f you’re a Florida retiree on Medicare, and you haven’t reviewed your supplement coverage in the last two years, you’re likely paying more than you need to — or getting less than you’re entitled to.
In 2026, there’s a notable shift happening among Florida seniors, particularly in the panhandle, Gulf Coast, and inland rural counties. Retirees who were on Plan F (no longer available to new enrollees) and older versions of Plan G are finding that a comparison shop — often for the first time in years — is saving them $150 to $300 per month with no reduction in coverage. Here’s what’s driving that shift and what you should know.
WHAT MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT (MEDIGAP) ACTUALLY IS
Original Medicare — Parts A and B — doesn’t cover everything. It leaves gaps: a 20% coinsurance on most Part B services, the Part A hospital deductible ($1,632 in 2026), and costs related to extended hospital stays. A Medicare Supplement plan (also called Medigap) fills some or all of those gaps, depending on the plan you choose.
Medigap is sold by private insurance companies, but the plans themselves are standardized by the federal government. Every Plan G from any insurer covers exactly the same benefits as every other Plan G — the only variable is the monthly premium.
This is important because it means shopping for Medigap is purely a price comparison. You are not giving up coverage to pay less. If Insurer A charges $210/month for Plan G and Insurer B charges $140/month for the same Plan G, they are identical in what they cover. The $70 difference is pure savings.
PLAN G — WHY FLORIDA RETIREES ARE MOVING TO IT
Since Plan F became unavailable to new Medicare enrollees after January 2020, Plan G has become the most comprehensive Medigap option for most Florida seniors. Plan G covers:
– The Medicare Part A deductible
– All Part A coinsurance and hospital costs up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits run out
– Part B coinsurance and copayments (the 20% you’d otherwise pay out of pocket)
– Part B excess charges
– Skilled nursing facility coinsurance
– Foreign travel emergency care (up to plan limits)
The only thing Plan G does not cover that Plan F did is the Part B deductible, which is $240 in 2026. That’s it. In exchange for not covering that $240 annual deductible, Plan G typically costs $50 to $120 less per month than Plan F. That’s $600 to $1,440 per year in savings, in exchange for a $240 cost. The math almost always favors Plan G.
In my experience reviewing Florida Medicare options with retirees, the majority of people currently on Plan F who switched to Plan G were paying more than $1,000 extra per year for no meaningful additional benefit.
THE HIGH-DEDUCTIBLE PLAN G — FOR HEALTHY SENIORS
There is a variation called High-Deductible Plan G (HDG) that is worth knowing about. It offers identical coverage to standard Plan G, but you pay a deductible first ($2,800 in 2026) before the plan begins covering your gaps.
In exchange, the monthly premium is dramatically lower — often $40 to $80 per month versus $130 to $200 for standard Plan G.
For a relatively healthy Florida retiree who doesn’t have major ongoing medical needs, HDG can result in significant savings. Even if you hit the full deductible in a bad year, the premium savings may offset it. This is worth running the numbers on if you’re currently paying a high monthly Medigap premium.
WHY PREMIUMS VARY SO MUCH BETWEEN INSURERS IN FLORIDA
Florida is a competitive Medigap market, which is good news for consumers. Dozens of insurers sell Plan G in the state, and their premiums vary widely for the same coverage.
Several factors affect premiums. Age at enrollment matters — many insurers use “attained-age” rating, meaning your premium increases as you get older. “Issue-age” rating locks your premium at the rate for your age when you first enrolled. “Community” rating charges everyone the same regardless of age.
Location also matters — insurers in Florida panhandle counties (Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Bay) often price differently than insurers serving Miami-Dade or the Gulf Coast. Your specific zip code will affect what plans are available and at what price.
The only reliable way to compare is to use the official Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov/plan-compare or to call Medicare directly at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). The Florida Department of Elder Affairs (elderaffairs.org) also runs a free SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) counseling program with certified counselors across the state.
WHEN YOU CAN SWITCH WITHOUT MEDICAL UNDERWRITING
Outside your initial Open Enrollment Period (the 6 months starting when you first enroll in Part B at 65), switching Medigap plans in Florida can require medical underwriting — meaning an insurer can deny you or charge more based on your health history.
However, there are guaranteed issue rights that allow you to switch without underwriting. These apply if your Medicare Advantage plan is leaving your area, if you lose employer coverage, or if you’re in your first 12 months of a Medigap plan (the “free look” trial period).
Florida also has a Birthday Rule: every year during the 60 days after your birthday, you can switch to a plan with equal or lesser benefits from any insurer without medical underwriting. This applies to Plan G switches. If your birthday is coming up in the next few months, that window is your opportunity to switch and save.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Florida retirees who haven’t compared their Medigap plan in the past two years are almost certainly paying more than they need to. Plan G is now the standard-bearer for comprehensive supplement coverage, and premium differences between insurers for identical coverage can reach $150/month or more.
Use the Birthday Rule if your birthday is approaching. Use the Medicare Plan Finder or call SHINE for a free comparison. There is no cost and no commitment to get a comparison — only upside.
SOURCES:
– Medicare Plan Finder: medicare.gov/plan-compare
– Medicare supplement plan standardization: cms.gov
– Florida SHINE program: elderaffairs.org
– Medicare 2026 deductibles and cost-sharing: medicare.gov
– Florida Department of Insurance — Medigap guide: myfloridacfo.gov