Published: October 15, 2026
Medicare Supplement benefits are federally standardized. Plan G and Plan N deliver identical medical coverage across carriers, yet monthly premiums for the exact same policy can vary widely within the same area. While national figures like KFF's $194 average reflect older policyholders experiencing compounded annual rate hikes, our 2026 enrollment data demonstrates that new 65-year-old applicants comparing options secured a median rate of $150 for Plan G and $108 for Plan N. Factors like which state, which insurers sell plans in the country, gender, and age can all impact the range of premium rates.
- Rates remain relatively stable for applicants in their late 60s, with more pronounced increases appearing for those enrolling past age 70 and 76.
- Geographic location plays a major role in monthly pricing. Regional healthcare costs, local carrier competition, claims utilization rates, and state insurance regulations create wide state-by-state discrepancies.
- Where state law permits gender-based pricing, men generally pay higher baseline rates than women due to historical differences in actuarial risk and life expectancy.
- Tobacco users pay about 12% more at the median (rising to 15% at the 90th percentile), while approximately 12% of rate filings charge the same regardless of tobacco status.
- Plan N vs. Plan G at age 65: About $42 per month less at the median (roughly $500 per year) in exchange for small copays and potential Part B excess charges.
In mid-October, KFF published findings on Medicare Supplement (Medigap) enrollment, reporting that average Medigap premiums among current policyholders reached $244 per month in 2025. Plan G averaged $194, rising 13% year over year and 38% from 2020 to 2025. However, when examining our customer enrollment database from policyholders who enrolled through a United Medicare Advisors licensed insurance agent, a different story emerges.
Key finding: The median 65-year-old applying for Medigap Plan G through United Medicare Advisors in 2026 applied at $150 a month. That is roughly 23% below the $194 national average KFF reported for all current Plan G policyholders.
The two numbers measure entirely different cohorts. KFF’s average blends policyholders of every age and enrollment year, including long-tenured beneficiaries whose premiums have experienced years of compounded rate increases. Our benchmark isolates what new applicants actually secured in 2026 through United Medicare Advisors agent guidance. Below is real 2026 enrollment data from United Medicare Advisors detailing what new enrollees pay each month and how specific rating factors influence final premiums.
Plan G Monthly Premium by Age (2026 UMA Applications)
For new applicants, age is one of the most influential factors determining an initial premium. Most states allow carriers to price Medicare Supplement coverage using attained-age rating structures, where monthly rates start lower for 65-year-olds and gradually adjust upward over time.
To illustrate what applicants encounter at different stages of retirement, the table below outlines Plan G premiums across key age brackets from our 2026 application data. Alongside the median rate, the 10th percentile (“Low”) and 90th percentile (“High”) show how carrier selection, health underwriting, and household discounts create pricing variance within the exact same age group. Rates remain relatively stable for applicants in their late 60s, with more pronounced increases appearing for those enrolling past age 70 and 76.
| Age at effective date | Low (10th pct) | Median | High (90th pct) |
| 65 | $121 | $150 | $196 |
| 66–70 | $120 | $149 | $196 |
| 71–75 | $134 | $169 | $226 |
| 76+ | $164 | $219 | $304 |
Plan N Monthly Premium by Age (2026 UMA Applications)
For cost-conscious beneficiaries who want strong coverage without the higher monthly commitment of Plan G, Plan N is the primary alternative. Standardized Plan N covers the same major hospital and medical out-of-pocket costs as Plan G—including the Medicare Part A hospital deductible, copays, and coinsurance—in exchange for two modest cost-sharing responsibilities: copayments of up to $20 for certain doctor visits and up to $50 for emergency room visits that do not lead to an inpatient admission, plus responsibility for Part B excess charges (which are uncommon or prohibited in several states).
In exchange for taking on that minor cost-sharing, Plan N yields substantial monthly savings across every age tier. The data below outlines what 2026 Plan N applicants secured through United Medicare Advisors agent guidance, showing a consistent discount compared to Plan G across the age spectrum.
| Age at effective date | Low (10th pct) | Median | High (90th pct) |
| 65 | $87 | $108 | $141 |
| 66–70 | $89 | $110 | $148 |
| 71–75 | $100 | $128 | $175 |
| 76+ | $122 | $166 | $238 |
- Plan N vs. Plan G at age 65: About $42 per month less at the median (roughly $500 per year) in exchange for small copays and potential Part B excess charges.
Where You Live Matters: Plan G at 65, Median by State
Because Medigap plans are standardized by the federal government, a Plan G policy purchased in one state provides the exact same benefits, access to doctors, and claims processing as a Plan G in another. However, geographic location plays a major role in monthly pricing. Regional healthcare costs, local carrier competition, claims utilization rates, and state insurance regulations create wide state-by-state discrepancies.
The table below outlines monthly premiums for 65-year-old Plan G applicants across states with at least 100 applications in 2026. The “Middle 50%” represents the interquartile range (the 25th to 75th percentile), highlighting where the vast majority of competitive rates fell for local shoppers.
| State | Middle 50% |
| Maryland | $177-$219 |
| New Jersey | $158-$181 |
| Arizona | $146-$181 |
| Georgia | $158-$185 |
| Michigan | $139-$171 |
| Pennsylvania | $140-$173 |
| Illinois | $138-$164 |
| Texas | $136-$167 |
| Ohio | $133-$155 |
| Indiana | $131-$150 |
| Tennessee | $123-$150 |
| North Carolina | $126-$150 |
| South Carolina | $120-$149 |
| Virginia | $111-$136 |
Includes states with at least 100 applications for age-65 Plan G in 2026. This chart includes all carriers. You can see below when we look at the most affordable insurer and the median insurer.
Differences in quotes for men and women
Looking at the flat average of every filed rate in a specific state can sometimes overstate costs because a small subset of insurers with inflated prices can skew the average upward. In practice, informed applicants working with an advisor avoid those high-cost outliers and select competitively priced options.
Additionally, where state law permits gender-based pricing, men generally pay higher baseline rates than women due to historical differences in actuarial risk and life expectancy. The tables below illustrate this by contrasting the broad market rate filings (all filed quotes counted equally) against actual UMA applicants who selected policies in 2026.
| Plan G, age 65, non-tobacco | Market median (10th–90th) | UMA applicants median (10th–90th) |
| Female | $199($150–$353) | $141($118–$185) |
| Male | $222($166–$382) | $160($134–$210) |
| Plan N, age 65, non-tobacco | Market median (10th–90th) | UMA applicants median (10th–90th) |
| Female | $148(106–$278) | $103(85–$133) |
| Male | $164(119–$304) | $115(96–$146) |
What the rate filings show about pricing for the same policy:
- Men pay about 13% more than women for identical coverage at the median, though roughly 11% of carrier rates do not differentiate by sex.
- Tobacco users pay about 12% more at the median (rising to 15% at the 90th percentile), while approximately 12% of rate filings charge the same regardless of tobacco status.
- Carrier price can especially vary by market, it pays to shop around. In a typical market, Plan G for a 65-year-old non-smoking woman can range from $110 to $130 with the most competitive carrier to upwards of $500 with the most expensive carrier for identical benefits. Shopping the broader market has a greater financial impact than sex or tobacco status.
Market price range by state (Plan G, 65, female, non-tobacco user)
Because all Plan G policies cover the exact same Medicare deductibles and coinsurance, comparing filed rates directly reveals the price spread between carriers operating in the same market.
The table below contrasts the lowest available filed rate against the median insurer rate across select states. Notice the structural difference in “community-rated” states like New York and Connecticut, where insurers are required by state law to charge every enrollee the same base rate regardless of age or health status. While community rating benefits older enrollees, it results in higher starting premiums for 65-year-olds compared to states using attained-age or issue-age pricing.
| State | Most affordable | Median |
| New York* | $334 | $477 |
| Connecticut* | $296 | $340 |
| Florida | $201 | $241 |
| California | $156 | $195 |
| Illinois | $108 | $197 |
| Pennsylvania | $121 | $178 |
| Ohio | $123 | $177 |
| Texas | $113 | $168 |
| North Carolina | $114 | $168 |
| Virginia | $92 | $145 |
*Community-rated, year-round guaranteed-issue states: All policyholders pay the same rate regardless of age or medical history, raising entry premiums for 65-year-olds.
Why Your Quote May Differ
- Rating methodology: Insurers calculate price increases differently based on state regulations and plan structure:
- Attained-age: Premiums are based on your current age and adjust upward as you get older.
- Issue-age: Premiums are set based on the age you were when you purchased the policy; future adjustments are based on inflation and claims costs rather than individual aging.
- Community-rated: Everyone with the policy pays the same base premium, regardless of age.
- Sex and tobacco use: Each factor adds approximately 12% to 13% to baseline pricing at the median carrier.
- Household discounts: Many carriers offer premium reductions ranging from 2% to 20% (or a flat $10 to $45 monthly credit) if you share a residence with another adult or spouse enrolled with the same insurer.
- ZIP code: Health utilization costs and carrier competition vary by county and ZIP code, not just across state lines.
Why choose to work with an agent at United Medicare Advisors
Medicare Supplement benefits are federally standardized. Plan G and Plan N deliver identical medical coverage across carriers, yet monthly premiums for the exact same policy can vary widely within the same area. While national figures like KFF’s $194 average reflect older policyholders experiencing compounded annual rate hikes, our 2026 enrollment data demonstrates that new 65-year-old applicants comparing options secured a median rate of $150 for Plan G and $108 for Plan N. Working with an independent agent at United Medicare Advisors eliminates the guesswork by providing unbiased, side-by-side access to dozens of competing carriers at no additional cost, ensuring shoppers decode complex pricing structures, capture household discounts, and lock in the most competitive rate both at age 65 and throughout retirement.
Methodology and caveats
- Data source: Medicare Supplement applications submitted through United Medicare Advisors between Jan. 1 and Oct. 13, 2026.
- Inclusion criteria: Plan G and Plan N applications for individuals age 64+ at effective date, with an annualized premium between $300 and $12,000 (excluding data-entry anomalies).
- Calculation: Annual premium on the submitted application divided by 12. Includes applicable household discounts. Captures Open Enrollment, guaranteed-issue, and medically underwritten submissions. Age and state tables reflect all applicants meeting the criteria.
- Sex (UMA): Sourced from Salesforce customer records; records marked “Not Provided” are excluded. Gender comparison tables are restricted to non-tobacco applicants.
- Market rate data: CSG Actuarial filed rates snapshot as of Oct. 13, 2026, reflecting current effective rates for age 65. Regional areas within a state are weighted equally. Sex and tobacco comparisons evaluate paired rate filings within the same insurer, rating tier, and rating methodology.
- Exclusions: In-force policyholder renewal rate changes and existing policy adjustments are not included.
- Carrier representation: Data is aggregated across seven major carrier groups; individual insurer names are anonymized. Rates are illustrative and reflect consumer plan selection rather than total market quotes.
Disclaimer: The insights in this article are based on United Medicare Advisor’s internal enrollment data. This information is provided for educational purposes to illustrate broader Medicare Supplement trends and assist consumers in making informed decisions. It doesn’t represent a complete or exhaustive picture of all Medicare Supplement plans, carriers, or ZIP codes nationwide. Plan availability and costs vary by geographic location. To evaluate all coverage options tailored to your specific healthcare needs and location, work with a licensed insurance agent. United Medicare Advisors is not affiliated with or endorsed by the federal Medicare program or any government agency.
