What Are the Best Medicare Supplement Plans in North Carolina?

Mutual of Omaha offers the best Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans in North Carolina because of its competitive rates and high levels of customer satisfaction.

In particular, Mutual of Omaha stands out for its cheap Plan F and Plan G policies, the two most popular Medigap plans. Its Plan G policy comes in at 18% below the $134 North Carolina average. If you're in the market for Plan N, you should consider Aetna, which provides the cheapest Plan N coverage in the state.

When selecting the best Medicare Supplement plan in North Carolina, you should consider both cost and customer service.

What's the best Medicare Supplement company in North Carolina?

Mutual of Omaha Plan G policies are cheaper than the statewide average of $134 per month. The company also has a strong reputation for customer satisfaction. That means you'll likely experience fewer difficulties with claim payouts.

Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) of North Carolina also stands out for its low rates, and it's the most popular Medigap provider in the state.

In recent years, BCBS has received a high number of complaints compared to similar-sized companies. If that is a concern, you should look at companies with better reputations for customer service like Mutual of Omaha or AARP/UnitedHealthcare.

When shopping for a Medicare Supplement plan, remember companies offer multiple plan types, where different letters mean different benefit levels. The insurance company with the cheapest Plan N might not be the best company for Plan G.

Medicare Supplement plans with the same letter are required by law to include the same coverage. In other words, all Plan As cover the exact same services regardless of the company you purchase the plan through. That means you should look at customer satisfaction rates and price as the main differentiating factors between Medigap plans from different health insurance companies.

It's also important to remember that almost all Medicare Supplement plans let you see any doctor that accepts Medicare. You won't have to worry about in-network and out-of-network situations.

Best for low rates: Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina

Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) of North Carolina is one of the most affordable options on the market, with an average Plan G price of just $96 a month.

In addition to its low rates, a BCBS policy has a wide array of benefits. Blue Cross Blue Shield members receive discounts at more than 40,000 vendors through the Blue365 program. That includes gym memberships and dental, vision and hearing exams.

Blue Cross Blue Shield lets you switch Medigap plans without the need for a health exam through its Blue to Blue benefit. This lets you avoid expensive rates or outright denial if you want to change your plan.

Cheapest Plan N: Aetna

Aetna offers the cheapest Plan N Medigap policy in North Carolina, at just $76 per month, on average. You can save $31 per month on your health insurance premiums compared to the state average.

Aetna receives a large number of complaints compared to its peers. However, you should consider buying a Plan N policy through Aetna if you're willing to have worse service for lower prices.

If customer satisfaction ranks high on your list of must-haves, Mutual of Omaha is a good option for your Medigap Plan N policy. It costs $10 a month more on average but has a considerably better customer service reputation.

How much does a Medigap plan cost in North Carolina?

The average cost of a North Carolina Plan G monthly premium is $134, and the average cost of a Plan F policy is $169. These rates are for a 65-year-old woman who doesn't smoke. In North Carolina, your monthly rates will go up as you get older.

In North Carolina, Plan F and Plan G make up 87% of all Medigap policies sold. They are popular because they offer the most coverage. The two plans are identical except Plan F is only available to people who became eligible for Medicare before 2020 and Plan G does not cover your Medicare Part B deductible.

Otherwise, both plans include coinsurance for Medicare Part A and Part B, the Medicare Part A deductible, hospital costs, Medicare Part B excess charges, blood transfusions (up to three pints) and some coverage for when you're in a skilled nursing facility.

North Carolina's Seniors' Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP)

SHIIP is a free resource that helps senior citizens understand how Medicare works. You can talk to a SHIIP counselor over the phone or by email.

SHIIP counselors are not insurance agents. You cannot buy a Medicare Supplement policy through SHIIP. Instead, SHIIP provides information and expert advice about Original Medicare, Medigap, Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage.

Frequently asked questions

Sources and methodology

Rates were compiled using comprehensive actuarial data from all Medigap plan providers in the state of North Carolina. Companies with a market share of less than 1.5% were excluded from our analysis. America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) supplied enrollment data for Medicare Supplement plans. Recommendations are based on average cost, customer complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), consumer reviews and financial strength ratings.

AM Best grades rate a company's financial stability. NAIC complaint information compares how many complaints a company receives to its market share.

Customer satisfaction scores are out of 5 points and based on NAIC information. A score of 1 indicates the company has over three times as many complaints as a similar-sized insurer, while a score of 5 means the company receives less than a quarter of the complaints of an average company when adjusted for size.