Already Have a Medicare Supplement in West Virginia?
See If You’re Paying Too Much
If your Medicare Supplement premium has gone up, you don’t have to
cancel your current policy or change coverage just to compare rates.
See whether your current Medigap premium is still competitive.
Call Mintco Financial: 716-565-1300
Compare My Medicare Supplement Rate
No obligation to change your current coverage just to compare.
Why Review Your Medicare Supplement Rate?
Medicare Supplement plans are standardized by plan letter.
If you have a standard Plan G, for example, another insurance
company’s standard Plan G provides the same standardized basic benefits.
But the premiums charged by different insurance companies can vary.
That means you may be able to compare the same plan letter without
changing the type of Medigap coverage you want.
Has Your Medigap Premium Increased Again?
Many West Virginia Medicare beneficiaries choose Medicare Supplement
insurance because they like the combination of Original Medicare and
additional protection against certain out-of-pocket expenses.
The problem may begin several years later when the monthly premium
starts climbing.
A rate increase doesn’t automatically mean you should leave your
current insurance company.
But it is a very reasonable time to ask:
“Is my current Medicare Supplement still competitively priced?”
The Same Plan Letter Can Have Different Prices
This is one of the most important things to understand about Medicare
Supplement insurance.
The standardized benefits in each plan letter are the same regardless
of the company selling the policy.
However, insurance companies can charge different premiums for the
same standardized coverage.
For example, if you currently own Plan G, it can make sense to compare
your Plan G premium with Plan G premiums available from other insurance
companies.
Small Monthly Differences Can Add Up
Suppose another available Medicare Supplement policy could reduce
your premium by $50 per month.
$50 per month = $600 per year
A $75 monthly difference would equal:
$900 per year
That does not mean the lower-priced policy is automatically the right
choice. But a meaningful difference is certainly worth reviewing.
You Don’t Have to Change Anything Just to Compare
Some people hesitate to request a Medicare Supplement comparison
because they are afraid they will somehow lose the policy they already have.
Comparing available rates does not mean you have to cancel your
current Medicare Supplement.
The first step can simply be reviewing what you’re paying and seeing
what other options may be available.
Keep your existing policy while you compare.
Do not cancel existing Medicare Supplement coverage simply because
you receive a lower quote. If you decide to apply for replacement
coverage, make sure the new coverage has been approved and its
effective date confirmed before ending your existing policy.
What Information Do We Need to Start a Rate Review?
A Medicare Supplement comparison doesn’t need to be complicated.
Having a few basic pieces of information can help get the conversation started:
- Your West Virginia ZIP code
- Your current Medicare Supplement plan letter, such as Plan G or Plan N
- Your current insurance company
- Your current monthly premium
- Your age
Depending on your situation, additional information may be required
before determining whether another policy is available to you.
Not Sure If Your Current Rate Is High?
That’s exactly what a rate review is for.
You don’t need to know which company you want before calling.
What If You Like Your Current Plan G?
You don’t necessarily need to leave Plan G simply because your
insurance company’s premium increased.
There are really two different decisions:
Decision #1: Do I want to keep the same standardized
plan but investigate another insurance company?
Decision #2: Do I want to change from one Medigap
plan letter to another, such as moving from Plan G to Plan N?
Those are not the same decision.
Changing from one company’s Plan G to another company’s Plan G is
primarily a carrier and premium comparison.
Changing from Plan G to Plan N changes the benefits and cost-sharing
structure, so that decision should be evaluated separately.
New in West Virginia for 2026: A Limited Medigap Birthday Opportunity
West Virginia enacted new Medicare Supplement guaranteed-issue
protections that apply beginning in 2026.
Certain people who already have a Medicare Supplement policy issued
in West Virginia may qualify for an annual guaranteed-issue opportunity
connected to their birthday.
Generally, the existing Medigap policy must have been continuously
in force for at least 24 months.
The application window begins on the
first day of the beneficiary’s birthday month and continues for 60 days.
However, this is not an unrestricted opportunity to choose any
Medigap policy from any company.
The law generally limits the replacement to the same insurer or an
affiliated insurer and to a policy providing the same or lesser
standardized benefits.
There is a limited exception allowing another insurer when neither
the existing insurer nor an affiliated insurer has accepted applications
for comparable coverage for at least 12 months.
Because these rules are specific, eligibility should be confirmed
before making any changes to existing coverage.
What If You’re Outside the Birthday Protection?
Your federal Medigap Open Enrollment Period generally lasts for six
months beginning when you are age 65 or older and first enrolled in
Medicare Part B.
During that protected period, you can purchase available Medigap
coverage without being denied because of health problems.
After that period, medical underwriting may apply unless you qualify
for another guaranteed-issue protection.
That means a lower advertised premium does not necessarily mean that
everyone will qualify for the policy.
What Should You Compare Besides Price?
Price matters, particularly when comparing the same standardized
Medicare Supplement plan letter.
But we would also consider:
- The exact standardized plan letter
- Your current premium
- Available carrier premiums
- Any available household or other permitted discounts
- Whether medical underwriting applies
- The insurer’s financial strength
- Customer service
- How the policy is rated
- When replacement coverage would become effective
What About Future Rate Increases?
No Medicare Supplement company can promise that today’s premium will
remain unchanged forever.
Medigap premiums can change over time because of factors such as
healthcare costs, claims experience and insurer-approved rate adjustments.
Historical rate information can be useful when evaluating an insurer,
but past increases do not guarantee what future increases will be.
The goal isn’t necessarily to find a company that will never increase
its rate.
The goal is to determine whether the coverage and premium available
today represent reasonable value for your situation.
Why Is the Phone Number 716?
Mintco Financial works with clients by phone, so you do not need to
live near our office to request help reviewing available insurance options.
If you’re in West Virginia, your ZIP code and the plans available in
your area are what matter when reviewing Medicare Supplement options.
Already Have Medigap? Let’s See If Your Rate Is Still Competitive.
You don’t have to change your current Medicare Supplement just to
find out what other options may be available in West Virginia.
Call Mintco Financial: 716-565-1300
Compare My Medicare Supplement Rate
No obligation to change your current coverage simply to request a comparison.
Medicare Disclosure:
Mintco Financial is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S.
government or the federal Medicare program.
Medicare Supplement insurance, also known as Medigap, is private
insurance designed to supplement Original Medicare. Medicare Supplement
plans are standardized under applicable federal and state law.
Premiums, discounts, rating methods, underwriting requirements and
availability vary by insurance company and applicant.
Benefits in the same standardized Medigap plan letter are generally
the same regardless of the insurance company offering the policy,
but premiums may differ among insurers.
Outside applicable Medigap Open Enrollment or guaranteed-issue
protections, medical underwriting may apply when applying for Medicare
Supplement coverage.
West Virginia’s 2026 Medicare Supplement birthday guaranteed-issue
protection contains specific continuous-coverage, application-window,
carrier and benefit-level requirements. Not every Medicare Supplement
policyholder will qualify to change to any carrier or plan during this period.
Eligibility should be confirmed before terminating existing coverage.
Do not cancel existing Medicare Supplement coverage solely because
you receive a lower quote. Confirm that replacement coverage has been
approved and review the effective date and policy terms before terminating
existing coverage.
Medicare Supplement premiums may change in the future. Historical
premium changes do not guarantee or predict future rate adjustments.
Savings are not guaranteed.
Medicare Supplement insurance is not Medicare Advantage and generally
does not include outpatient prescription drug coverage. Separate Medicare
Part D coverage may be appropriate.
This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not
legal, tax or medical advice. Consumers may also obtain Medicare
information directly from the federal Medicare program or their State
Health Insurance Assistance Program.