Medicare in Connecticut follows federal rules, but the state's Medicare Savings Programs have no asset test and income limits far above the national floor.

This guide covers Medicare in Connecticut for 2026: Parts A and B, Medicare Advantage, Part D, Medigap, the programs that lower the bill, and the free CHOICES counseling service that can help you use all of it.,

In This Guide

About these numbers: Premiums and deductibles come from CMS for calendar year 2026, effective January 1. Medicare costs change every year. For the most current figures, contact Medicare at 1-800-633-4227 or CHOICES at 1-800-994-9422.

Original Medicare: Parts A and B

Original Medicare is run directly by the federal government. The mechanics and costs are the same in Connecticut as in every other state.

Part A (Hospital Insurance)

Part A covers inpatient hospital stays, limited skilled nursing facility care, hospice, and some home health care.

Cost Amount
Monthly premium $0 for most people (40+ quarters of work history)
Hospital deductible $1,736 per benefit period
Hospital coinsurance, days 61-90 $434 per day
Lifetime reserve days $868 per day
SNF coinsurance, days 21-100 $217 per day

The hospital deductible rose $60 from 2025. A benefit period starts when you're admitted and ends 60 days after discharge. Get readmitted after that gap and the deductible applies again.

Part B (Medical Insurance)

Part B covers doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive services, durable medical equipment, and mental health care. It doesn't cover routine dental, vision, or hearing.

  • Monthly premium: $202.90 (higher if your 2024 income was above $109,000 single or $218,000 married, under the income-related adjustment)
  • Annual deductible: $283
  • After the deductible: 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for most services

Delay Part B past your enrollment window without other creditable coverage and you'll owe a permanent late penalty of 10% for every 12 months you could have had it.

Medicare Advantage in Connecticut (Part C)

Medicare Advantage plans are an alternative to Original Medicare, sold by private insurers. They cover everything Parts A and B cover, except hospice, which Original Medicare keeps covering. Most bundle Part D drug coverage and add extras like dental, vision, and hearing.

Plan availability varies significantly across the state. The Hartford metro, New Haven, and the Stamford/Fairfield County corridor generally see the widest selection, reflecting those areas' larger insurer networks. Rural eastern Connecticut has fewer plans available. What's actually offered depends on your county and ZIP code, so check the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov to see what's at your address.

How These Plans Work

A CHOICES counselor can walk through Plan Finder results with you at no cost.

Medicare Part D: Prescription Drugs

Part D covers outpatient prescription drugs. You can get it as a standalone plan alongside Original Medicare, or built into a Medicare Advantage plan.

The Inflation Reduction Act eliminated the coverage gap (the donut hole), so that higher-cost middle stage is gone. Part D now moves through three phases:

  1. Deductible: you pay full price until you meet your plan's deductible (up to $615 in 2026).
  2. Initial coverage: you pay copays or coinsurance while the plan and drug makers split the rest.
  3. Catastrophic: once your out-of-pocket spending reaches $2,100, you pay $0 for covered drugs for the rest of the year.

The average standalone Part D premium for 2026 runs roughly $40 to $50 a month, though actual plan premiums vary widely. Every plan also has to offer the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, which lets you spread your out-of-pocket drug costs into capped monthly payments across the year instead of paying in full at the pharmacy. People who qualify for Extra Help pay much less, sometimes nothing.

Not sure which Part D plan fits your prescriptions? Chat with Brevy's care navigator at brevy.com.

Medigap in Connecticut

Medigap policies are sold by private insurers to fill the gaps in Original Medicare: the deductibles, coinsurance, and copays. They work only with Original Medicare, not with Medicare Advantage.

Connecticut offers the federally standardized plans (letters A through N), regulated by the Connecticut Insurance Department (CID). Plans C and F are closed to anyone who first became Medicare-eligible on or after January 1, 2020. Plan G is the most common choice for people newly eligible: it covers the Part A deductible, Part A and Part B coinsurance, and skilled nursing coinsurance, leaving only the $283 Part B deductible on you.

The federal Medigap Open Enrollment Period is the six months that start when you're 65 and enrolled in Part B, when any insurer must sell you any plan at the standard rate with no health screening. But Connecticut goes well beyond that federal floor.

Connecticut requires Medigap to be sold on a guaranteed-issue basis year-round, with community rating. Under state law, an insurer must sell you a standardized Medigap policy at any time of year without medical underwriting, and your premium can't vary based on your age, gender, or health status, per the Connecticut Insurance Department. You can buy or switch a policy whenever you like, and a new diagnosis can't be used to deny you or raise your rate. A pre-existing condition limitation may apply only if you have no prior creditable coverage or a gap in coverage. For the full picture, see our Connecticut Medigap guide.

Medigap or Medicare Advantage?

You can't hold both. Medigap keeps you on Original Medicare with the freedom to see any provider nationwide who takes Medicare, at a higher monthly premium. Medicare Advantage trades some of that freedom for a network and lower upfront cost. For a side-by-side look, see Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage. For a deeper look at supplement options, see our guide to Medigap.

Help Paying for Medicare in Connecticut

If your income is limited, Connecticut's Medicare Savings Programs can sharply reduce what you owe. Connecticut runs one of the most accessible MSPs in the country.

Connecticut's Medicare Savings Programs: Two Big Advantages

Connecticut administers the Medicare Savings Programs through the Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) with two features that separate it from the federal baseline and most other states.

No asset test. Connecticut does not review assets when deciding MSP eligibility. Under the federal standard, the resource limit is $9,950 for an individual and $14,910 for a couple. In Connecticut, your savings, a car, or a second account don't factor in at all.

Elevated income limits. Connecticut's monthly gross income thresholds, effective March 1, 2026, are substantially above the federal minimums. The table below compares them.

Program CT Individual CT Couple Federal Individual What it pays
QMB Up to $2,807 Up to $3,806 About $1,350 Part A and Part B premiums, deductibles, coinsurance
SLMB Up to $3,073 Up to $4,166 About $1,616 Part B premium
ALMB (= federal QI) Up to $3,272 Up to $4,437 About $1,816 Part B premium

Connecticut labels its version of the federal QI program "ALMB" (Additional Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary). The benefit is the same: it pays the Part B premium.

QMB is the most generous tier. It covers your Part A and Part B premiums plus Medicare deductibles and coinsurance, and federal law prohibits providers from billing a QMB enrollee for Medicare cost-sharing. Enrolling in any of these programs automatically qualifies you for Extra Help with Part D.

To apply, contact CT DSS. CHOICES can help you complete the application.

Extra Help for Part D

Extra Help, also called the Low-Income Subsidy, pays Part D premiums, deductibles, and copays for people with limited income and resources. Since 2024, everyone who qualifies gets the full subsidy.

  • Income limit (2026): up to about $1,995 a month for an individual, $2,705 for a couple
  • Resource limits: $16,590 for an individual, $33,100 for a married couple
  • If you qualify for Connecticut's QMB, SLMB, or ALMB, you're enrolled in Extra Help automatically

Apply through Social Security at ssa.gov or call 1-800-772-1213.

Medicare Enrollment Periods

Miss a deadline and you face coverage gaps or permanent cost penalties. These periods are federal and identical in Connecticut and every other state.

Period Dates What you can do
Initial Enrollment 7 months around your 65th birthday Sign up for Parts A, B, D; choose MA or Medigap
Annual Open Enrollment Oct 15 - Dec 7 Switch MA plans, move between MA and Original Medicare, change Part D
MA Open Enrollment Jan 1 - Mar 31 Switch MA plans or drop MA for Original Medicare (if already in MA)
General Enrollment Jan 1 - Mar 31 Sign up for Part B if you missed your initial window
Medigap Open Enrollment 6 months from age 65 + Part B Buy any Medigap plan at the standard rate, no health screening

Changes made during Annual Open Enrollment take effect January 1 of the following year. If you're already receiving Social Security before 65, you're enrolled in Parts A and B automatically. If not, you sign up through Social Security.

Working past 65 with employer coverage? You can delay Part B without penalty while that coverage is active. You get an 8-month Special Enrollment Period after it ends. COBRA and retiree coverage don't count as current-employer coverage for this purpose.

Free Medicare Help: CHOICES

You don't have to figure this out alone, and you don't have to pay a broker. Connecticut runs CHOICES, which stands for Connecticut Health Insurance Assistance, Outreach, Information and Referral, Counseling, and Eligibility Screening. It's the state's SHIP program, administered by the Connecticut Department of Aging and Disability Services (ADS). Counselors are trained volunteers who give free, unbiased help and don't sell insurance.

A CHOICES counselor can help you:

  • Understand Parts A, B, C, and D and what each one covers
  • Compare Medicare Advantage and Part D plans side by side
  • Screen you for MSP, Extra Help, and Medicaid eligibility and help you apply
  • Sort out billing questions, claims, and appeals

Call the statewide CHOICES helpline at 1-800-994-9422.

Who to Call in Connecticut

CHOICES (Connecticut SHIP) Free, unbiased Medicare counseling, plan comparisons, and screening for Medicare Savings Programs and Extra Help. 1-800-994-9422 portal.ct.gov/ads
Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) Apply for Connecticut's Medicare Savings Programs (QMB, SLMB, ALMB), which have no asset test. portal.ct.gov/dss
Medicare Enroll, compare plans on the Medicare Plan Finder, and get answers on federal coverage and costs. 1-800-633-4227 medicare.gov
Social Security Administration (SSA) Sign up for Medicare and apply for Extra Help with Part D drug costs. 1-800-772-1213 ssa.gov
Your next step Call CHOICES at 1-800-994-9422 for free, unbiased help comparing Connecticut Medicare plans, checking your Medicare Savings Program eligibility, and completing the application. There is no cost and no sales pitch.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Medicare cost in Connecticut in 2026?

Most people pay $0 for Part A. The standard Part B premium is $202.90 a month with a $283 annual deductible. Part D premiums vary by plan (roughly $40 to $50 a month on average), and many Medicare Advantage plans charge no extra premium. Your total depends on the plan you pick and the care you use.

Does Connecticut's Medicare Savings Program have an asset test?

No. Connecticut does not review assets when determining MSP eligibility. The federal standard imposes a resource limit of $9,950 for an individual and $14,910 for a couple. In Connecticut, those limits don't apply. Income is the only test.

What are Connecticut's MSP income limits, and how do they compare to the federal standard?

Connecticut's 2026 income limits, effective March 1, 2026, are far above the federal floor. QMB covers individuals earning up to $2,807 a month, versus roughly $1,350 under the federal baseline. SLMB goes up to $3,073 (versus about $1,616 federally), and ALMB (Connecticut's QI equivalent) reaches $3,272 (versus about $1,816). That means many middle-income Connecticut residents who wouldn't qualify under federal rules can still get help paying their Part B premium through SLMB or ALMB.

Who qualifies for Connecticut's QMB program?

An individual with monthly gross income at or below $2,807 qualifies for QMB in 2026 (couples up to $3,806), with no asset test. QMB pays your Part A and Part B premiums plus all Medicare deductibles and coinsurance. Federal law bars providers from billing you for that cost-sharing. Apply through CT DSS.

What is CHOICES in Connecticut?

CHOICES (Connecticut Health Insurance Assistance, Outreach, Information and Referral, Counseling, and Eligibility Screening) is Connecticut's free Medicare counseling service, administered by the Department of Aging and Disability Services. Counselors help with plan comparisons, MSP and Extra Help applications, and billing issues. Call 1-800-994-9422.

Can I get a Medigap plan at any time in Connecticut?

Yes. Connecticut requires Medigap to be sold on a guaranteed-issue basis year-round, so you can buy or switch a standardized policy at any time without medical underwriting, and community rating means your age, gender, and health can't change your premium. The federal Medigap Open Enrollment Period (the six months starting when you're both 65 and enrolled in Part B) still applies nationwide, but in Connecticut you keep guaranteed-issue protection for life. A pre-existing condition limitation may apply only if you have no prior creditable coverage or a gap in coverage.

Learn More

MedicareMedicare Plans by State: What Varies and What Doesn'tOriginal Medicare is the same in all 50 states. Medicare Advantage, Part D, and Medigap rules are not. See what changes by state, then open your state guide. MedicareConnecticut Medicare Supplement (Medigap): year-round guaranteed issueConnecticut Medicare Supplement (Medigap) guide: year-round guaranteed issue, community rating, Plan G vs N, closed C and F plans, and who regulates. MedicareMedicare: The National GuideWhat is Medicare? A plain guide to Parts A, B, C, and D, who qualifies, 2026 costs, when to enroll, and what it doesn't cover, with help-paying options. MedicareOriginal Medicare vs. Medicare AdvantageCompare original Medicare vs Medicare Advantage on cost, networks, the $9,250 cap, and switching back. A neutral 2026 side-by-side to help you choose. MedicareHow Medigap WorksMedigap (Medicare Supplement) explained: how the standardized A-N plans work, Plan G vs Plan N, closed C and F plans, and the 6-month guaranteed-issue window. MedicareMedicare Part D Drug CoverageMedicare Part D in 2026: a $2,100 out-of-pocket cap, no donut hole, three benefit phases, the $615 deductible, premiums, the late penalty, and Extra Help. MedicareMedicare Enrollment PeriodsWhen to sign up for Medicare without a lifelong penalty: the 7-month Initial Enrollment Period, working past 65, the GEP, and what each late penalty costs.

Find personalized help comparing your Medicare plan options in Connecticut at brevy.com.

The information on Brevy.com is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal, financial, or medical advice. Rules vary by state and program and change frequently. Always verify with the relevant agency or a qualified professional. Brevy is not a law firm, financial advisor, or healthcare provider.

BC

Brevy Care Team

Expert eldercare guidance from Brevy's team of healthcare professionals and researchers.