Turning 65 in Dallas brings a stack of mail, a wall of plan letters, and one big worry: what will Original Medicare leave you to pay? Medicare Supplement insurance, also called Medigap, is built to help with those leftover costs. This guide explains how these plans work in 2026, the rules that apply in Texas, and how a local agent can help you compare options without pressure.
If you would rather talk it through with a person who lives and works in North Texas, you can schedule a Discovery Consultation or call 214-501-9613. There is no cost to review your options.
Medigap plans help make the costs Original Medicare leaves behind more predictable.
Wilkerson Insurance AgencyWhat Is a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Plan?
A Medicare Supplement plan is private insurance that works alongside Original Medicare, Part A and Part B. It helps pay some of the out-of-pocket costs Medicare leaves behind, like coinsurance, copayments, and hospital deductibles.
Original Medicare pays a large share of covered care, but not all of it. For most Part B services, you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after you meet your deductible, and there is no yearly cap on that 20%. A Medigap plan steps in to cover much of that gap, which makes your costs more predictable.
Why Standardized Plans Matter
Medigap plans are standardized by the federal government and labeled with letters. That means Plan G from one company covers the same core benefits as Plan G from another company. The main differences between carriers are price, service, and rate history.
With a Medigap plan, you can see any doctor or hospital in the country that accepts Medicare. There are no networks and no referrals for Original Medicare services. For people who travel or split time between states, that freedom matters. You can compare this open-network approach with our full lineup of Medicare Supplement plans to see what each option covers.
Medicare Supplement vs. Medicare Advantage: Not the Same Thing
This is one of the most common points of confusion, so let's keep it simple. Medicare Supplement and Medicare Advantage are two different paths, and you cannot use both at the same time.
How the Two Paths Differ
- Medicare Supplement (Medigap): Medigap pairs with Original Medicare. You keep Parts A and B, add a Medigap plan to help with cost sharing, and add a separate Part D plan for prescription drugs. You get nationwide access to Medicare providers and more predictable costs, usually for a higher monthly premium.
- Medicare Advantage (Part C): Medicare Advantage replaces the way you get your Original Medicare benefits. These plans are offered by private companies, often use local networks, may require referrals, and frequently include drug coverage and extra benefits. Premiums can be lower, but you may face copays and network rules when you need care.
If you currently have a Medicare Advantage plan and are weighing a change, our guide on switching from Medicare Advantage to Medigap in Texas walks through the timing and trade-offs in more detail.
Neither path is "best" for everyone. The right choice depends on your doctors, your budget, how often you travel, and how much cost certainty you want.
Not sure which Medicare path fits you?
A short, no-pressure conversation can help you compare provider access, monthly premiums, cost sharing, travel needs, and prescription coverage.
Which Medigap Plan Letters Can You Buy in 2026?
There are ten standardized Medigap plans, labeled A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N. Not every company sells every letter, and a couple of letters are no longer open to newer enrollees.
Under federal rules, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act, or MACRA, Plans C and F are closed to people who became newly eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. If you were eligible before that date, you may still be able to buy or keep those plans. Everyone else should focus on the letters open to new enrollees.
For most Dallas shoppers new to Medicare, three options come up most often:
Three Common Choices for New Enrollees
- Plan G: The most complete coverage available to new enrollees. It covers nearly everything Original Medicare leaves behind except the annual Part B deductible, $283 in 2026. Once you pay that, Plan G covers your Medicare-approved cost sharing.
- Plan N: Lower monthly premium in exchange for small copays, up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for emergency room visits that do not lead to admission, and no coverage for Part B excess charges.
- High-Deductible Plan G: The same benefits as Plan G, but you pay a higher yearly deductible, $2,950 in 2026, before the plan starts paying. In return, the monthly premium is much lower.
If you want a side-by-side breakdown of the two most popular choices, see our Plan G vs. Plan N comparison for Texas. Medigap plans do not include prescription drug coverage. If you want help with medications, you add a separate Medicare Part D plan. Medigap also does not cover routine dental, vision, or hearing care.
The 2026 Medicare Costs Your Medigap Plan Is Built Around
Medigap only makes sense once you see the gaps it fills. Here are the official 2026 figures released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services:
Official 2026 Medicare Cost Figures
- Part A hospital deductible: $1,736 per benefit period, up $60 from $1,676 in 2025, charged per benefit period rather than once a year.
- Part A hospital coinsurance: $434 per day for days 61 to 90, and $868 per day for lifetime reserve days.
- Part B annual deductible: $283, up $26 from $257 in 2025.
- Part B premium: $202.90 per month for most people, up $17.90 from $185.00. Higher earners pay more.
A benefit period can reset if you have separate hospital stays more than 60 days apart, which means you could owe that Part A deductible more than once in a year. That is exactly the kind of surprise a Medigap plan is designed to soften.
What Does a Medicare Supplement Plan Cost in Dallas?
Prices are not standardized even though benefits are. The same Plan G can cost noticeably more from one company than another, so comparing carriers matters. Your estimated premium depends on the plan letter, your ZIP code, your age, tobacco use, gender, and available discounts.
For a 65-year-old non-smoker in the Dallas area, Plan G premiums in 2026 are often estimated in roughly the $130 to $250 per month range, though your exact quote depends on the factors above. Some competitive Dallas quotes for a 65-year-old female non-smoker have been reported as low as about $105 per month, so it genuinely pays to compare carriers rather than assume one price applies to everyone. Age is one of the biggest drivers of that range; our article on how age affects your Medicare Supplement premium explains why.
Texas permits all three standardized Medigap pricing methods, though attained-age rating is the most common in practice:
How Texas Medigap Premiums Are Rated
- Attained-age-rated: Premium is based on your current age and rises as you get older. This is the most common method in Texas.
- Issue-age-rated: Premium is based on your age when you buy the policy and does not rise simply because you age, though inflation can still push rates up. This is less common in Texas.
- Community-rated: Everyone in an area pays the same base premium regardless of age. This is the least common method in Texas.
Because rates and rate history vary by carrier, the numbers above are a planning range, not a quote. The most useful next step is a real quote for your exact ZIP code and age. Schedule a Discovery Consultation and we can run that comparison across the carriers we represent so you see the trade-offs side by side.
For a deeper breakdown of premiums and ways to lower them, see our companion guide, Medicare Supplement Insurance Costs in Texas. This Dallas guide focuses on how plans work and how to choose; that page focuses on cost detail, so the two support each other rather than compete.
"LeRoy Wilkerson helped me change my Medicare Supplement Plans. I have had LeRoy's assistance in the past as well. He is always very responsive and professional. He can offer advice and help in negotiating through the Medicare supplement maze. I value his advice."
John Lentini | Google Review | ★★★★★When Can You Enroll in a Medicare Supplement Plan in Texas?
Timing is the single most important thing to get right, and it trips up many people because Medicare has several enrollment windows that sound alike.
Your best window is the Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment Period. This is a one-time, six-month window that begins when you are 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare Part B. During this window, companies must sell you any Medigap policy they offer in Texas, and they cannot charge you more or turn you down because of your health history.
Miss that window and, in most cases, you face medical underwriting. That means a carrier can review your health history and may charge more, add conditions, or decline your application. That is why starting early and choosing carefully matters.
Do Not Confuse the Medigap Window With These Periods
- Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 to December 7: For changing Medicare Advantage and Part D plans. This is not the Medigap window.
- Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, January 1 to March 31: For people already in a Medicare Advantage plan to make one change.
- General Enrollment Period, January 1 to March 31: For people who missed signing up for Part A or Part B when first eligible.
You can apply for Medigap at other times, but outside a protected window your approval and price are not guaranteed. For a broader look at how these rules were trending heading into this year, see Medicare Supplement Plans in 2025: What's Changing.
Missing your Medigap Open Enrollment Period can change your approval options.
Outside a protected enrollment window, a carrier may review your health history, charge more, add conditions, or decline an application. Review your timing before making a change.
Review My Enrollment Timing →Texas-Specific Medicare Supplement Rules to Know
A few Texas rules are worth understanding before you buy.
Key Texas Medigap Rules
- Texas does not have a birthday rule: Some states give Medigap enrollees an annual window to switch plans without underwriting around their birthday. Texas is not one of them. Outside your open enrollment or a guaranteed-issue situation, switching plans usually requires underwriting.
- Guaranteed-issue rights: These still apply in certain situations. For example, if you lose Medicaid or a Medicare Advantage plan leaves your area, you may have a limited window, often 63 days, to buy a Medigap policy without a health review.
- 30-day free look: Texas gives you 30 days to return a new policy for a refund with no questions asked.
Under-65 Protections Expanded in 2025
Texas House Bill 2516, known as the "Chris Larkin ALS Act," took effect September 1, 2025. The law requires Medigap insurers to offer people under 65 who qualify for Medicare because of end-stage renal disease, ESRD, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, ALS, the same Medicare Supplement plans they offer to people 65 and older.
Standardized Plans A, B, and D must be offered at the same premium charged to a 65-year-old. For other plans, such as Plan G or Plan N, the premium may not exceed 200% of the age-65 rate, meaning up to double that rate. Insurers may not apply medical underwriting, a waiting period, or a preexisting-condition limitation to this eligibility.
With this law, the American Kidney Fund reports Texas became the 35th state to require Medigap insurers to offer plans to people under 65 with ESRD. Eligibility, enrollment windows, and rate treatment are governed by Texas Insurance Code Sections 1652.059 through 1652.060 and guidance from the Texas Department of Insurance. A one-time catch-up enrollment window runs December 1, 2025 through June 1, 2026 for people already enrolled in Part B due to ESRD or ALS as of June 20, 2025.
Rules like these change over time, so confirm current details with the Texas Department of Insurance or a licensed agent before you act.
Who Might Benefit From a Medicare Supplement Plan?
A Medigap plan is not the right fit for everyone. You likely do not need one if you have retiree or employer group coverage, Medicaid, or a Medicare Advantage plan.
A Medigap Plan May Be Worth a Close Look If You:
- Want more predictable healthcare costs.
- Want to keep access to any Medicare-accepting provider nationwide.
- Travel often or split time between states.
- See specialists across different Dallas health systems.
- Would rather pay a steadier monthly premium than face variable copays when you are already unwell.
The honest answer is that it depends on your health, budget, and preferences. That is the point of a careful comparison rather than a one-size-fits-all pitch.
How a Local Dallas Broker Helps You Compare
Wilkerson Insurance Agency is an independent broker based at 2727 LBJ Freeway, Suite 1062, in Farmers Branch, serving Dallas and the wider DFW area. Being independent means we compare plans across the carriers we represent, including Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, Mutual of Omaha, Transamerica, North American, United American, and Tokio Marine HCC, rather than pushing a single company.
Our team includes nine licensed agents across North Texas, so you can work with someone nearby. Beatrice "Bea" Rivas in Plano provides bilingual support in English and Spanish and focuses on Medicare Supplement, Medicare Advantage, and related coverage. You can meet our full team of licensed Texas agents on our team page.
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We start with a Discovery Consultation: a plain-language conversation about your doctors, medications, budget, and travel, followed by a clear comparison of your options by ZIP code.
"Without a doubt the best experience I have had with an insurance agency. Mr. Wilkerson took the time to explain the Medicare insurance options I was considering in a way that was easy for me to understand. This allowed me to make the best decision for my needs. I highly recommend The Wilkerson Insurance Agency for all of your insurance needs."
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Wilkerson Insurance Agency serves Dallas and communities across the Dallas-Fort Worth service area, including Farmers Branch, Coppell, Carrollton, Colleyville, Irving, Lewisville, Southlake, Grapevine, Plano, and Hurst, plus Houston. We are also licensed in 27 states across the U.S., so we can help if you or a family member lives outside Texas.
Let's find coverage that fits your life. Schedule a Discovery Consultation to compare your 2026 Medicare Supplement options with a local, independent team, or call 214-501-9613. Prefer to start with numbers first? Request a Free Quote.
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