By Paul Barrett, CMIP | The Modern Medicare Agency | Melville, NY 18+ years Medicare-exclusive experience | Licensed in 37 states | 40+ carriers Last updated: July 2026
If you’d rather see any doctor in the country who accepts Medicare, without worrying about networks, referrals, or whether your hospital is still in-network next year, Medigap is worth serious consideration — and New York happens to offer some of the strongest consumer protections for it anywhere in the country. This guide breaks down every plan letter, real government-published rates for Brooklyn, and the state rule that makes Medigap more accessible here than almost anywhere else.
I’m independent — I represent more than 40 carriers, so nothing here is written to steer you toward one company. It’s written so you understand the real numbers before you decide.
THE BIGGEST ADVANTAGE NEW YORK GIVES YOU: GUARANTEED ISSUE, YEAR-ROUND
In most states, you get one guaranteed window to buy a Medigap policy without medical underwriting — the 6 months starting when you’re 65 and enrolled in Part B. Miss it, and insurers can review your health history, charge you more, or deny you outright.
New York does it differently. State law requires community-rated, guaranteed-issue Medigap coverage on a continuous, year-round basis — meaning you generally cannot be denied a policy or charged more due to your health, regardless of when you apply. This is a genuine, meaningful protection that most of the country doesn’t have, and it’s worth knowing about even if you’re not shopping for Medigap today.
HOW MEDIGAP WORKS, IN PLAIN ENGLISH
Medigap plans are sold by private insurers but standardized by the federal government — a Plan G from one carrier covers the exact same benefits as a Plan G from another. The only real differences between carriers are price, customer service, and financial stability. Medigap works alongside Original Medicare (Parts A and B), picking up costs like coinsurance, copays, and deductibles that Original Medicare leaves you responsible for. It does not include prescription drug coverage — you’ll need a separate Part D plan — and it doesn’t include dental, vision, or hearing.
EVERY MEDIGAP PLAN LETTER, WHAT IT COVERS
New York offers 12 standardized Medigap plan types. Since 2020, Plans C and F are closed to anyone newly eligible for Medicare — if you turned 65 or became Medicare-eligible on or after January 1, 2020, these two are off the table, though existing enrollees can keep them.
| Benefit | A | B | C** | D | F** | G | K | L | M | N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part A coinsurance & hospital costs (+365 extra days) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Part B coinsurance/copay | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 50% | 75% | Yes | Copay* |
| Blood (first 3 pints) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 50% | 75% | Yes | Yes |
| Part A hospice coinsurance | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 50% | 75% | Yes | Yes |
| Skilled nursing facility coinsurance | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 50% | 75% | Yes | Yes |
| Part A deductible | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 50% | 75% | 50% | Yes |
| Part B deductible | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Part B excess charges | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Foreign travel emergency (80%) | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes |
*Plan N requires a copay of up to $20 for office visits and up to $50 for emergency room visits that don’t result in admission. **Plans C and F are closed to anyone newly eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. If you became Medicare-eligible before that date, you can still enroll in or keep these plans where available.
Plan G is the most comprehensive option available to anyone newly eligible for Medicare today — it covers everything above except the Part B deductible ($283 in 2026). High Deductible Plan G (labeled G+ on New York’s rate tables) offers identical coverage after you meet a higher annual deductible, in exchange for a dramatically lower monthly premium. Plan N trades small, predictable copays for a lower premium than Plan G. Plans K and L cap your annual out-of-pocket costs at a set limit, after which they cover 100% — confirmed directly from CMS, the 2026 limits are exactly $8,000 for Plan K and $4,000 for Plan L.
REAL 2026 RATES FOR BROOKLYN, DIRECT FROM NEW YORK STATE
These rates come directly from the New York Department of Financial Services’ official June 2026 rate filing for the “NYC Proper” region, which covers Brooklyn’s ZIP codes (112xx) along with Manhattan, the Bronx, Staten Island, and Queens. These are the actual, government-published, effective rates — not estimates.
Plan G (most comprehensive option for new enrollees):
| Carrier | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| UnitedHealthcare (AARP Program) | $372.50 |
| Aetna Life Insurance | $406.26 |
| EmblemHealth | $432.09 |
| Globe Life Insurance | $461.00 – $516.00 |
| Mutual of Omaha | $511.36 |
| Transamerica Financial | $444.83 |
| Humana | $647.27 |
| Bankers Conseco | $840.28 |
High Deductible Plan G (same coverage, higher deductible, lower premium):
| Carrier | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| EmblemHealth | $67.69 |
| Globe Life Insurance | $91.00 – $102.00 |
| Humana | $111.19 |
Plan N (lower premium, small copays):
| Carrier | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| UnitedHealthcare (AARP Program) | $299.00 |
| EmblemHealth | $314.77 |
| Transamerica Financial | $417.31 |
| Humana | $458.83 |
| Globe Life Insurance | $450.00 – $504.00 |
| Bankers Conseco | $523.54 |
Plan A (basic coverage):
| Carrier | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| UnitedHealthcare (AARP Program) | $223.00 |
| EmblemHealth | $248.96 |
| Aetna Life Insurance | $318.21 |
| Globe Life Insurance | $335.00 – $375.00 |
| Mutual of Omaha | $351.72 |
| Transamerica Financial | $337.46 |
| Humana | $348.00 |
| Bankers Conseco | $413.53 |
A pattern worth noticing immediately: on Plan G alone, the gap between the cheapest carrier (UnitedHealthcare at $372.50) and the most expensive (Bankers Conseco at $840.28) is more than double — for identical, federally standardized coverage. This is exactly why comparing carriers matters as much as comparing plan letters.
WHAT NEW YORKERS ACTUALLY CHOOSE
Statewide enrollment data shows clear patterns in what people actually pick:
| Plan | Share of NY Medigap Enrollees | Approximate Enrollees |
|---|---|---|
| Plan N | 28.59% | 133,115 |
| Plan G | 18.19% | 84,681 |
| Plan B | 1.94% | 9,020 |
| All other plans combined | 51.28% | 238,820 |
Plan N and Plan G together account for nearly half of all New York Medigap enrollment, which tracks with why they’re the two plans most agents and content focus on — they represent the best balance of comprehensive coverage and manageable cost for most people. Statewide, roughly 11.53% of New York Medicare beneficiaries are enrolled in a Medigap plan.
MEDIGAP VS. MEDICARE ADVANTAGE: THE CORE TRADE-OFF
| Feature | Medigap | Medicare Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Provider access | Any doctor nationwide who accepts Medicare | Usually limited to a network |
| Out-of-pocket costs | Predictable | Varies by plan |
| Referrals | Never required | Often required (HMO plans) |
| Monthly premium | Usually higher | Often lower, sometimes $0 |
| Drug coverage | Not included — needs separate Part D | Usually included |
| Network risk | None | Real — see our coverage of the current UnitedHealthcare/NewYork-Presbyterian dispute |
If you’ve been following the active UnitedHealthcare and NewYork-Presbyterian contract situation affecting Brooklyn Medicare Advantage members, this table shows exactly why Medigap appeals to people who want to remove that kind of network risk entirely.
HOW TO ENROLL
Step 1: Enroll in Original Medicare (Parts A and B), typically around age 65 through the Social Security Administration.
Step 2: Compare Medigap plans and carriers using the rates above as a starting point, keeping in mind that identical coverage can vary enormously in price between carriers.
Step 3: Apply. Thanks to New York’s guaranteed-issue rule, you’re not limited to a single 6-month window the way most states require — you have meaningfully more flexibility in when you enroll.
Remember: Medigap doesn’t include drug coverage, so you’ll want to pair it with a standalone Part D plan to avoid the late enrollment penalty.
PAUL'S HONEST TAKE
The rate spread on this page is the single most important thing to take away. Two people can buy the exact same Plan G coverage in Brooklyn and pay $372.50 or $840.28 a month for it, depending only on which carrier they picked. That’s not a small difference — it’s over $5,600 a year for identical federally standardized benefits. I never recommend a carrier based on brand recognition alone; I check the actual current rate for your specific situation, because with Medigap, the plan letter determines your coverage, but the carrier determines your price.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the best Medigap plan in Brooklyn?
For most new Medicare enrollees, Plan G offers the most comprehensive coverage. Plan N is a strong alternative if you want a lower monthly premium and don’t mind small copays. The “best” carrier for either plan depends entirely on current rates, which vary dramatically — see the tables above.
How much does Plan G cost in Brooklyn?
Based on New York’s official June 2026 rate filing, Plan G premiums for the NYC Proper region (which includes Brooklyn) range from $372.50 with UnitedHealthcare to $840.28 with Bankers Conseco, depending on carrier.
Can I be denied a Medigap plan in New York if I have health conditions?
Generally no. New York requires guaranteed-issue, community-rated Medigap coverage year-round, not just during a limited enrollment window — a significantly stronger consumer protection than most states offer.
What’s the difference between Plan G and Plan N?
Plan G covers everything except the Part B deductible ($283 in 2026). Plan N covers the same core benefits but requires small copays (up to $20 for office visits, up to $50 for ER visits that don’t result in admission) in exchange for a typically lower monthly premium.
Does Medigap cover prescription drugs?
No. You’ll need a separate standalone Part D plan for prescription drug coverage alongside any Medigap policy.
Want a real comparison of current Medigap rates for your specific situation, not just averages?
Call or text 631-358-5793. No pressure, no cost, just a real answer based on your situation.
RELATED READING
- Medicare in Brooklyn, NY: The Complete 2026 Guide (Pillar Page)
- Medicare Advantage Plans in Brooklyn, NY: The Complete 2026 Guide
- Special Needs Plans (D-SNP, C-SNP, I-SNP) in Brooklyn, NY
- Best Medicare Plans in Brooklyn, NY: The Honest 2026 Guide
- Medicare Supplement Plan G: Complete 2026 Guide for New Medicare Enrollees
SOURCES
The Modern Medicare Agency 445 Broad Hollow Rd, Melville, NY 11747 Phone: 631-358-5793
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.
