Medicare Supplement Plans (Medigap)
Medigap plans help cover out-of-pocket costs that Original Medicare doesn't — like deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. Minnesota has its own unique Medigap structure.
Minnesota Medigap — Different from Most States
Minnesota is one of only three states (along with Massachusetts and Wisconsin) that standardize Medigap plans differently from the "lettered" plans used in most other states. Minnesota's Medigap is built around a Basic Plan and an Extended Basic Plan, with optional riders.
Basic Plan
Minnesota's Basic Medigap plan covers core out-of-pocket costs:
- Part A and Part B coinsurance and copayments
- Up to 100 days of skilled nursing facility care per benefit period
- The first three pints of blood each year
- 80% of emergency care outside the U.S.
- State-mandated benefits (diabetic supplies, routine cancer screening, etc.)
The Basic Plan does not automatically cover the Part A inpatient deductible or Part B excess charges — these require optional riders. Note: Medigap policies cannot cover the Part B deductible for individuals who became Medicare-eligible on or after January 1, 2020.
Extended Basic Plan
The Extended Basic Plan includes all Basic benefits plus:
- 100% of the Medicare Part A inpatient hospital deductible
- 100% of Part A and B coinsurance
- Up to 120 days of skilled nursing facility care per benefit period
- 100% of Part B excess charges
- 80% of emergency care outside the U.S.
- 100% of immunizations not covered by Part D
- 100% of routine cancer screening (mammograms and pap smears)
- A $120/year preventive medical care benefit for non-Medicare-covered preventive services
- Hospice and respite cost sharing
- Home health cost sharing
- First 3 pints of blood
PBCO / Plan N — Basic with Copays
A popular middle-ground option
The Plan N Co-Pay Option (PBCO) — sometimes called Plan N — is a real and widely-used alternative that sits between the Basic Plan and Extended Basic. It covers most of the same core benefits as Extended Basic, but instead of paying 100% of everything, you share a small portion of costs through fixed copayments. In exchange, the monthly premium is meaningfully lower.
- Part A inpatient hospital deductible — covered 100%
- Part A and Part B coinsurance — covered 100%
- Up to 100 days of skilled nursing facility care per benefit period
- 80% of emergency care outside the U.S.
- Part B excess charges — NOT covered (you pay the difference if a provider doesn't accept Medicare assignment)
New Minnesota Medigap Law (Effective August 1, 2026)
Starting August 1, 2026, Minnesotans age 65–70 can enroll in a Medigap plan without medical underwriting during a special annual window aligned with the fall Annual Election Period. This is a "second chance" for those who missed their original Medigap window.
However, using this right comes with a premium surcharge that applies for the duration of the policy:
- 15% extra if you first enroll in 2026
- 20% extra in 2027
- 25% extra in 2028
- 30% extra in 2029
- 35% extra for 2030 and all later years
Best Time to Enroll
The best time to enroll is during your 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period — starting the first month you have Part B and are 65+. During this window, insurers cannot deny you or charge more based on health. After this window, medical underwriting typically applies.