Medicare Supplement Plan C, explained.
Plan C is one of the most comprehensive Medigap plans ever offered — it covers nearly every gap in Original Medicare, including both deductibles. But there’s a catch: it’s only available if you became eligible for Medicare before 2020. May River Medicare compares every plan against your budget, at no cost.
Not the same as Medicare Part C (Advantage) — this is a private supplement plan. All figures reflect 2026 amounts.
Plan C is closed to new enrollees. Because of a 2015 federal law (MACRA), Plan C is no longer available to anyone who became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. You can still enroll only if you were eligible before that date. Also note: Medigap Plan C is not Medicare Part C (Advantage) — they’re completely different.
Three things to know about Plan C
Nearly complete coverage
Plan C covers both Medicare deductibles, skilled nursing coinsurance, and foreign travel emergencies — second only to Plan F in how much it pays.
Pre-2020 eligibility only
Only people who became Medicare-eligible before January 1, 2020 can buy Plan C. If that’s you, it may still be worth comparing.
Standardized & portable
Like all Medigap, there are no networks. See any provider nationwide who accepts Medicare, with no referrals.
Exactly what Plan A does and doesn’t cover
What Plan C covers
- Part A hospital deductible ($1,736 in 2026)
- Part B deductible ($283 in 2026) — few plans still cover this
- Part A hospital coinsurance — plus 365 extra days after Medicare benefits end
- Part B coinsurance or copayment (the 20% Original Medicare leaves you)
- Skilled nursing facility coinsurance
- First 3 pints of blood + Part A hospice coinsurance
- Foreign travel emergency care (80% after deductible, up to plan limits)
What Plan C does not cover
- Part B excess charges (the one gap Plan C leaves — Plan F covers it)
- Prescription drugs (pair with a separate Part D plan)
- Routine dental, vision, or hearing
- Long-term custodial care
Plan C is close to complete — the only real gap is Part B excess charges (rare, since most doctors accept Medicare’s approved amount). Because it covers the Part B deductible, its premiums tend to rise faster over time as the enrollee pool ages and shrinks. If you’re eligible, we’ll compare it against Plan G and Plan N to see which gives you the best long-term value.
Who Plan C tends to fit
Pre-2020 eligibles who want it all
If you qualified for Medicare before 2020 and want the most complete coverage available to you, Plan C is worth a serious look.
Watch the long-term cost
Because Plan C is closing to new enrollees, premiums can climb faster over time. We’ll compare it against Plan G so you see the full picture.
No Medigap plan includes prescription coverage — you’ll pair Plan A with a separate Part D plan. And your best enrollment window is the 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period (starting when you’re 65 and on Part B), when carriers can’t deny you or charge more for health conditions.
Eligible for Plan C? Let’s compare it right.
We’ll put Plan C side by side with Plan G and Plan N using real rates from 30+ A-rated carriers, so you can see whether Plan C’s fuller coverage is worth it for your situation. Free, no pressure, no carrier bias.
May River Medicare Insurance is an independent agency and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government, the federal Medicare program, or CMS. Medigap benefits are federally standardized; premiums vary by carrier, age, location, and tobacco use. Figures reflect 2026 amounts published by CMS and independent sources. For a complete list of your options, contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.