Medicare Supplement Plan L, explained.
Plan L is the middle ground: like Plan K it shares costs with you, but it pays a more generous 75% of most benefits and has a lower out-of-pocket maximum of $4,000 in 2026, after which it pays 100%. More coverage than Plan K, lower premium than Plan G. May River Medicare compares every plan against your budget, at no cost.
A cost-sharing plan with a stronger safety net than Plan K. Open to new enrollees. All figures reflect 2026 amounts.
Plan L is a cost-sharing plan. Instead of paying most costs at 100% like Plan G, Plan L pays 75% of many benefits and you pay the other 25% — a better split than Plan K’s 50%. Once your out-of-pocket spending hits $4,000 in 2026, Plan L pays 100% of covered services for the rest of the year — a lower cap than Plan K’s $8,000.
Three things to know about Plan L
75% cost-sharing
Plan L pays three-quarters of most benefits — the Part A deductible, Part B coinsurance, blood, hospice, and skilled nursing — and you pay 25%.
A lower out-of-pocket cap
Only Plans K and L have a yearly maximum. Once you hit $4,000 in 2026, Plan L covers everything at 100% for the rest of the year.
Some benefits at 100%
Plan L still pays 100% of Part A hospital coinsurance (plus 365 extra days) and 100% of preventive-care coinsurance.
Exactly what Plan A does and doesn’t cover
What Plan L covers
- 100% of Part A hospital coinsurance — plus 365 extra days after Medicare benefits end
- 100% of Part B preventive-care coinsurance
- 75% of the Part A hospital deductible ($1,302 of the $1,736 in 2026)
- 75% of Part B coinsurance or copayments
- 75% of skilled nursing facility coinsurance
- 75% of the first 3 pints of blood + Part A hospice coinsurance
- $4,000 yearly out-of-pocket max (2026), then 100% coverage
What Plan L does not cover
- Part B deductible ($283 in 2026) — you pay this yourself
- Part B excess charges
- Foreign travel emergency care
- Prescription drugs, dental, vision, hearing (pair with Part D separately)
Plan L sits between Plan K and the fuller plans: you pay less out of pocket than with Plan K (75% covered vs. 50%, and a $4,000 cap vs. $8,000), but the premium is a bit higher. As with Plan K, the $283 Part B deductible is separate and doesn’t count toward the cap. We’ll compare Plan L against Plan K, Plan N, and Plan G so you can see exactly where the value lands for you.
Who Plan L tends to fit
Wants a middle ground
If Plan K’s 50% split feels like too much exposure but Plan G’s premium is more than you want, Plan L’s 75% coverage and $4,000 cap can be the balance.
Values a lower cap
Plan L caps your yearly risk at $4,000 — half of Plan K’s — for a modestly higher premium. We’ll show you whether that trade is worth it for you.
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.
Is Plan L your middle ground? Let’s compare.
We’ll put Plan L side by side with Plan K, Plan N, and Plan G using real rates from 30+ A-rated carriers, so you can weigh the 75% coverage and $4,000 cap against the premium. 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.