---
title: "Medicare Rates By State: Compare Costs & Plans"
canonical: "https://www.simplyinsurance.com/medicare-rates-by-state/"
description: "Medicare costs vary by state. Part B is federal, but Advantage and Medigap prices differ. See what drives Medicare rates by state and how to compare."
silo: "medicare"
published: "2026-06-08"
updated: "2026-06-08"
author: "sa-el"
source: "Simply Insurance"
---
How much you pay for Medicare depends partly on where you live. Some of Medicare is the same in all 50 states, and some of it swings widely from state to state. Here's what's fixed, what varies, and how to find the best **Medicare rates by state** for your situation.

## What's the Same Everywhere

These costs are set federally and don't change by state:

- **Part A** premium: $0 for most people (based on your work history, not your state).
- **Part B** premium: about $185/month in 2026 nationwide (higher only for high earners, based on income — not location).
- **Part A and Part B deductibles**: identical in every state.

## What Varies by State

Two big pieces of your Medicare cost are priced locally:

### 1. Medicare Advantage (Part C)

Medicare Advantage plans are sold county-by-county, so both the **plans available** and their **premiums and extra benefits** depend on where you live. Dense, competitive metro areas often have many $0-premium Advantage plans with generous dental and vision extras; rural areas may have far fewer options. Your provider network is local, too.

### 2. Medigap (Medicare Supplement)

Although Medigap coverage is standardized by letter nationwide, the **price** of the exact same Plan G or Plan N can differ substantially between states — and even between ZIP codes — based on local claims costs, competition, and each state's rating rules. A Plan G that costs one amount in a low-cost state can cost noticeably more in a high-cost one.

## What Drives the Differences

Local healthcare costs, carrier competition, state rating rules, and plan availability all shape what you pay. Your state's mix of these factors explains why rates vary so much across the country.

- **Local healthcare costs.** Higher provider and hospital costs push Advantage and Medigap prices up.
- **Competition.** More carriers in a market generally means lower prices and more $0-premium Advantage options.
- **State rating rules.** A few states require "community rating" (everyone pays the same Medigap price regardless of age), which changes how rates look compared to states that price by age.
- **Plan availability.** The mix of Advantage vs. Medigap shoppers, and which carriers operate locally, varies widely.

## How to Compare Medicare Rates in Your State

Start by choosing between Original Medicare with Medigap and Part D, or Medicare Advantage, then compare plans by ZIP code since rates and options vary locally.

1. **Decide your path first** — Original Medicare + Medigap + Part D, or an all-in-one Medicare Advantage plan. That determines which prices matter.
2. **Compare by ZIP code, not just state.** Advantage and Medigap pricing is hyper-local; two ZIP codes in the same state can have different options and rates.
3. **Match plans to your doctors and drugs.** The cheapest premium isn't the cheapest plan if your physicians are out of network or your medications aren't on the formulary.
4. **Shop Medigap on price.** Because the coverage is standardized, pick the lowest-cost financially strong carrier for your chosen plan letter.

Ready to see your options? [Compare Medicare plans and quotes](https://www.simplyinsurance.com/compare-medicare-quotes-online/) for your state and ZIP code to find the coverage that fits your budget and your doctors.

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Does Medicare cost more in some states?**

Original Medicare's Part A and Part B costs are the same nationwide. But Medicare Advantage premiums and Medigap (Supplement) prices vary by state and even ZIP code based on local healthcare costs, competition, and rating rules.

**Why is my Medigap plan more expensive than the same plan elsewhere?**

Medigap coverage is standardized, but pricing is local. The identical Plan G can cost more in a high-healthcare-cost or less competitive market, and a few states use different rating rules that change how premiums are set.

**Is Medicare Advantage available in every state?**

Medicare Advantage is offered county-by-county, so availability and the number of $0-premium options depend on where you live. Metro areas typically have many plans; some rural counties have only a few.