Medicare Supplement Plan K
What Medigap Plan K covers, what you pay and how its out-of-pocket limit works
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Medicare Supplement Plan K, also called Medigap Plan K, splits most Medicare costs with you. It pays 100% of Part A hospital coinsurance and 50% of the Part A deductible, Part B coinsurance, skilled nursing coinsurance, blood and hospice cost sharing. It also has an annual out-of-pocket limit, $8,000 in 2026, after which it pays 100% of covered costs for the rest of the year. It does not pay the Part B deductible, excess charges or foreign travel emergencies. Most people compare it with Plan L and Plan N.
Reviewed by Charles “Chuck” Lunsford, Life & Health insurance agent licensed in Florida since 1994 and in Alabama (NPN 553216).
Plan K at a Glance
| Feature | Medicare Supplement Plan K |
|---|---|
| Part A hospital coinsurance and 365 extra hospital days | Covered at 100% |
| Part A hospital deductible | Covered at 50%. You pay $868 of the $1,736 deductible per benefit period in 2026 |
| Skilled nursing facility coinsurance | Covered at 50%. You pay $108.50 per day for days 21 to 100 in 2026 |
| Part B coinsurance or copayment | Covered at 50%, so you generally pay 10% of the Medicare-approved amount instead of 20% |
| First three pints of blood | Covered at 50% |
| Part A hospice coinsurance or copayment | Covered at 50% |
| Annual out-of-pocket limit | $8,000 in 2026. After that, Plan K pays 100% of covered costs for the rest of the year |
| Part B deductible | Not covered. $283 per year in 2026 |
| Part B excess charges | Not covered |
| Foreign travel emergency care | Not covered |
| Restriction based on when you became eligible for Medicare | None |
Dollar amounts on this page are the 2026 Medicare figures published by CMS. They change each year.
Plan K is built on two ideas: you share most Medicare costs with the plan, and an annual limit caps how much that sharing can cost you in a year with heavy care.
Like every Medigap policy, Plan K works alongside Original Medicare and is sold by private insurance companies. Benefits are standardized, so Plan K from one carrier covers the same things as Plan K from another.
How Plan K’s Out-of-Pocket Limit Works
Plan K’s out-of-pocket limit is $8,000 in 2026. Once you reach it and have paid the yearly Part B deductible, Plan K pays 100% of covered Medicare costs for the rest of the calendar year. The limit starts over each January and is adjusted annually.
Your share of Medicare-covered costs under Plan K counts toward the limit: half of each Part A deductible, your share of Part B coinsurance and your share of skilled nursing, blood and hospice costs. Monthly premiums do not count, and neither do costs for services Medicare does not cover. Part B excess charges and foreign emergency care, which Plan K does not cover, generally do not count either.
Only Plan K and Plan L have an out-of-pocket limit. Plan L’s limit is lower because it pays a larger share of costs.
What Does Medicare Supplement Plan K Cover?
Plan K pays one benefit in full and shares six others with you at 50% until you reach the out-of-pocket limit.
| Benefit | What Original Medicare leaves you owing | What Plan K pays |
|---|---|---|
| Part A hospital coinsurance | A daily charge for hospital days 61 to 90 ($434 in 2026) and for lifetime reserve days ($868 in 2026) | 100%, plus Medicare-eligible hospital costs for up to 365 additional days over your lifetime |
| Part A hospital deductible | $1,736 for each benefit period in 2026 | 50% |
| Skilled nursing facility coinsurance | $217 per day for days 21 to 100 of a covered stay in 2026 | 50% |
| Part B coinsurance or copayment | Generally 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for doctor visits, outpatient care and durable medical equipment | 50% after you meet the Part B deductible |
| Blood | The first three pints in a calendar year | 50% |
| Part A hospice care | Copayments for outpatient drugs and coinsurance for inpatient respite care | 50% |
The one benefit Plan K pays in full is long hospital stays. Hospital coinsurance only begins on day 61 of a benefit period, so most admissions cost a Plan K policyholder half the Part A deductible, $868 in 2026.
What Doesn’t Plan K Cover?
Plan K does not cover the Part B deductible, Part B excess charges or foreign travel emergencies.
- Part B deductible: You pay the first $283 of Medicare-approved Part B costs each year in 2026.
- Excess charges: A provider who does not accept Medicare assignment may bill up to 15% above the Medicare-approved amount. Plan K does not pay the difference, so asking whether a provider accepts assignment matters more with this plan.
- Foreign travel: Plan K has no foreign travel emergency benefit, and Original Medicare generally does not pay for care outside the United States.
Like all Medigap plans, Plan K does not cover prescription drugs, dental care, vision care, hearing aids or long-term custodial care. Drug coverage comes from a separate Medicare Part D plan.
What Could You Pay With Plan K?
With Plan K you pay the monthly premium, the Part B deductible and your 50% share of covered costs until you reach the out-of-pocket limit.
| Cost you keep | When it applies | 2026 amount |
|---|---|---|
| Part B deductible | Once per calendar year | $283 |
| Half the Part A deductible | Each benefit period with an inpatient admission | $868 |
| Half the skilled nursing coinsurance | Days 21 to 100 of a covered stay | $108.50 per day |
| Half the Part B coinsurance | Doctor visits, outpatient care and equipment | Generally 10% of the Medicare-approved amount |
| Out-of-pocket limit | Caps your share of covered costs for the year | $8,000 |
| Part B excess charges | Only when a provider does not accept assignment | Up to 15% above the Medicare-approved amount |
| Emergency care outside the United States | Travel abroad | Usually the full bill |
In a year with little care, your costs are close to the premium plus the Part B deductible and a few small coinsurance amounts. In a year with heavy care, your share of covered costs stops at the out-of-pocket limit.
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What Does Plan K Cost?
Plan K premiums are usually lower than premiums for plans that cover more, such as Plan G or Plan N, because you share more of the cost of care. What you pay depends on the carrier and on factors such as:
- Your age
- Your ZIP code
- Tobacco use
- Your sex
- How the carrier prices its policies (attained-age, issue-age or community-rated)
- Household or other discounts the carrier offers
Plan K vs Plan L: Plan L pays 75% of the costs Plan K pays at 50%, and its out-of-pocket limit is $4,000 in 2026 instead of $8,000. Plan L premiums are generally higher than Plan K premiums.
Plan K vs Plan N: Plan N pays the Part A deductible in full and covers Part B coinsurance except for copays of up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for emergency room visits that do not lead to admission. Plan N has no out-of-pocket limit, but its everyday cost sharing is usually much smaller than Plan K’s.
Plan K vs High-Deductible Plan G: High-Deductible Plan G pays nothing until you meet a $2,950 deductible in 2026, then pays like Plan G. Plan K starts paying right away at 50% but caps your covered costs at a higher amount.
Comparing these plans side by side with real quotes for your ZIP code is the best way to see whether the lower Plan K premium is worth the extra cost sharing.
This page does not list Plan K premium ranges. Premiums change often and vary by carrier, so the only reliable number is a current quote.
Who Might Consider Plan K?
Plan K can make sense for people who want Medigap protection with a lower premium and are comfortable paying part of their care costs. It may fit if you:
- See doctors infrequently and want to keep monthly premiums down
- Have savings to cover the Part B deductible and a 50% share of costs up to the out-of-pocket limit
- Want a firm yearly limit on covered costs in case of a serious illness or hospital stay
- Want to keep Original Medicare and see any doctor or hospital in the United States that accepts Medicare
Plan K may be a weaker fit if you expect frequent doctor visits, ongoing treatments or regular outpatient procedures, because your 50% share adds up quickly. It is also a weaker fit if you travel abroad often or use providers who do not accept Medicare assignment.
Switching to a plan with more coverage later is not always possible. Outside your Medigap open enrollment period and situations with guaranteed issue rights, carriers in most states can use medical underwriting and may decline your application or charge more.
How Does Plan K Compare With Other Plans?
| Benefit | Plan K | Plan L | Plan N | Plan G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part A hospital coinsurance | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Part A deductible | 50% | 75% | 100% | 100% |
| Part B coinsurance | 50% | 75% | 100% except copays up to $20 and $50 | 100% |
| Skilled nursing coinsurance | 50% | 75% | 100% | 100% |
| Blood and hospice | 50% | 75% | 100% | 100% |
| Part B deductible | No | No | No | No |
| Part B excess charges | No | No | No | 100% |
| Foreign travel emergency | No | No | 80% up to plan limits | 80% up to plan limits |
| Out-of-pocket limit in 2026 | $8,000 | $4,000 | None | None |
Plan K usually has the lowest premium of these four and the most cost sharing. Plan G has the most coverage of the plans available to people new to Medicare and usually a higher premium.
How to Enroll in Plan K
- Enroll in Medicare Part A and Part B. You need both to buy a Medigap policy.
- Know your open enrollment period. Your six-month Medigap open enrollment period starts the month you are 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. During it, carriers cannot deny you or charge more because of your health.
- Compare carriers. Plan K benefits are the same from every carrier, so compare premiums, pricing method and rate increase history.
- Add Part D drug coverage. Medigap does not cover prescriptions, so pair Plan K with a Part D plan.
- Apply and set your start date. Ask about the earliest effective date so there is no gap in coverage.
Rules for people under 65 vary by state. Some states require carriers to offer Medicare Supplement coverage to people who qualify for Medicare through disability or end-stage renal disease, often with an open enrollment period. Ask what applies where you live.
Medicare Supplement Plan K FAQs
What does Medicare Supplement Plan K cover?
Plan K pays 100% of Part A hospital coinsurance plus up to 365 extra hospital days. It pays 50% of the Part A deductible, Part B coinsurance, skilled nursing coinsurance, blood and hospice cost sharing until you reach the yearly out-of-pocket limit.
What is the Plan K out-of-pocket limit for 2026?
The Plan K out-of-pocket limit is $8,000 in 2026. After you reach it and pay the Part B deductible, Plan K pays 100% of covered Medicare costs for the rest of the calendar year.
Does Plan K cover the Part B deductible?
No. You pay the Part B deductible yourself, which is $283 in 2026.
Does Plan K cover Part B excess charges?
No. If a provider does not accept Medicare assignment and bills up to 15% above the Medicare-approved amount, you pay the difference.
Does Plan K cover emergencies outside the United States?
No. Plan K has no foreign travel emergency benefit. Plans C, D, F, G, M and N include it.
What is the difference between Plan K and Plan L?
Plan K pays 50% of shared costs and has an $8,000 out-of-pocket limit in 2026. Plan L pays 75% of those costs and has a $4,000 limit. Plan L premiums are generally higher.
Is Plan K cheaper than Plan G?
Plan K premiums are usually lower than Plan G premiums because you pay more of your care costs. Premiums vary by carrier, age and ZIP code, so compare current quotes.
Does Plan K cover prescription drugs?
No. Medigap plans sold today do not cover outpatient prescription drugs. You can join a separate Medicare Part D plan for drug coverage.
Can I use Plan K with any doctor?
Yes. Plan K works with any doctor or hospital in the United States that accepts Medicare. It has no provider network.
Compare Plan K for Your ZIP Code
Plan K benefits are the same from every carrier, but premiums and rate increase history are not. A side-by-side comparison of Plan K, Plan L, Plan N and Plan G for your ZIP code shows whether the lower Plan K premium is worth the extra cost sharing for you.
Start with our Medicare Supplement plan comparison or request a Plan K comparison below.
Have questions about Medicare Supplement Plan K? Call us at 1-239-633-4392, email info@medicaresupplementsonly.com, or fill out our form for a free consultation. Learn more at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
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Content Review
Content reviewed by Charles “Chuck” Lunsford, Licensed Life & Health Agent, Florida License A169316 and Alabama, NPN 553216