Medicare in Kentucky: compare your plan options with a licensed agent
Whether you live in Louisville, Lexington, Bowling Green or a small town in between, a licensed agent can explain the Medicare plans we offer in your Kentucky ZIP code in plain English. There's no cost for our help.
When you call, you'll speak with a licensed insurance sales agent. Amerance Health is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.
Your guide to Medicare in Kentucky
Medicare is a federal program, so Parts A and B work the same way in Kentucky as in every other state. What changes from state to state is which private plans you can choose from, the state rules that apply to Medicare Supplement insurance, and the local programs that can help you pay for coverage. This page covers what's specific to Kentucky.
Your Medicare options in Kentucky
People with Medicare in Kentucky choose between two main paths:
Original Medicare, with a Medicare Supplement and Part D
Original Medicare (Part A for hospital care and Part B for medical care) lets you see any doctor or hospital in the U.S. that accepts Medicare. That's useful if you see specialists across Kentucky or spend part of the year out of state. Because Original Medicare has no yearly out-of-pocket limit, many people add a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy to cover deductibles and coinsurance, plus a stand-alone Part D plan for prescriptions.
Medicare Advantage (Part C)
Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private insurance companies approved by Medicare. They bundle hospital, medical and usually drug coverage into one plan, often with dental, vision and hearing benefits and a yearly out-of-pocket maximum. Plans are approved county by county, so what's available in Louisville may differ from what's available in Lexington or rural Kentucky. Most use provider networks (HMO or PPO), so it's important to confirm your doctors and hospitals before you enroll.
Not sure which path fits you? Read our Medicare Advantage vs. Medicare Supplement comparison.
Kentucky Medicare Supplement (Medigap) rules
Kentucky added two Medigap protections in 2024: a birthday rule and guaranteed access for people under 65.
- Birthday rule (since January 1, 2024): once a year, within 60 days of your birthday, you can switch to the same plan letter at a different insurance company without health questions. For example, you could move from one company's Plan G to another company's Plan G if it costs less. Switching to a different letter isn't covered.
- Under 65 (since January 1, 2024): insurers must offer every Medigap plan they sell in Kentucky to people under 65 who have Medicare because of a disability or End-Stage Renal Disease, during the 6 months starting with Part B. Premiums can't exceed the insurer's average rate for its 65-and-older customers.
Everywhere in the U.S., your strongest protection is your Medigap Open Enrollment Period: the 6 months starting when you're 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. During that window, insurers in Kentucky must sell you any Medigap plan they offer, at the same price as someone in good health. Plan G and Plan N are common choices for people new to Medicare. Compare what each Medigap plan covers.
Talk with a licensed agent in Kentucky
We'll compare the plans we offer in your ZIP code against your doctors, prescriptions and budget.
Call (954) 668-4095 Request a callbackTurning 65 in Kentucky
Your Initial Enrollment Period is the 7 months around your 65th birthday: the 3 months before your birthday month, the month itself and the 3 months after. Sign up in the 3 months before your birthday month so your coverage starts on the first day of the month you turn 65. If you already receive Social Security, you'll be enrolled in Parts A and B automatically. Otherwise, apply through Social Security online, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or at a local Social Security office in Kentucky.
If you're still working, you may be able to delay Part B without a penalty. Our Turning 65 Medicare guide walks through every deadline, or you can take our 2-minute quiz to get a personal game plan.
Help paying for Medicare in Kentucky
- Medicaid (Kentucky Medicaid): Kentucky residents with limited income and resources may qualify for Medicaid in addition to Medicare. Learn more from Kentucky Medicaid.
- Medicare Savings Programs: run through Kentucky's Medicaid agency, these can pay your Part B premium ($202.90 a month in 2026), and in some cases your deductibles and coinsurance.
- Extra Help: a federal program that lowers Part D premiums, deductibles and copays. Apply through Social Security.
- Dual Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs): Medicare Advantage plans for people with both Medicare and Medicaid, which coordinate both sets of benefits.
Free, unbiased Medicare counseling in Kentucky
Kentucky SHIP is Kentucky's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). Trained counselors give free, unbiased help with Medicare questions and don't sell insurance. Call 1-877-293-7447 or visit their website.
Insurance in Kentucky is regulated by the Kentucky Department of Insurance, which licenses agents and handles consumer complaints.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. For information on all of your options, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or Kentucky SHIP.
2026 Medicare costs in Kentucky
Original Medicare costs are set nationally by CMS and are the same in Kentucky as everywhere else. Medicare Advantage, Medigap and Part D premiums vary by plan and location.
| Cost | 2026 amount |
|---|---|
| Part B standard monthly premium | $202.90 |
| Part B yearly deductible | $283 |
| Part A hospital deductible | $1,736 per benefit period |
| Part A premium | $0 for most people with 40 quarters of work |
| Part D out-of-pocket cap | $2,100 |
| Medicare Advantage in-network out-of-pocket limit | Up to $9,250 (many plans are lower) |
Key Medicare dates for Kentucky residents
- Annual Enrollment Period: October 15 – December 7, 2026, for coverage starting January 1, 2027.
- Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: January 1 – March 31, 2027, if you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan.
- General Enrollment Period: January 1 – March 31 each year, if you missed signing up for Part A or Part B.
- Moving within or out of Kentucky: if you move out of your plan's service area, you get a Special Enrollment Period to choose a new plan.
Kentucky Medicare FAQs
Does Kentucky have a Medigap birthday rule?
Yes. Since January 1, 2024, Kentucky Medigap policyholders can switch to the same plan letter at a different insurer once a year, within 60 days of their birthday, without health questions.
Can I get a Medicare Supplement plan under 65 in Kentucky?
Yes. Since January 1, 2024, Kentucky insurers must offer every Medigap plan they sell to people under 65 who have Medicare due to a disability or End-Stage Renal Disease, during the 6 months starting with Part B. Premiums are capped at the insurer's average rate for people 65 and older.
Where can I get free Medicare counseling in Kentucky?
Kentucky SHIP is Kentucky's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). It offers free, unbiased Medicare counseling at 1-877-293-7447. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE or visit Medicare.gov for information on all plans.
Can I get help paying for Medicare in Kentucky?
Yes, if your income and savings are limited. Kentucky's Medicaid program (Kentucky Medicaid) runs the Medicare Savings Programs, which can pay your Part B premium, and Social Security runs Extra Help, which lowers prescription drug costs. People with both Medicare and Medicaid may also qualify for a Dual Special Needs Plan.
Are Medicare Advantage plans the same everywhere in Kentucky?
No. Medicare Advantage plans are approved county by county, so the plans, premiums, networks and extra benefits available in Louisville can differ from those in other parts of Kentucky. A licensed agent can show you the plans we offer for your ZIP code.
When can I sign up for Medicare in Kentucky?
Enrollment dates are the same in every state. Most people first sign up during their 7-month Initial Enrollment Period around their 65th birthday. If you already have Medicare, you can change Medicare Advantage and Part D plans during the Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 to December 7, with coverage starting January 1.
Medicare help in nearby states
We also help people with Medicare in Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. See all the states we serve.