Attained-age.   This means the medicare supplement rate increases as you get older.  This may be each year or every 5 years (at age 70, 75, 80, etc.) for example.  Often medicare supplement rate increases are very modest, like just $4 per year as you get older.   Another component to rate increases is inflation.  Companies sometimes adjust rates to address the rising cost of health insurance as well as inflation in the marketplace.

Medicare supplements are also sold as issue-age policies.   This means the premiums will not increase due to age.  Obviously, as the group ages any necessary adjustments in premium are accomplished by an inflation adjustment.  Seniors should listen carefully to what they are being told by agents.  When the agent says the rate will never increase due to age, does the agent also address inflation as a potential factor?  Many seniors are left with the impression that on an issue age policy their rates will never increase.  This is not accurate.