Medigap Plan C
Closed to anyone new to Medicare on or after January 1, 2020
Plan C covers every gap in the chart except one — Part B excess charges — and because it covers the Part B deductible, it's closed: nobody new to Medicare on or after January 1, 2020 can buy it. If you already own Plan C, keeping or leaving it is a real decision, not a reflex.
What does Plan C cover?
- Part A coinsurance and hospital costs (up to 365 extra days after Medicare benefits are used) — Covered 100%
- Part B coinsurance or copayment — Covered 100%
- Blood (first 3 pints) — Covered 100%
- Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment — Covered 100%
- Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance — Covered 100%
- Part A deductible — Covered 100%
- Part B deductible — Covered 100%
- Part B excess charges — Not covered
- Foreign travel emergency (up to plan limits) — Covered 80%
Who is Plan C a good fit for?
- People who already own Plan C and value near-first-dollar coverage: no Part A deductible, no Part B deductible, no coinsurance on Medicare-covered care.
- People eligible for Medicare before 2020 who still qualify to buy it and want the Part B deductible covered.
What are the trade-offs of Plan C?
- A closed pool ages: no new healthy 65-year-olds join Plan C, which tends to push its premiums up faster than open plans over time.
- Part B excess charges are yours — the one chart benefit Plan C lacks and the open Plan G covers.
- Its edge over open Plan D is the annual Part B deductible ($283 in 2026); when Plan C's premium runs far above your open-plan quotes, you may be paying more than that deductible for the privilege — and switching away later may require medical underwriting in most states, so decide with an advisor, not a headline.
Key facts
- Part A deductible
- Covered 100% (2026)
- Part B deductible
- Covered 100% (2026)
- Part B excess charges
- Not covered (2026)
- Sold by
- Private insurers, standardized by federal law — same benefits at every company
Frequently asked questions
Does Plan C cover the Part B deductible?
Yes — Plan C pays the annual Part B deductible ($283 in 2026). Plans that do this are closed to anyone new to Medicare on or after January 1, 2020.
Can I still buy Plan C?
Only if you were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020. Plans that pay the Part B deductible are closed to everyone who became eligible on or after that date; people who already hold one may keep it.
Does Plan C cover Part B excess charges?
No. If a doctor does not accept Medicare assignment, the excess charge — up to 15% above the Medicare-approved amount — is yours. Not every state allows those charges.
Does Plan C cover care outside the United States?
Partly. Plan C pays 80% of foreign travel emergency care, after a separate deductible and up to the plan's lifetime limit. Routine care abroad is not covered.
Is Plan C the same at every insurance company?
Yes. Medigap benefits are standardized by law, so Plan C is the same package of benefits whoever sells it. Price, service and rate history are what differ — three states (Massachusetts, Minnesota, Wisconsin) standardize their plans differently.
Sources
- Medicare.gov — Medigap (Medicare Supplement Insurance) (accessed September 8, 2026)
- CMS — Choosing a Medigap Policy (product 02110), benefit chart (accessed September 8, 2026)
- CMS — 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles (accessed September 8, 2026)
Further reading
- TRICARE for Life and Medicare 2026: Apopka, FL Veterans' Coverage Guide
- Medicare Trial Rights in 2026: Your 12-Month Guaranteed Way Back to Medigap
- TRICARE for Life & Medicare 2026: Orlando Area Veterans Guide
- All Medigap plans and the full benefit chart
- The six-month Medigap open enrollment window
- Two-minute plan match quiz
- Medicare articles
- Find a licensed Medicare advisor by state
Updated September 8, 2026. Dollar figures are 2026 plan-year amounts transcribed from CMS publications and last verified by IM65 against the source for each: Parts A & B premiums, deductibles and IRMAA (August 11, 2026).