Charlotte, NC
Mecklenburg County
Dense urban market with the widest carrier network access in the state — expect the largest slate of Medicare Advantage plans and the most competitive Medigap rating.
◊ North Carolina · NC
Learn more about your Medicare plan options in North Carolina.
In North Carolina we represent both Medicare Supplement and Medicare Advantage plans from a wide variety of insurance carriers. We price off North Carolina carrier filings and ZIP-level plan availability rather than national averages — and there is never a charge for the consultation.
North Carolina Medicare at a glance
- 2,150,000
- Medicare beneficiaries statewide (approx.)
- 52%
- Enrolled in Medicare Advantage — about 1,118,000 people
- 20.1%
- Of the North Carolina population is on Medicare
Approximate statewide estimates based on publicly reported CMS Medicare enrollment data.
◊ Medigap in NC
North Carolina Medicare Supplement plans.
Roughly 48% of North Carolina beneficiaries stay on Original Medicare, and most of them pair it with a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy. While well-known carriers such as Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina have Medigap options here, several other A-rated carriers offer competitive prices. Because Medigap benefits are standardized by plan letter, identical coverage from a lesser-known carrier can save hundreds of dollars a year — and when you are living on a fixed income, every dollar counts.
Keep in mind that every health insurance company is subject to annual rate increases. Your North Carolina Medigap plan will see premium adjustments over time, which is why we review your policy each year at renewal and re-shop the market for you at no cost.
Medigap plans available in North Carolina
North Carolina offers all of the standardized Medigap plans available in nearly every other state: Plan A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N, plus high-deductible options. If you became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020, Plans C and F are not available to you — but do not worry about missing Plan F. Plan G is usually the more cost-effective option anyway, and Plan N is worth a look if you are comfortable with small copays at the doctor's office.
| Plan | Part A deductible | Part B deductible | Part B excess | Best fit in NC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plan G | Covered | You pay | Covered | Most popular — full coverage after one deductible |
| High-Deductible G | After deductible | You pay | After deductible | Lowest premium, highest out-of-pocket ceiling |
| Plan N | Covered | You pay | Not covered | Lower premium with small office/ER copays |
| Plan F | Covered | Covered | Covered | Only if Medicare-eligible before 2020 |
| Plan K / L | Partial | You pay | Not covered | Cost-sharing plans with an annual out-of-pocket limit |
◊ Medicare Advantage in NC
North Carolina Medicare Advantage plans.
For North Carolina residents interested in Medicare Advantage, there are many plan options. HMO plans generally carry the lowest premiums — many at $0 per month — but there are reasonably priced PPO options as well for people who want out-of-network flexibility. More than 1,118,000 Medicare beneficiaries are enrolled in Advantage plans across the state, about 52% of everyone on Medicare in North Carolina.
Most North Carolina Medicare Advantage plans include prescription drug coverage. For people choosing Medigap instead, standalone Part D drug plans are available statewide. The right answer is rarely about premium — it is about whether your doctors, hospitals, and prescriptions are inside the plan's North Carolina network and formulary.
Carriers writing Medicare business in North Carolina
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina
- Humana
- UnitedHealthcare
- Aetna
Carrier availability varies by county and ZIP code. We do not offer every plan available in your area.
◊ North Carolina ZIP coverage
5 markets. Each a different plan menu.
Medicare Advantage networks and Part D formularies are built county by county, and Medigap rates are set by ZIP code. A retiree in 28202 Charlotte is shopping a genuinely different list than a retiree in 27601 Raleigh. Here is how the North Carolina market breaks down.
Raleigh, NC
Wake County
State capital and government-retiree hub, where employer and TRS retiree coverage often coordinates with Medicare Parts A and B.
Greensboro, NC
Guilford County
Legacy manufacturing market with a large share of union and retiree group plans that need to be compared against individual Medicare options.
Asheville, NC
Buncombe County
Retirement-heavy ZIP with one of the highest Medicare-eligible concentrations in the state and a correspondingly deep plan menu.
Wilmington, NC
New Hanover County
Coastal community with a high share of relocated retirees — network adequacy and out-of-area travel benefits matter more than premium alone here.
◊ North Carolina Medicare FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
Do I need a Part D plan in North Carolina?
If you pair Original Medicare with a North Carolina Medicare Supplement plan, yes — Medigap does not include prescription coverage, so you add a standalone Part D plan. Most North Carolina Medicare Advantage plans already bundle Part D, so a separate plan is usually unnecessary and can actually disenroll you from your Advantage plan.
Which Medigap plans are available in North Carolina?
North Carolina offers the full set of standardized Medigap plans — A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N, plus high-deductible F and G. Plans C and F are only available to people who became eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020. For everyone newly eligible, Plan G and Plan N are the two most commonly purchased options.
How much do Medicare Supplement plans cost in North Carolina?
Medigap premiums in North Carolina vary by carrier, age, gender, tobacco use, and ZIP code — two people in different parts of the state can pay meaningfully different rates for identical coverage. Because Medigap benefits are standardized by letter, the smartest move is to compare every A-rated carrier writing in your ZIP rather than defaulting to the best-known brand.
When can I enroll in a Medigap plan in North Carolina without health questions?
Your one-time, six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period begins the month you are 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare Part B. During that window, North Carolina carriers cannot decline you or rate you up for health history. Outside it, you generally have to answer medical underwriting questions unless a guaranteed-issue right applies.
Can I switch from Medicare Advantage to Medigap in North Carolina?
You can drop a Medicare Advantage plan during the Annual Election Period (October 15 – December 7) or the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 – March 31), then apply for a Medigap plan. Keep in mind you may be subject to underwriting in North Carolina if you are outside your Medigap Open Enrollment window.
Need help exploring North Carolina Medicare plan options?
Meet one-on-one with a licensed advisor to compare North Carolina Medicare Supplement, Medicare Advantage, and Part D plans side by side. Meet by phone or in person. There is no charge for this service.
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North Carolina Medicare plan information reviewed for 2026. Enrollment and penetration figures are approximate statewide estimates from publicly reported CMS Medicare enrollment data.