Medicare in Massachusetts
Medicare Supplement Plans in Massachusetts: Core, Supplement 1, and 1A (2026)
The Medicare supplement plans Massachusetts residents can buy work differently from the rest of the country. Instead of lettered Plans A through N, Massachusetts offers three designs: Core, Supplement 1, and Supplement 1A, and Supplement 1 is limited to people eligible for Medicare before 2020.
- Massachusetts uses Core, Supplement 1, and Supplement 1A instead of Plans A to N.
- Supplement 1A covers the Part A deductible but not the Part B deductible.
- Supplement 1 is only for people Medicare-eligible before January 1, 2020.
- Premiums vary by company; compare several carriers.
Table of Contents
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.
How Are Medicare Supplement Plans in Massachusetts Different?
Massachusetts does not sell the lettered Medigap plans (A through N) used in most states. Medicare supplement plans in Massachusetts come in three standardized designs: Core, Supplement 1, and Supplement 1A. Every company that sells Medigap in Massachusetts must offer the Core plan. Here is how the Medicare supplement plans Massachusetts residents can buy compare.
How Do Core, Supplement 1, and Supplement 1A Compare?
| Benefit | Core | Supplement 1 | Supplement 1A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic benefits (Part A hospital coinsurance plus 365 extra days, Part B coinsurance, first 3 pints of blood, hospice coinsurance) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Part A deductible ($1,736 in 2026) | No | Yes | Yes |
| Part B deductible ($283 in 2026) | No | Yes | No |
| Skilled nursing coinsurance (days 21 to 100) | No | Yes | Yes |
| Foreign travel emergency | Not standard (some carriers add it) | Yes | Yes |
| Inpatient mental health | 60 days per calendar year | 120 days per benefit period | 120 days per benefit period |
Source: Harvard Pilgrim 2026 Massachusetts Outline of Coverage; Medicare.gov, Medigap in Massachusetts.
Who Can Buy Supplement 1 vs. Supplement 1A?
Supplement 1 covers the Part B deductible, so federal rules limit it to people who became eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020. If you became eligible on or after that date, you can buy Core or Supplement 1A, but not Supplement 1.
| If you became Medicare-eligible… | You can buy |
|---|---|
| Before January 1, 2020 | Core, Supplement 1, or Supplement 1A |
| On or after January 1, 2020 | Core or Supplement 1A |
What Do Massachusetts Medigap Plans Cost?
Premiums vary by company. As one published example, Harvard Pilgrim’s 2026 monthly premiums are $177.10 for Core, $315.15 for Supplement 1, and $254.10 for Supplement 1A. Other carriers price differently, so compare several before you enroll.
| Plan | Example 2026 monthly premium (Harvard Pilgrim only) |
|---|---|
| Core | $177.10 |
| Supplement 1 | $315.15 |
| Supplement 1A | $254.10 |
Should You Choose Medigap or Medicare Advantage in Massachusetts?
A Massachusetts Medigap plan works with Original Medicare and lets you see any provider that accepts Medicare, which matters if you travel or use specialists in Boston teaching hospitals. Medicare Advantage plans often have lower premiums but use networks and copays. Medigap does not include drug coverage, so most people add a Part D plan.
When can you buy Medicare supplement plans in Massachusetts?
In most states, your best chance to buy a Medigap policy is a one-time, 6-month window that starts the first day of the month you are 65 or older and signed up for Part B. After that, federal law gives you few rights.
Massachusetts adds more chances. The state rule for Medigap is 211 CMR 71.00, which sets uniform standards for the contents, disclosures and marketing of these policies. Under 211 CMR 71.10, you have these windows:
- Your first 6 months with Part B, starting the first month you are both 65 or older and enrolled in Part B.
- Your first 6 months of eligibility, a similar window that starts the month you first become eligible.
- A yearly open enrollment from February 1 through March 31, with coverage starting June 1 (or when your Medicare starts, if sooner).
- Continuous open enrollment. Insurers may choose to accept applications all year, and must file this choice with the state.
In practice, continuous enrollment is common. The 2026 Massachusetts Consumer Guide to Medicare says you can enroll, change or drop a plan in any month with such insurers, with coverage starting the 1st of the next month.
Can an insurer turn you down for health reasons?
During these Massachusetts enrollment windows, generally no. 211 CMR 71.10 says an insurer may not deny you or set conditions based on age or health status, claims experience or past health care, medical conditions, or genetic information. Insurers also can’t require a genetic test to issue or renew a policy.
The same section says a Massachusetts Medigap policy may not have a waiting period or limit or exclude a pre-existing condition. That’s a big difference from federal rules: Medicare.gov warns that elsewhere, if you switch, you may have to wait up to 6 months before a pre-existing condition is covered.
One limit still applies: Supplement 1 is only for people eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020. Everyone else can choose Core or Supplement 1A. For how health questions work in other states, see our guide to Medicare Supplement underwriting.
2026 Medicare supplement plans in Massachusetts: premiums by company
The state publishes a premium list every year. The table below comes from the 2026 Massachusetts Consumer Guide to Medicare (updated November 2025). Figures are monthly. These are published sample rates, not a quote, and not a recommendation of any company.
| Company (as listed by the state) | Core | Supplement 1* | Supplement 1A | Rate effective |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross & Blue Shield of MA (Medex) | $142.64 | $288.55 | $233.24 | 01/01/2026 |
| Fallon Health & Life Assurance Company | $195.50 | $327.25 | $240.35 | 01/01/2026 |
| HNE Insurance Company | $173.00 | $300.00 | $254.00 | 01/01/2026 |
| HPHC Insurance Company | $177.10 | $315.15 | $254.10 | 01/01/2026 |
| Transamerica (group plans for AMA or AICPA members only) | $157.07 | $271.68 | $243.43 | 12/01/2025 |
| Tufts Insurance Company | $167.75 | $296.45 | $253.55 | 01/01/2026 |
| UnitedHealthcare (AARP members only) | $176.75 | $317.50 | $247.25 | 06/01/2025 |
*Supplement 1 is only for people eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020. Per the same guide, Humana stopped selling its Medigap products to new customers on April 1, 2026 (current members may stay); some companies sell optional riders, such as a Blue Cross preventive care rider ($2.88) and a Tufts dental rider ($38.00 a month); and some rates may change during 2026, so confirm the current price with the company.
Why does everyone in Massachusetts pay the same Medigap premium?
In most states, each insurance company decides how it will set the price, so your premium can depend on your age. Massachusetts is different. The state’s 2026 consumer guide says Medigap plans here are community rated: the same monthly premium is charged to everyone with that policy, regardless of age or medical history.
- A 66-year-old and an 86-year-old with the same plan from the same company pay the same premium.
- Your health history doesn’t raise your price.
- Premiums can still go up over time for everyone in the plan, but Massachusetts Medigap rates must stay in effect for at least 12 months.
Because the price is the same for everyone, comparing Medicare supplement plans in Massachusetts is simpler: you’re mainly comparing companies offering the same plan type, plus any riders.
Can you get Medicare supplement plans in Massachusetts if you are under 65?
Yes. Federal law doesn’t make insurers sell Medigap to people under 65; it depends on your state. Massachusetts covers this group: under 211 CMR 71.10, the open enrollment and guarantee protections also apply to people who get Medicare because of a disability or end-stage renal disease (ESRD). If you get Social Security disability benefits, you get Medicare automatically after 24 months; with ALS, Medicare starts as soon as disability benefits begin. Because of community rating, a person under 65 isn’t charged a higher age-based premium for the same plan.
How do you switch or drop a Massachusetts Medigap plan?
- Apply for the new plan first. Get approval and a start date before you cancel anything.
- Call your current plan to cancel. The state guide says you need to call the plan to disenroll; it doesn’t happen on its own.
- Line up the dates. New coverage usually starts the 1st of the next month. Cancel the old plan for the same date.
- Check plan limits. The guide says moving from Supplement 1 to Supplement 1A may be subject to restrictions.
If you’re considering Medicare Advantage instead, you can’t use Medigap to pay Medicare Advantage costs, and most Medigap policies don’t cancel on their own when you join. A Medigap policy covers only one person, so spouses each need their own.
Should you wait on Medigap if you still have job coverage?
If you have health coverage through your job or a spouse’s job, you may not need Part B or Medigap yet; employer coverage often gives coverage similar to Medigap. The 2026 Massachusetts Consumer Guide points out several traps:
- Check with your benefits manager. The size of your employer’s plan may decide whether Medicare must pay first.
- Keep proof. To avoid the Part B penalty later, you’ll need an employment letter for Social Security.
- COBRA doesn’t count for avoiding the Part B penalty.
- Watch your HSA. You can’t contribute once Part A starts, and premium-free Part A starts up to 6 months back when you sign up after 65. The guide suggests stopping contributions six months before you retire.
When your job coverage ends, your Special Enrollment Period for Part B ends 8 months later. Once Part B starts, you can add a Massachusetts Medigap plan.
What could a full monthly budget look like?
A hypothetical example using published 2026 figures: you’re new to Medicare and choose Original Medicare plus a Massachusetts plan, paying the standard Part B premium of $202.90 a month.
| Cost item (monthly) | With Core | With Supplement 1A |
|---|---|---|
| Part B standard premium | $202.90 | $202.90 |
| Medigap premium (range in the state list above) | $142.64 to $195.50 | $233.24 to $254.10 |
| Subtotal before drug coverage | $345.54 to $398.40 | $436.14 to $457.00 |
Then add a Part D drug plan; the 2026 state guide lists stand-alone Part D premiums in Massachusetts from $8.40 to $238.60 a month. The lower Core premium comes with more cost when you use care: Core doesn’t pay the 2026 Part A deductible of $1,736 or skilled nursing coinsurance of $217 a day for days 21 to 100, while Supplement 1A pays both. Neither pays the $283 Part B deductible. Skipping drug coverage can cost you later: the Part D penalty is an extra 1% for each month without creditable coverage.
Where can you get free Medicare help in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts runs a free counseling program called SHINE, which gives free health insurance information, counseling and assistance to residents eligible for Medicare and their caregivers. The 2026 state guide lists: SHINE 1-800-243-4636; Medicare 1-800-633-4227; Social Security 1-800-772-1213; MassHealth 1-800-841-2900; Prescription Advantage 1-800-243-4636. SHINE counselors can also check whether you qualify for programs that lower Medicare costs.
Watch for scams. The state has posted an advisory about Medicare marketing scams. Never give your Medicare number, Social Security number or bank details to someone who calls, texts or knocks on your door without being asked. Medicare will not call you to sell a plan. If you are unsure, hang up and call SHINE or 1-800-MEDICARE yourself, using a number you look up on your own.
A licensed independent agent can also walk you through Medicare supplement plans in Massachusetts. See how we get paid, or browse our Medicare guides.
Questions to ask before choosing Medicare supplement plans in Massachusetts
Because every Massachusetts Medigap plan of the same type has the same benefits, and community rating means age and health don’t change the price, your questions are mostly about cost, extras and service:
- Which plan type fits? Core costs less each month, while Supplement 1A pays the Part A deductible and skilled nursing coinsurance. Compare the premium difference with the costs you’d face after a hospital stay.
- Does the company offer continuous open enrollment? If it does, you can apply in any month; if not, you may need to wait for the February–March window.
- When did the rate last change? The state list shows each company’s rate effective date. A recent increase may mean the price will hold for a while; an old date may mean an increase is coming.
- Are there optional riders? Ask what a dental or preventive care rider adds and what it costs.
- How do I get drug coverage? Massachusetts Medigap plans don’t include Part D, so compare stand-alone drug plans, and ask SHINE whether Prescription Advantage can help.
- What service will I get? Ask how claims are handled and whether local customer service is available.
Write down the answers for two or three companies before you decide, and keep the notes with your Medicare papers. A licensed agent or a SHINE counselor can help you compare Medicare supplement plans in Massachusetts side by side.
Massachusetts Medigap FAQ
Does Massachusetts have Medigap Plan G?
No. Massachusetts does not sell lettered Medigap plans. Supplement 1A is the closest design for people newly eligible today.
What is the difference between Supplement 1 and 1A?
Supplement 1 covers the Part B deductible; Supplement 1A does not. Supplement 1 is only available to people eligible for Medicare before 2020.
Do Massachusetts Medigap plans include drug coverage?
No. You add a separate Medicare Part D plan for prescriptions.
Related Coverage and Guides
- Medicare guides
- What are Medicare supplements?
- Life insurance in Massachusetts
- Medicare Advantage plans in Massachusetts for 2027
- What to do if your Medicare Advantage plan is not renewing
Sources: Medicare.gov: Medigap in Massachusetts; Harvard Pilgrim 2026 MA Outline of Coverage.
Important: Octans Insurance agents are licensed in the states in which they operate. Coverage availability and rates may vary by state. Premium examples, when provided, are illustrative samples from published sources, not quotes. Final rates are determined by the insurance carrier based on underwriting and applicable policy criteria. Policy terms, exclusions, limitations, riders, and availability vary by carrier and state.
Questions About Medigap in Massachusetts?
Start with a free, no-obligation quote review with a licensed Octans agent.
(617) 935-9220 | life@octansinsurance.com