AARP Medicare Supplement plans are UnitedHealthcare policies with a licensed name. Here is an honest look at Plans G, N, A, K, L, and F — what each covers, what it leaves you, and how to compare price fairly.
Plain-English guide to Medicare, Medigap, Advantage, and Part D — 2026 rates included.
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If you are considering an AARP Medicare Supplement plan in 2026, here is the honest summary: these are UnitedHealthcare policies with the AARP name licensed onto them, and for most people newly eligible for Medicare, Plan G is the one worth pricing first (learn more about medicare advantage vs medicare supplement) (learn more about how to choose a medicare supplement plan) (learn more about athene annuity review 2026: all products rated & compared) (learn more about 6 retirement withdrawal strategies that protect your income in 2026) (learn more about retirement income strategies for 2025) (learn more about tax-free retirement income: complete guide), with Plan N as the lower-premium alternative if you do not mind small copays. The coverage itself is set by federal law and identical across every insurer — a Plan G from UnitedHealthcare pays exactly what a Plan G from any other company pays. What you are actually choosing is price, how the premium behaves as you age, the discounts you qualify for, and how easy the company is to deal with. We reviewed the AARP/UnitedHealthcare lineup on all four.
One thing to know up front: AARP does not insure anything. It licenses its name to UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company and receives a royalty on the premiums you pay. That is disclosed in the plan materials, and it is worth understanding before you treat the AARP endorsement as an independent recommendation.
Because Medigap benefits are standardized, we ignored coverage marketing entirely and compared the things that genuinely differ:
| Criteria | Weight | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Total out-of-pocket exposure | High | What you actually pay in a bad health year, not just the monthly premium. |
| Premium stability over time | High | How the rate is calculated matters more at 80 than at 65. |
| Discount availability | Medium | Household and automatic-payment discounts can move the price meaningfully. |
| Carrier scale and service | Medium | UnitedHealthcare is the largest Medigap insurer in the country by enrollment. |
Data sources: Medicare.gov standardized Medigap benefit charts, CMS Part A and Part B cost-sharing rules, MACRA provisions governing Plan C and Plan F availability, and plan disclosure materials. Premiums vary by ZIP code, age, tobacco use, and state rating rules, so we describe structure rather than quoting a single national price.
Best for: Anyone newly eligible who wants near-complete coverage
You pay: The annual Part B deductible, then essentially nothing for Medicare-approved services
Premium level: Highest of the widely sold plans
Plan G covers the Part A deductible, all Part A and Part B coinsurance, the first three pints of blood, skilled nursing coinsurance, hospice coinsurance, Part B excess charges, and foreign travel emergency care up to plan limits. The only routine gap is the annual Part B deductible, which you pay once per year. For people who want to stop thinking about medical bills, this is the closest thing available to those newly eligible.
People who value predictability over the lowest monthly payment, anyone who travels or sees specialists frequently, and anyone in a state where providers commonly bill Part B excess charges. It is less compelling if you are healthy, budget-focused, and rarely see a doctor — Plan N may serve you better for less.
Best for: Healthy enrollees comfortable trading small copays for a lower premium
You pay: Part B deductible, up to $20 per office visit, up to $50 for an emergency room visit that does not lead to admission, plus any Part B excess charges
Premium level: Typically meaningfully below Plan G
Plan N covers the same hospital and coinsurance categories as Plan G with three exceptions: the office and emergency copays, and no coverage for Part B excess charges. Those excess charges are capped at 15% above the Medicare-approved amount and are prohibited outright in several states, which is why Plan N is a stronger value in some places than others.
Healthy enrollees who see a doctor a handful of times a year, and anyone in a state that bans Part B excess billing. It is the wrong plan if you have a chronic condition requiring frequent specialist visits, since copays erode the premium savings. Our Plan G vs. Plan N comparison walks through the break-even math.
Best for: Enrollees who need a Medigap policy but are highly premium-sensitive
You pay: Part A deductible, skilled nursing coinsurance, Part B deductible, and foreign travel costs
Premium level: Low
Every Medigap insurer that sells any plan must offer Plan A, the minimum standardized benefit package. It covers Part A and Part B coinsurance, hospice coinsurance, and the first three pints of blood — but leaves the Part A deductible entirely on you, which is by far the largest single cost-sharing exposure in Medicare.
People on tight fixed incomes who want protection from catastrophic outpatient bills and can absorb a hospital deductible from savings. Most enrollees who can afford Plan N should choose Plan N instead.
Best for: Enrollees who want a hard annual out-of-pocket ceiling
You pay: 50% (Plan K) or 25% (Plan L) of most cost sharing until you hit the annual limit, then nothing
Premium level: Low to moderate
Plans K and L work differently from the others: instead of covering coinsurance in full, they cover a percentage of it and then stop your spending entirely once you reach an annual out-of-pocket maximum set by CMS each year. That cap is the appeal — it converts an unpredictable year into a known worst case at a lower premium than Plan G.
Enrollees who are comfortable self-insuring routine costs and want a guaranteed ceiling on a bad year. It suits people with savings and a tolerance for variable monthly medical spending.
Best for: Existing policyholders only
You pay: Nothing for most Medicare-approved services (Plan F)
Premium level: Highest, and rising
Plan F was long the most comprehensive Medigap plan because it covered the Part B deductible too. Under MACRA, plans that cover the Part B deductible — Plans C and F — are unavailable to anyone who became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. If you were eligible before that date, you can still buy or keep one.
Long-time Plan F holders who value the coverage and can absorb rate increases. If you hold Plan F and premiums have climbed, pricing Plan G is often worth the underwriting review — the coverage difference is one deductible per year.
| Plan | Part A Deductible | Part B Deductible | Part B Excess | Office Copay | Out-of-Pocket Cap | Available to New Enrollees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | Covered | You pay | Covered | None | No | Yes |
| N | Covered | You pay | You pay | Up to $20 | No | Yes |
| A | You pay | You pay | You pay | None | No | Yes |
| K | 50% covered | You pay | You pay | 50% | Yes | Yes |
| L | 75% covered | You pay | You pay | 25% | Yes | Yes |
| F | Covered | Covered | Covered | None | No | No (pre-2020 eligibility only) |
To hold an AARP Medicare Supplement policy you must be an AARP member, at annual dues of roughly $16 to $20 depending on the term you purchase. That is a real but small cost. The more meaningful consideration is that AARP receives a royalty calculated as a percentage of the premiums you pay, which is disclosed in the plan documents. This does not make the plan a bad deal — UnitedHealthcare's scale and household discounts often produce competitive pricing — but it does mean the endorsement is a paid business arrangement rather than an independent evaluation.
Discounts to ask about when you get a quote: the household discount when two eligible adults at the same address both enroll, and the discount for paying by automatic electronic funds transfer. Both vary by state and can change the ranking of carriers in your ZIP code.
This review draws on Medicare.gov's standardized Medigap benefit tables, CMS cost-sharing rules for Parts A and B, MACRA provisions closing Plans C and F, and AARP/UnitedHealthcare plan disclosure materials. We did not quote specific monthly premiums because Medigap pricing is set at the ZIP-code level and by state rating method — community-rated, issue-age-rated, or attained-age-rated — and a national average would mislead more than it helps. Ask any agent which rating method applies in your state; it determines whether your premium rises with age.
Last updated: September 2026. We review this guide before each Medicare Open Enrollment period.
UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company. AARP licenses its name and receives a royalty on premiums; it does not underwrite, price, or pay claims on these policies.
Yes. AARP membership is required to enroll and to keep the policy in force. Dues run roughly $16 to $20 per year depending on the term.
The coverage is identical, because Medigap benefits are standardized by federal law. A Plan G is a Plan G. What differs is premium, rating method, discounts, and service — so compare at least three carriers in your own ZIP code. Our roundup of the best Medicare Supplement plans for 2026 covers the wider field.
During your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period, which begins the month you are 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare Part B. During that window no insurer can deny you or charge more for health reasons. After it closes, most states allow medical underwriting, though a few — including Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, and Maine — have broader guaranteed-issue rules.
Sometimes, but usually only with underwriting unless you qualify for a guaranteed-issue right, such as a trial right in your first year on Medicare Advantage. This is the single most common trap in Medicare planning. Our Medicare Advantage vs. Medicare Supplement comparison explains the trade-off before you commit.
No. Medigap plans sold today do not include drug coverage. You need a separate Part D prescription drug plan, and enrolling late generally triggers a permanent late-enrollment penalty.
Most likely, yes. Premiums rise with medical inflation regardless of rating method, and under attained-age rating they also rise as you get older. Ask which method applies in your state before you enroll — it makes a large difference by your late seventies.
It is the extra amount — up to 15% above the Medicare-approved rate — that a provider who does not accept Medicare assignment may bill. Plan G covers it; Plan N does not. Several states prohibit the practice entirely, which makes Plan N a stronger value there.
Not for health reasons or claims history. Medigap policies are guaranteed renewable as long as you pay the premium. The company can raise rates for an entire class of policyholders, but it cannot single you out.
Often, but check. Because Plan F is closed to new enrollees, its risk pool ages and rates can rise faster than Plan G's. If your Plan F premium exceeds a Plan G quote by more than the annual Part B deductible, switching may be worth exploring — though outside a guaranteed-issue window, you would need to pass underwriting.
This article is for educational purposes only and is not insurance advice, a recommendation to buy any specific policy, or an offer of insurance. SeniorSimple is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to AARP, UnitedHealthcare, the federal Medicare program, or any government agency. We do not sell insurance. Plan availability, premiums, discounts, rating methods, and copay amounts vary by state, ZIP code, and effective date, and change over time. Cost-sharing figures such as the Part A and Part B deductibles are set annually by CMS. For official plan information, visit Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE. Speak with a licensed insurance agent or your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) counselor, who provides free unbiased counseling, before making a decision.
Reviewed by the SeniorSimple editorial team. We build our Medicare guidance from CMS rules and standardized benefit charts, not from carrier marketing material.
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Plain-English guide to Medicare, Medigap, Advantage, and Part D — 2026 rates included.
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Plain-English guide to Medicare, Medigap, Advantage, and Part D — 2026 rates included.
