Medicare Supplement Plan A: Coverage, Costs, Pros & Cons

Medicare Supplement Plan A is the most basic standardized Medigap policy under federal law. Private insurers sell it alongside Original Medicare, covering Part A hospital and Part B medical out-of-pocket costs Medicare doesn't pay. Federal law requires every licensed Medigap insurer to offer Plan A, making it the system's baseline. Since benefits are identical across all carriers, price is the only variable between insurers. 

Plan A doesn't cover prescription drugs. Add a separate Medicare Part D plan for drug costs. You'll also pay your Part B premium ($203 per month in 2026, per CMS) on top of your Plan A premium. Plan A is available to anyone who qualifies for Medicare and is enrolled in both Part A and Part B.

Medicare Supplement Plan A pays four federally standardized benefits, identical across every licensed insurer with no exceptions. The supplement targets the out-of-pocket costs Original Medicare leaves unpaid: the daily co-insurance charges once your initial hospital window closes, additional days beyond Medicare's lifetime reserve and hospice care cost-sharing. Medicare Supplement Plan A also pays the 20% Part B co-insurance on outpatient visits and doctor services.

After Medicare pays its share of an approved service, Medicare Supplement Plan A covers the patient's remaining portion. The difference between co-insurance and a copay affects how much you owe per visit, so check your Medicare Explanation of Benefits after each service.

Plan A doesn't cover the Part A deductible or skilled nursing facility co-insurance. The Part A deductible ($1,736 per benefit period in 2026, per CMS) stays out of pocket, as does skilled nursing facility co-insurance at $217 per day for days 21 to 100. You can owe both costs more than once if you're hospitalized multiple times in a year. 

Plan A also excludes Part B excess charges from doctors who don't accept Medicare assignment and foreign travel emergency care. The Part B deductible ($283 in 2026, per CMS) isn't covered either. Since January 1, 2020, no new Medigap enrollees can buy any plan that covers it, per Medicare.gov.

Plan A offers the lowest Medigap premium, but the Part A deductible and skilled nursing co-insurance stay entirely out of pocket.

Medicare Supplement Plan A premiums range from $197 to $289 per month, based on MoneyGeek's 2026 analysis of enrollees at ages 65 and 75. Attained-age pricing starts lowest at 65 but rises annually. Community-rated pricing charges everyone the same amount, keeping future increases more predictable.

Medicare Supplement Plan A is the baseline Medigap policy. Plan B adds one feature Plan A lacks: the Part A deductible. Plan G and Plan N go further, adding skilled nursing co-insurance and 80% foreign travel emergency coverage. Plans C and F closed to new enrollees as of January 1, 2020, per CMS. Review all Medigap plans to compare Plan A against the full market.

Medicare Supplement Plan A works best for healthy enrollees who don't expect frequent hospitalizations and can cover the Part A deductible out of pocket. It's the most budget-friendly Medigap entry point for those who want basic gap coverage without paying for benefits they're unlikely to use.

Medicare Supplement Plan A is available from any licensed Medigap carrier in your state. Benefits are identical across all insurers by federal law, so price and financial strength are the main differentiators. Some of the licensed carriers include Aetna, Anthem, Humana, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield and Transamerica. You apply directly with the insurer and the coverage starts on your policy's effective date.

Medicare Supplement Plan A has the lowest Medigap premium, starting at $197 per month under attained-age pricing. It covers unlimited additional hospital days after Medicare's lifetime reserve ends. But the Part A deductible and skilled nursing co-insurance stay out of pocket. Plan A fits healthy, budget-conscious enrollees who want basic financial protection without paying for benefits they're unlikely to use.

We've answered the most frequently asked questions about Medicare Supplement Plan A enrollment rules, coverage gaps and plan comparisons: