Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) in Minnesota works differently than in most states. Instead of the 10 standardized lettered plans (A–N), Minnesota residents can choose between two core options — the Basic Plan and the Extended Basic Plan. Both help cover costs like deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments, but the Extended Basic Plan adds broader protection for hospital and skilled nursing costs.
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Essential Benefits in Minnesota Medigap Plans
Both the Basic and Extended Basic plans include five foundational benefits:
- Medicare Part A coinsurance for inpatient hospital stays (plus an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits are used up)
- Medicare Part B coinsurance
- First three pints of blood each year
- Part A hospice coinsurance or copayment
- Coinsurance and copayments for Part A and Part B home health services
Coverage Comparison: Basic Plan vs. Extended Basic Plan
| Benefit | Basic Plan | Extended Basic Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Basic benefits | ✔ | ✔ |
| Part A inpatient hospital deductible | ✔ | |
| Part A skilled nursing facility (SNF) coinsurance | ✔ (100 days) | ✔ (120 days) |
| Part B deductible | ✔** | |
| Foreign travel emergency | 80% | 80%* |
| Outpatient mental health | 50% | 50% |
| Usual and customary fees | 80%* | |
| Medicare-covered preventive care | ✔ | ✔ |
| Physical therapy | 20% | 20% |
| Coverage in a foreign country | 80%* | |
| State-mandated preventive benefits (e.g., mammograms, Pap tests) | ✔ | ✔ |
*Covered at 100% after you reach $1,000 in out-of-pocket costs for the year.
**The Part B deductible is only available to beneficiaries who became eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020.
Did you know? Minnesota is one of only three states (along with Massachusetts and Wisconsin) that uses its own Medigap standardization model, making its plans truly unique compared to the rest of the country.
Additional Plan Options and Riders
In addition to the Basic and Extended Basic plans, Minnesota also offers versions of Plan K, Plan L, Plan M, Plan N, and a high-deductible version of Plan F. Insurers can also sell up to four riders to expand coverage, which may include:
- The Part A inpatient hospital deductible
- The Part B deductible (if eligible)
- Usual and customary fees
- Non-Medicare preventive care
How Medigap Pricing Works in Minnesota
Premiums are set using one of three rating methods:
- Attained-age rated – Premiums rise as you age.
- Issue-age rated – Premiums are tied to your age when you first purchase the policy, with increases tied to inflation, not aging.
- Community rated – Everyone pays the same premium regardless of age.
Under-65 Eligibility in Minnesota
Minnesota provides stronger protections than many states for younger Medicare beneficiaries. Insurers must offer at least one Medigap plan to under-65 residents with disabilities or end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and premiums must be the same as those charged to beneficiaries over 65.
Choosing a Medigap Plan in Minnesota
The Basic Plan provides core protection at a lower cost, while the Extended Basic Plan offers a more complete safety net, particularly for hospital and skilled nursing care. With the option to add riders, Minnesota residents have flexibility to customize their coverage in ways not available in most other states.
To compare premiums and coverage in your area, visit our Medigap rate comparison tool.