplemental insurance.

It’s typically best to enroll in a Medigap plan during this initial six-month enrollment period because you’ll have access to all available plans in your area, and insurers can’t deny you coverage or charge you higher premiums due to underlying health issues during this period. If you don’t enroll during this open enrollment period, you risk incurring higher premiums or being denied coverage altogether due to a company’s medical underwriting requirements.

If you’ve missed the Medigap open enrollment period, you may still be able to purchase a plan without undergoing the medical underwriting process. Beneficiaries are afforded protections under federal law if certain circumstances apply. These guaranteed issue rights require Medigap providers to issue a policy to an Original Medicare enrollee regardless of medical underwriting requirements.

Guaranteed issue rights typically apply in these and other common scenarios:

• You revert to Original Medicare because your Medicare Advantage plan was discontinued or no longer serves your region or you moved out of its coverage area.
• Your Original Medicare plan is currently supplemented by an employer- or union-sponsored group health plan that’s ending.
• Your Original Medicare plan is currently supplemented by a Medicare SELECT plan and you’ve moved out of the SELECT plan’s coverage area.
• Your current Medigap provider goes bankrupt or you lose coverage for another reason that’s no fault of your own.
• You relinquished your prior Medigap coverage due to the insurer’s misleading policies.
• You dropped your current Medigap coverage while trying out a Medicare Advantage Plan but returned to Original Medicare within one year.

If you’re purchasing a Medigap policy through these federal protections, the insurer may not deny you coverage or charge higher premiums regardless of your current health or prior medical conditions. These protections typically begin up to 60 days before your other coverage terminates and last no longer than 63 calendar days afterwards.