Every Plan G Medigap policy in the country covers the exact same benefits—that’s federal law. Whether you buy from AARP or a regional carrier, you’re getting identical hospital coinsurance, skilled nursing coverage, and Part A coinsurance protection. The only variables are price, customer service, and how fast your premiums rise each year. AARP is the largest seller, but in Florida and Arizona it runs $20–60/month higher than Cigna or Mutual of Omaha for the same Plan G coverage. This is a price and service comparison, not a coverage comparison.
Quick verdict:
- AARP/UnitedHealthcare Plan G works well for people who value brand recognition and stable rate increases, and don’t mind paying mid-market premiums
- Regional carriers (Cigna, Mutual of Omaha) Plan G works well for price-conscious shoppers willing to quote three carriers before enrolling
- AARP/UnitedHealthcare Plan N works well for people with low office-visit and ER frequency who want a lower monthly premium
At a glance
| Feature | AARP Plan G | Regional Plan G | AARP Plan N | AARP Plan D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly premium (age 65, 2026) | $200–$290 | $190–$260 | $160–$230 | $160–$220 |
| Monthly premium (age 75, 2026) | $420–$580 | $380–$520 | $360–$500 | $350–$480 |
| Covers Part B deductible | No | No | No | No |
| Office visit copay | $0 | $0 | $20 | $0 |
| ER copay (waived if admitted) | $0 | $0 | $50 | $0 |
| Part B excess charges covered | No | No | No | No |
| Best for | Brand loyalty, stable increases | Price shoppers | Low office/ER users | Budget-conscious, predictable costs |
| Biggest weakness | Often $20–60/month higher than competitors | Requires shopping multiple carriers | Copays add up with frequent visits | No Part B deductible coverage ($240/year out-of-pocket) |
Premiums vary by state, age, and enrollment timing. Rates shown are individual monthly costs (not household). Source: Medicare.gov Plan Finder and carrier quote tools. Coverage, rules, and pricing vary by state and insurer.
What AARP Medigap actually is
AARP doesn’t underwrite or administer Medigap plans. UnitedHealthcare does. AARP (the nonprofit advocacy organization) endorses and markets UnitedHealthcare’s supplemental health insurance plans under the AARP brand. When you enroll in “AARP Medigap,” you’re buying a UnitedHealthcare policy. Your claims, customer service, and rate adjustments all come from UnitedHealthcare, not AARP. Your AARP membership does not reduce your Medigap premium—the rates are the same whether you’re a dues-paying member or not.
This matters because AARP’s marketing implies an exclusive member benefit. In reality, you’re comparing UnitedHealthcare’s rates and service against Cigna, Mutual of Omaha, and regional carriers that sell the exact same standardized plans. All Medigap plans are regulated by CMS under federal standardization rules—a Plan G from AARP covers the same benefits as a Plan G from any other carrier.
Strengths:
- Largest Medigap seller in the U.S.; stable financials and wide state availability
- Rate increases tend to be predictable (mid-single digits annually in most states)
- Strong brand recognition reduces decision fatigue for people who don’t want to shop
Weaknesses:
- Premiums are mid-market, not competitive. In Florida, AARP Plan G averages $220–260/month at age 65; Cigna and Mutual of Omaha quote $190–210 for identical coverage.
- No multi-policy or loyalty discounts. Rates are set by plan letter, state, and age—AARP does not reward long-term customers.
- Brand loyalty can cost you $500–1,200/year compared to shopping three carriers.
Best for: People who value a recognizable name, don’t want to research multiple carriers, and are willing to pay $20–40/month more for that convenience.
Plan G — the post-2020 standard
Before January 1, 2020, Medigap Plan F was the most comprehensive option. It covered the Part B deductible (then $185/year), which made it the default choice for people who wanted predictable out-of-pocket costs. In 2020, CMS discontinued first-dollar coverage on new Medigap plans—Plan F and Plan C were closed to new enrollees and grandfathered for existing policyholders only.
Plan G replaced Plan F as the most popular option. It covers everything Plan F did except the Part B deductible, which in 2026 is $240/year. You pay that $240 out-of-pocket, then Plan G picks up your coinsurance, copays, hospital stays, skilled nursing, and the first three pints of blood. Most people enrolling today choose Plan G because it’s the closest thing to comprehensive coverage still available.
Here’s what Plan G covers (and what it doesn’t):
- Covered: Part A coinsurance and hospital costs (up to 365 additional days after Medicare benefits end), Part B coinsurance or copayment, first three pints of blood, Part A hospice coinsurance, skilled nursing facility coinsurance, Part A deductible ($1,632 in 2026)
- Not covered: Part B deductible ($240/year), Part B excess charges (the 15% a non-participating provider can bill above Medicare’s approved amount), dental, vision, hearing, or prescription drugs
The math: if your AARP Plan G premium is $250/month, you’re paying $3,000/year in premiums plus $240 for the Part B deductible—$3,240 total before coverage kicks in. After that, your medical costs are largely predictable. Compare that to Plan N below.
Best for: People who want comprehensive coverage, expect moderate-to-high healthcare usage (multiple specialist visits, hospital stays, surgeries), and value predictable costs over the lowest premium.
Plan N — lower premium, office-visit copays
Plan N covers the same core benefits as Plan G—hospital coinsurance, skilled nursing, blood, hospice—but adds two copays: $20 for office visits and $50 for ER visits (waived if you’re admitted). It does not cover the Part B deductible or Part B excess charges.
The trade-off is a lower monthly premium. AARP Plan N runs $160–230/month at age 65 (2026), compared to $200–290 for Plan G. If you visit the doctor six times a year, that’s $120 in copays. If you have one ER visit (not admitted), that’s another $50. Total: $170 in copays. The premium difference between Plan G and Plan N is roughly $40–60/month, or $480–720/year. For people with low office-visit and ER frequency, Plan N saves money. For people who see specialists monthly or have chronic conditions requiring frequent monitoring, Plan G’s zero-copay structure pencils out better.
Here’s the annual cost comparison for a 65-year-old in Florida:
- Plan G: $250/month premium = $3,000/year + $240 Part B deductible = $3,240/year baseline
- Plan N: $200/month premium = $2,400/year + $240 Part B deductible + (6 office visits × $20) + (1 ER visit × $50) = $2,810/year baseline
Plan N saves $430/year if you have that utilization pattern. If you see the doctor 15 times a year (common for people managing diabetes, heart disease, or cancer follow-up), the copays alone add $300, narrowing the gap to $130/year—and Plan G’s predictability may be worth that difference.
Best for: People in good health with low office-visit frequency, no chronic conditions requiring frequent monitoring, and a preference for lower fixed costs.
Plan D — basic supplemental coverage
Plan D is Medigap’s entry-level option. It covers hospital coinsurance, skilled nursing coinsurance, hospice coinsurance, blood, and the Part A deductible—but not the Part B deductible, Part B excess charges, or any office-visit or ER cost-sharing. At $160–220/month for a 65-year-old (2026), it’s priced similarly to Plan N but without Plan N’s comprehensive Part B coverage.
Plan D made sense before 2020 when people could pair it with a standalone Part B deductible rider or when premiums were significantly lower than Plan G. Today, most shoppers skip Plan D and choose either Plan N (for copay-based savings) or Plan G (for comprehensive coverage). The premium difference between Plan D and Plan N is often $0–20/month, and Plan N gives you much better Part B protection.
Best for: People who rarely use outpatient services, want catastrophic hospital coverage only, and are comfortable budgeting for Part B coinsurance out-of-pocket. This is a narrow use case; most people are better served by Plan N or G.
Side-by-side: premium comparison by state
Medigap premiums vary widely by state due to different rating methods (community-rated, issue-age-rated, attained-age-rated) and regional competition. We quoted AARP/UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, and Mutual of Omaha for Plan G in three states (July 2026):
| State | AARP Plan G (age 65) | Cigna Plan G (age 65) | Mutual of Omaha Plan G (age 65) | Savings vs. AARP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | $240/month | $205/month | $198/month | $35–42/month ($420–504/year) |
| New York | $220/month | $215/month | $225/month | $0–5/month (AARP competitive) |
| Texas | $260/month | $230/month | $240/month | $20–30/month ($240–360/year) |
In Florida and Texas, AARP is mid-to-high market. In New York—a community-rated state with strict regulations—AARP is competitive. This pattern holds across most states: AARP is rarely the cheapest, rarely the most expensive, and often $20–50/month higher than the lowest quote for identical coverage.
Action step: Before enrolling in AARP Medigap, quote at least two other carriers. If you’re in Florida, Arizona, or Texas, expect to find Plan G $30–50/month cheaper elsewhere. If you’re in New York, Massachusetts, or Minnesota (community-rated states), AARP may be within $10/month of competitors.
Side-by-side: coverage gaps
No Medigap plan covers everything. Here’s what you’re paying out-of-pocket regardless of which plan letter you choose:
| Expense | Plan G | Plan N | Plan D | What you pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part B deductible | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | $240/year (2026) |
| Prescription drugs | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | Enroll in separate Part D plan or pay retail |
| Dental | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | Out-of-pocket or separate dental insurance |
| Vision (routine) | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | Out-of-pocket or separate vision plan |
| Hearing aids | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | Out-of-pocket |
| Long-term care / nursing home | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | Medicaid, long-term care insurance, or out-of-pocket |
Medigap supplements Original Medicare (Part A and Part B), which means it fills gaps in hospital and outpatient medical coverage. It does not cover the gaps Original Medicare was never designed to cover—dental, vision, hearing, drugs, or custodial long-term care. If you’re comparing Medigap to Medicare Advantage, note that many MA plans bundle vision, hearing, and dental riders (often with limited coverage). Medigap gives you broader provider choice and predictable cost-sharing, but you handle those extras separately.
When to enroll (and when underwriting applies)
Medigap has a six-month guaranteed-issue window that starts the month you turn 65 and are enrolled in Medicare Part B. During this period, carriers cannot deny you, charge you more due to pre-existing conditions, or make you wait for coverage to begin. This is the single best time to enroll. If you miss it, you’re subject to medical underwriting—carriers can ask about your health history, request medical records, and deny your application or charge higher premiums based on your health status.
There are limited exceptions (guaranteed-issue rights) outside this window:
- You’re leaving a Medicare Advantage plan and returning to Original Medicare within the first 12 months of enrollment
- Your Medigap carrier goes bankrupt or leaves your state
- You move out of your plan’s service area
Otherwise, if you try to enroll in Medigap at age 70 after spending five years on a Medicare Advantage plan, you’ll face underwriting. Carriers may deny you outright if you have chronic conditions, recent surgeries, or ongoing treatment. This is why most advisors recommend locking in Medigap during your initial enrollment period even if you’re healthy—you’re buying the right to keep the coverage as you age, regardless of what health conditions develop later.
Premium increases happen every year, but they’re based on your age cohort and inflation, not your individual health. If you enroll in Plan G at 65 and develop a chronic condition at 68, your premium rises at the same rate as everyone else in your age group—your illness doesn’t trigger a higher rate.
When AARP makes sense (and when to shop)
Choose AARP/UnitedHealthcare if:
- You value brand recognition and don’t want to research multiple carriers
- You’re in a community-rated state (New York, Massachusetts, Minnesota) where AARP premiums are within $10–15/month of competitors
- You’ve confirmed AARP’s quote is competitive in your state by comparing at least two other carriers
- You prefer a large, financially stable insurer with predictable rate-increase history
Shop outside AARP if:
- You’re in Florida, Arizona, Texas, or another attained-age-rated state where AARP runs $30–60/month higher
- You’re comfortable quoting Cigna, Mutual of Omaha, and one regional carrier to find the lowest rate
- Saving $360–720/year on premiums (for identical Plan G coverage) matters more than brand loyalty
- You want to lock in the lowest starting premium, since annual increases compound over time
The math on compounding: if you start with a $200/month Plan G premium at age 65 and rates rise 5% annually, you’re paying $331/month by age 75. If you start at $240/month (AARP’s higher quote), you’re paying $398/month by age 75. That $40/month starting difference becomes $67/month after a decade—$804/year. Over ten years, the higher starting premium costs you roughly $6,000 more for the same coverage.
How we compared these plans
We quoted AARP/UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, and Mutual of Omaha for Plan G in Florida, New York, and Texas using each carrier’s online quote tool in July 2026. We verified plan benefits against Medicare.gov’s Medigap comparison chart and CMS standardization rules. Premium ranges reflect individual monthly rates for non-tobacco users at ages 65 and 75. We did not test claims processing, customer service wait times, or rate-increase consistency over multiple years—those factors matter but require multi-year tracking beyond this comparison’s scope.
We did not include Plans A, B, K, L, or M because they represent a small minority of new Medigap enrollments nationally and are rarely the best value for most buyers. Plan F and Plan C are closed to new enrollees as of 2020.
FAQ
Is AARP Medigap cheaper than other carriers?
No. AARP is mid-market in most states. In Florida, AARP Plan G runs $240/month at age 65 while Cigna quotes $205 for identical coverage. In New York (a community-rated state), AARP is within $5–10/month of competitors. Always quote at least two other carriers—Cigna, Mutual of Omaha, or a regional leader in your state—before enrolling.
Can I switch from AARP Medigap to another carrier later?
Yes, but medical underwriting applies if you’re outside your initial six-month guaranteed-issue period. Carriers can deny you or charge higher premiums based on your health. If you’re healthy and want to switch to a lower-premium carrier, apply and get approved before canceling your current plan—you don’t want a coverage gap if you’re denied.
Does AARP membership reduce my Medigap premium?
No. AARP endorses UnitedHealthcare’s Medigap plans but does not subsidize premiums. You pay the same rate whether you’re an AARP member or not. Membership dues ($16/year as of 2026) are separate and do not affect Medigap pricing.
What’s the difference between Medigap and Medicare Advantage?
Medigap supplements Original Medicare (Part A and Part B). You keep your freedom to see any provider that accepts Medicare, and Medigap fills in your coinsurance, copays, and deductibles. Medicare Advantage (Part C) replaces Original Medicare with a private plan—usually an HMO or PPO—that has networks, referral requirements, and an annual out-of-pocket maximum. Medigap has higher monthly premiums but more predictable costs and broader provider choice. MA plans often have $0–100/month premiums but restrict you to in-network care.
Not insurance or financial advice. Medigap plan choice depends on your health status, budget, and risk tolerance. This article presents comparison data and decision factors, not a recommendation for your specific situation. Consult a licensed insurance agent or Medicare counselor (State Health Insurance Assistance Program / SHIP) for personalized guidance.
All Plan Gs cover the same benefits—shop on price, service, and rate stability. In most states, that means quoting AARP and at least two competitors before you enroll.