Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Plan K helps cover some of your health insurance costs. Plan K caps your out-of-pocket costs. Your premium varies based on where you live, when you enroll, and your health.
Medicare Supplement Plan K, also called Medigap Plan K, is designed to help with the out-of-pocket costs associated with Original Medicare (parts A and B) coverage.
It’s one of two Medigap plans that offer a yearly out-of-pocket limit. These plans range in their coverage and costs. Keep reading to learn more about the cost and coverage for Medicare Supplement Plan K.
Plans versus parts
Medicare is a government-funded health insurance program that provides medical coverage for people ages 65 and over and some people under age 65.
Original Medicare is divided into Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B. Medicare Advantage (Part C) is an alternative Medicare plan that offers the same coverage as Original Medicare, and Medicare Part D covers prescription drugs.
Only these Medicare components are referred to as parts. Medigap plans are subdivided into plans.
If you enroll in a Medigap plan, you’ll have to pay a monthly premium. This will be in addition to your Medicare Part B monthly premium.
Because private insurance companies sell Medigap policies, monthly premiums will differ by policy.
The three main ways companies set Medigap premiums are:
- Community rated: Everyone with the policy pays the same monthly premium, regardless of their age.
- Issue-age rated: Monthly premiums are set based on your age when you purchase your policy. Individuals who buy at a younger age will have lower monthly premiums.
- Attained-age rated: Monthly premiums are set based on your current age. Because of this, your premiums will increase as you get older.
You can use Medicare’s plan finder tool to compare prices in your area. The table below provides general premium ranges in a few cities across various U.S. states for 2026:
| City | Monthly premium |
|---|---|
| New York | $105-$225 |
| North Carolina | $56-$215 |
| Kansas | $64-$228 |
| Nevada | $74-$230 |
| Washington | $92-$123 |
Keep in mind, however, that your premiums may depend on other factors such as:
- your health status
- your gender
- when you buy your plan
- tobacco use
Medigap plans are not medical plans. Instead of covering medical care directly, these plans pay for your remaining out-of-pocket costs once Original Medicare coverage kicks in.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) requires that insurance companies offer standardized Medigap plans in all states except in Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
In all states except these three, Plan K covers:
- Part A coinsurance and hospital costs for up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits are exhausted: 100%
- 50% of the Part A deductible
- 50% of the costs of a person’s first 3 pints of blood
- 50% of Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayments
- 50% of the coinsurance for skilled nursing facility care
- 50% of a person’s Part B coinsurance or copayments
Plan K does not pay for some aspects that other Medigap policies may. Examples include the Part B deductible, Part B excess charges, and foreign travel exchange.
In addition, Plan K is one of the only Medigap plans that limits the amount you’ll spend per year out of your own pocket. This means that once you pay your yearly Part B deductible and meet the Plan K yearly limit, the Medigap policy will pay 100% of Medicare-approved services for the remainder of the calendar year.
The out-of-pocket limit for Medicare Plan K is $7,220 in 2025 and will adjust in 2026.
You must have Original Medicare to purchase a Medicare supplement plan. Insurance companies can’t offer Medicare supplement plans to those with Medicare Advantage.
You can enroll in a Medigap plan if you have Original Medicare Part A and Part B. In addition to the premium for Part B, you will pay a monthly premium for Medigap. You can’t share a policy with your spouse — you must each have your own policy.
The ideal time to apply for Medigap Plan K is during your Medigap initial enrollment period. This window begins on the first day your Part B coverage is effective and lasts for 6 months.
During your Medigap initial enrollment window, insurance companies can’t base your costs on preexisting conditions, and a company can’t refuse to offer you a policy. Otherwise, you can purchase a policy anytime, but the insurance company may require a medical examination first, and they can refuse to cover you.
After this window, there may be times when you have “guaranteed issue” rights to purchase a policy. This could include if you lost coverage from your previous health plan. However, at this time, you may have to answer questions about your health history that could increase the plan’s cost.
Medicare doesn’t require insurance companies to offer every plan. However, if an insurance company chooses to sell Medigap policies, it must offer at least Plan A.
If you wish to purchase a Medigap plan, you have several options:
- Visit Medicare.gov and search for available Medigap plans in your state or by ZIP code.
- Call your State Health Insurance Assistance Program. Also known as SHIP, this agency helps people with counseling for available plans in their area.
- Call or visit an insurance agent with an insurance company you’d like a quote from for a Medigap policy.
When it comes to Medigap policies, it pays to shop around. Because the coverage is the same, trying to get a lower cost policy can be helpful. Remember to ask how the insurance company prices the policy. If the policy is age-based, you may need to consider how your costs could change as you get older.
Medicare Plan K is one Medicare supplement plan option. The cost can vary based on location, when you enroll, how the insurance company prices its policies, and more.
If you are interested in Medigap Plan K, it pays to shop around online, by phone, or in person.