Best Medigap Plans for Low-Income Seniors

Humana is our top pick, as they offer excellent value, various plan options, online enrollment discounts, reasonable premiums, and additional perks.

Maureen Stanley
Maureen Stanley
Maureen Stanley
Who is Maureen Stanley?
Maureen joined SeniorLiving.org with more than 10 years of experience writing in health, lifestyle, and nutrition for premium brands like General Mills, Westinghouse, and Bristol Myers Squibb. Her passion for empowering older adults is evident in coverage of topics like… Learn More
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Writer & Editor
Our Methodology

Our team researched a dozen Medigap carriers and narrowed down the list to our top picks for low-income seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries.

75
Hours of Research
12
Carriers Reviewed
3
Experts Consulted
5
Carriers Selected

How We Researched the Best Medigap Plans for Low-Income Seniors

Here’s how we evaluated each Medicare Supplement carrier.

  1. Our team visited each carrier’s website to see what they offered. We gave priority to Medigap carriers who made it easy to see which plans were available in our area and provided instant quotes. For those on a budget, getting a general idea of the costs of a Medigap plan is crucial, so we prioritized this step.
  2. We read through each plan carefully (including the fine print) to weed out plans that don’t offer as much coverage or include high copays for specific services.
  3. We spoke to representatives from each carrier on the phone to ask questions about pricing and coverage, particularly for carriers that did not offer as much information on their websites.
  4. We compared notes and narrowed down our list to the Medicare Supplement carriers and plans most suited for low-income Medicare beneficiaries.

How We Chose the Best Medigap Plans for Low-Income Seniors

Medicare Supplement plans must meet certain criteria set by Medicare, so some of the biggest question marks are related to monthly premiums, plan availability, and additional benefits (i.e., benefits not included in the standard coverage for each plan type). Here are the most important factors we considered for Medicare beneficiaries shopping for a Medigap plan on a budget:

  • Medigap plans offered: There are 10 Medigap plans on the market, four of which are no longer offered to new Medicare beneficiaries. Additionally, insurance carriers vary in the number and type of plans they offer. We looked for carriers that offered more plans, giving consumers more options to choose a plan within their price range.
  • Plan premiums and deductibles: Medicare Supplement plans are designed to reduce out-of-pocket Medicare costs like deductibles, coinsurance, and copays. However, if a Medigap plan has a deductible (as some do) and a high premium, beneficiaries may not be saving as much on out-of-pocket costs. So we looked for carriers that offered plans with low premiums and low or no deductibles.
  • Cost transparency: We appreciate transparency when it comes to monthly premiums and deductibles, as well as coverage for Medicare deductibles, copays, and coinsurance. We primarily focused on carriers with websites that offered fast quotes and price comparison tools.
  • Discounts and perks: Many carriers entice consumers by offering specific discounts for a wide variety of things. For example, some carriers will reduce your premium just for enrolling online, while others will offer a household discount if at least two people in your home enroll. Other discounts and benefits include free gym memberships, 24/7 nurse helplines, and discounts when adding additional plans (like prescription drug plans).
  • Plan availability: Not all Medigap plans are available in every state, and some carriers don’t operate in all 50 states. We looked for carriers that offered a wide network. Keep in mind that even if a carrier offers Medigap in your state, they may not offer it in your specific ZIP code.
  • Customer service: Since Medigap is only offered through private insurance companies, it’s important to consider their customer service. We contacted each carrier and spoke with representatives to ensure that they offered helpful and friendly customer service. We also read through reviews of each carrier to see what real customers had to say.
  • Carrier reputation: We considered the carrier’s reputation as a dependable insurance company. We researched their ratings from trusted organizations like the Better Business Bureau, AM Best, and S&P Global.

Why Trust Us?

Our experts have spent hundreds of hours reviewing and evaluating Medicare Advantage and Medigap plans for eligible beneficiaries. We also consulted with low-income seniors and households to learn about their personal experiences with different carriers and gain better insights into the advantages and disadvantages of choosing a certain carrier over another.

SeniorLiving.org is supported by commissions from providers listed on our site. Read our Editorial Guidelines

Citations
  1. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2025). Get Medigap Basics.

  2. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2024). Medicare Supplement Insurance: Getting Started.

  3. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2025). When can I buy a Medigap policy?

  4. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2025). Seniors & Medicare and Medicaid Enrollees.

  5. UnitedHealthCare. (2025). Extra Help with Medicare prescription drug costs.

  6. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2024). K & L Out-of-Pocket Limits Announcements.

Written By:
Maureen Stanley
Writer & Editor
Read About Our Panel of Experts
Maureen joined SeniorLiving.org with more than 10 years of experience writing in health, lifestyle, and nutrition for premium brands like General Mills, Westinghouse, and Bristol Myers Squibb. Her passion for empowering older adults is evident in coverage of topics like… Learn More About Maureen Stanley