Medicare Supplement Plan M
What Medigap Plan M covers, what you pay and how it compares with Plans D, N and G
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Medicare Supplement Plan M, also called Medigap Plan M, covers most of the costs Original Medicare leaves you, but pays only half of the Part A hospital deductible. It pays 100% of Part A hospital coinsurance, Part B coinsurance, skilled nursing coinsurance, blood and hospice cost sharing, plus 80% of foreign travel emergencies up to plan limits. You pay the other half of the Part A deductible, the Part B deductible and any Part B excess charges.
Reviewed by Charles “Chuck” Lunsford, Life & Health insurance agent licensed in Florida since 1994 and in Alabama (NPN 553216).
Plan M at a Glance
| Feature | Medicare Supplement Plan M |
|---|---|
| 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 100% |
| Part B coinsurance or copayment | Covered at 100% |
| First three pints of blood | Covered at 100% |
| Part A hospice coinsurance or copayment | Covered at 100% |
| Foreign travel emergency care | 80% up to plan limits |
| Part B deductible | Not covered. $283 per year in 2026 |
| Part B excess charges | Not covered |
| Annual out-of-pocket limit | None |
| 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 M covers the same benefits as Plan D except for half of the Part A deductible. That deductible only applies when you are admitted to a hospital as an inpatient, so Plan M’s cost sharing mostly shows up in years with a hospital stay.
Like every Medigap policy, Plan M works alongside Original Medicare and is sold by private insurance companies. Benefits are standardized, so Plan M from one carrier covers the same things as Plan M from another.
What Does Medicare Supplement Plan M Cover?
Plan M pays seven of the standard Medigap benefits in full or in part.
| Benefit | What Original Medicare leaves you owing | What Plan M 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 | 100% |
| Part B coinsurance or copayment | Generally 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for doctor visits, outpatient care and durable medical equipment | 100% after you meet the Part B deductible |
| Blood | The first three pints in a calendar year | 100% |
| Part A hospice care | Copayments for outpatient drugs and coinsurance for inpatient respite care | 100% |
| Foreign travel emergency | Emergency care during the first 60 days of a trip outside the United States, which Original Medicare generally does not cover | 80% after a $250 yearly deductible, up to a $50,000 lifetime limit |
What Doesn’t Plan M Cover?
Plan M does not cover half of the Part A deductible, the Part B deductible or Part B excess charges.
- Half the Part A deductible: You pay $868 for each benefit period with an inpatient hospital admission in 2026. A benefit period ends after you have been out of the hospital and skilled nursing care for 60 days in a row, so more than one can occur in a year.
- 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 M does not pay the difference.
Like all Medigap plans, Plan M 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 M?
With Plan M you pay the monthly premium, the Part B deductible and half the Part A deductible when you are admitted to a hospital.
| 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 |
| Part B excess charges | Only when a provider does not accept assignment | Up to 15% above the Medicare-approved amount |
| Foreign travel emergency | Care during the first 60 days of a trip abroad | $250 deductible plus 20% of the cost, and anything above the $50,000 lifetime limit |
In a year without a hospital stay, your costs for Medicare-covered care are usually the premium and the $283 Part B deductible, unless you see providers who charge excess charges. A year with one inpatient admission adds $868. Plan M has no out-of-pocket limit, but its cost sharing is limited to these items.
Free 2026 Medicare Guides
Want to read up before we talk? Download the official Medicare & You 2026 handbook and the government’s Choosing a Medigap Policy guide. Both are free PDFs, with no sign-up needed.
What Does Plan M Cost?
Plan M premiums are often lower than premiums for Plan D or Plan G because you share the Part A deductible. 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 M vs Plan D: Plan D pays the full Part A deductible. Otherwise the two plans cover the same benefits. The difference to weigh is the premium gap against $868 per hospital benefit period in 2026.
Plan M vs Plan N: Plan N pays the full Part A deductible, but you may owe copays of up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for emergency room visits that do not lead to admission. Plan M has no office or emergency room copays. Neither plan pays the Part B deductible or excess charges.
Plan M vs Plan G: Plan G pays the full Part A deductible and Part B excess charges. Plan G usually costs more each month.
Not every carrier offers Plan M, so it is worth checking which carriers sell it where you live. Comparing Plan M with Plans D, N and G using real quotes for your ZIP code is the best way to see whether the premium difference is worth the cost sharing.
This page does not list Plan M premium ranges. Premiums change often and vary by carrier, so the only reliable number is a current quote.
Who Might Consider Plan M?
Plan M can make sense for people who want most Medicare costs covered and are willing to share the cost of a hospital admission in exchange for a lower premium. It may fit if you:
- Rarely need inpatient hospital care and want to keep premiums down
- Can cover $868 for each hospital benefit period if you are admitted
- See doctors often and prefer no office visit or emergency room copays
- Travel outside the United States and want foreign travel emergency coverage
- Want to keep Original Medicare and see any doctor or hospital in the United States that accepts Medicare
Plan M may be a weaker fit if you expect hospital stays, or if you 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 M Compare With Other Plans?
| Benefit | Plan M | Plan D | Plan N | Plan G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part A hospital coinsurance | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Part A deductible | 50% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Part B coinsurance | 100% | 100% | 100% except copays up to $20 and $50 | 100% |
| Skilled nursing coinsurance | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Blood and hospice | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Part B deductible | No | No | No | No |
| Part B excess charges | No | No | No | 100% |
| Foreign travel emergency | 80% up to plan limits | 80% up to plan limits | 80% up to plan limits | 80% up to plan limits |
None of these four plans has an out-of-pocket limit. Only Plans K and L do.
How to Enroll in Plan M
- 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 M 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 M 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 M FAQs
What does Medicare Supplement Plan M cover?
Plan M pays 100% of Part A hospital coinsurance plus up to 365 extra hospital days, Part B coinsurance, skilled nursing coinsurance, blood and hospice cost sharing. It pays 50% of the Part A deductible and 80% of foreign travel emergencies up to plan limits.
How much of the Part A deductible do I pay with Plan M?
You pay half of the Part A deductible, which is $868 for each benefit period in 2026. You only owe it when you are admitted to a hospital as an inpatient.
Does Plan M cover the Part B deductible?
No. You pay the Part B deductible yourself, which is $283 in 2026.
Does Plan M 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 M cover emergencies outside the United States?
Yes. Plan M pays 80% of emergency care during the first 60 days of a trip abroad after a $250 yearly deductible, up to a $50,000 lifetime limit.
What is the difference between Plan M and Plan D?
Plan D pays the full Part A deductible and Plan M pays half. The other benefits are the same. Plan M premiums are often lower.
What is the difference between Plan M and Plan N?
Plan N pays the full Part A deductible but can charge copays of up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for emergency room visits that do not lead to admission. Plan M pays half the Part A deductible and has no office or emergency room copays.
Does Plan M have an out-of-pocket limit?
No. Only Plans K and L have an out-of-pocket limit. Plan M’s cost sharing is limited to half the Part A deductible, the Part B deductible and any excess charges.
Does Plan M 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.
Compare Plan M for Your ZIP Code
Plan M benefits are the same from every carrier, but premiums, availability and rate increase history are not. A side-by-side comparison of Plan M, Plan D, Plan N and Plan G for your ZIP code shows whether sharing the Part A deductible saves you enough on premiums.
Start with our Medicare Supplement plan comparison or request a Plan M comparison below.
Have questions about Medicare Supplement Plan M? 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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MedicareSupplementsOnly.com is owned and operated by Charles “Chuck” Lunsford, a Life & Health insurance agent licensed in Florida (License A169316, active since 1994) and in Alabama as a nonresident agent. National Producer Number (NPN): 553216.
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Content Review
Content reviewed by Charles “Chuck” Lunsford, Licensed Life & Health Agent, Florida License A169316 and Alabama, NPN 553216