Medicare Supplement Plan G is a Medigap policy built to absorb most of that cost-sharing. It isn't for everyone, and it doesn't cover everything.
This guide explains what Plan G pays, what it leaves out, how it compares with Plans F and N and Medicare Advantage, what drives premiums, and when you can enroll.
Key Takeaways
- Plan G is a Medigap policy that works with Original Medicare; there is no "Medicare Part G."
- After you pay the Part B deductible ($283 in 2026), it covers most remaining Part A and B cost-sharing.
- Excludes retail prescription drugs, routine dental, vision, hearing aids, and long-term care.
- Best for people who want predictable costs and broad provider access, if the premium fits their budget.
What Is Medicare Supplement Plan G?
Plan G is a standardized private insurance policy that pays certain costs left over after Original Medicare processes a claim. Within each state, the same-letter benefits are identical across insurers (Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin standardize differently). You generally need both Medicare Part A and Part B before you can buy any Medigap policy.
Medicare has Parts A (hospital), B (medical), C (Medicare Advantage), and D (drug coverage). Plan G sits outside that list. Use "Medicare Supplement Plan G" or "Medigap Plan G" when you research or talk to an agent, because "Part G" can send a conversation in the wrong direction.
Once you have coverage, payments follow a set order:
- Medicare pays its approved share first.
- You pay the Part B deductible once each year.
- Plan G pays the covered cost-sharing under the policy.
For a covered outpatient procedure after you meet your deductible, Medicare pays 80% of the approved amount and Plan G typically pays the remaining 20%. Not every bill ends at zero, though. Services Medicare doesn't cover stay your responsibility.
What Does Medicare Supplement Plan G Cover?
Here's the benefit list for standard Plan G in 2026:
| Benefit | Plan G pays |
|---|---|
| Part A deductible | 100% |
| Part A coinsurance and hospital costs | 100%, plus up to 365 extra hospital days after Medicare benefits are used |
| Hospice coinsurance or copayment | 100% |
| Skilled nursing facility coinsurance | 100% |
| Part B coinsurance or copayment | 100% |
| Blood (first 3 pints) | 100% |
| Part B excess charges | 100% |
| Foreign travel emergency | 80%, with limits |
Hospital and Part B costs
Plan G covers the Part A deductible and coinsurance, so a hospital stay doesn't bring surprise inpatient bills for covered care. On the Part B side, it picks up the coinsurance for physician visits, outpatient treatment, lab work, and durable medical equipment, once your deductible is met.
Skilled nursing and blood
It pays skilled nursing facility coinsurance and the first three pints of blood. Medicare still decides whether the service qualifies. Plan G only handles the cost-sharing on what Medicare approves.
Part B excess charges
An excess charge is the gap between what a provider is legally allowed to bill and the Medicare-approved amount. Non-participating providers can generally charge up to 15% above the approved amount. Plan G covers these charges where they apply. State rules can change how they're handled, so confirm yours.
Foreign travel emergencies
Plan G covers 80% of billed charges for certain emergency care outside the U.S. The limits are tight:
- $250 annual deductible
- $50,000 lifetime maximum
- Care must begin within the first 60 days of the trip
- The care can't otherwise be covered by Medicare
What Does Plan G Not Cover?
The Part B deductible
This is the central gap. Plan G doesn't pay the Part B deductible, which is $283 in 2026. It resets every year, so check the current amount before you budget.
Services Original Medicare doesn't cover
Plan G follows Medicare's lead. It generally won't pay for:
- Routine dental such as cleanings, fillings, and dentures
- Eye exams for glasses, and the glasses themselves
- Hearing aids and fitting exams
- Cosmetic surgery
- Non-medical long-term care and private-duty nursing
There are exceptions. Dental work closely tied to a covered medical treatment can qualify, for example. Confirm your own situation before assuming a service is or isn't covered.
Prescription drugs and separate coverage
Medigap policies sold after 2005 don't include drug coverage. You need a separate Part D plan for retail prescriptions. Dental, vision, hearing, and long-term care also need their own coverage.
Medigap can't be used alongside Medicare Advantage. It can't pay Advantage copays, deductibles, or premiums.
Who Is Plan G For? Comparing Plan G With Other Options
Who may value Plan G
Plan G often fits people who:
- Want predictable costs after one annual deductible
- Want to see any provider nationwide who accepts Medicare, without network rules
- Travel and want some emergency protection abroad
- Expect meaningful medical use and prefer paying premiums over surprise bills
Standard Medigap plans don't use networks. Medicare SELECT policies are the exception and may require network hospitals, and sometimes doctors, for full benefits.
Who may prefer something else
Look elsewhere if you:
- Can't comfortably carry the monthly premium
- Rarely use care and accept more cost-sharing for a lower premium
- Need dental or vision bundled into one plan
- Prefer an annual out-of-pocket maximum
- Need drug coverage inside the same plan
Plan G versus Plan F
The difference is simple: Plan F covers the Part B deductible and Plan G doesn't. Plan F is closed to anyone newly eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020.
Eligibility date, not purchase date, controls. Existing Plan F holders can keep their plans, and nobody has to switch.
Plan G versus Plan N
Plan N usually carries a lower premium. The tradeoff is copays of up to $20 for some office visits and $50 for emergency room visits that don't end in admission. It also doesn't cover Part B excess charges. You save on premium and accept less predictable costs.
Plan G versus Medicare Advantage
| Factor | Original Medicare + Plan G | Medicare Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Providers | Any provider accepting Medicare | Networks and service areas may apply |
| Cost limit | Part B deductible remains; Plan G covers the rest | Annual out-of-pocket cap; 2026 in-network ceiling of $9,250 |
| Prescriptions | Separate Part D plan | Most plans include Part D |
| Extras | Generally none | Dental, vision, or hearing may be offered |
| Switching | Underwriting may apply outside protected periods | Plan rules apply |
Neither is universally better. Compare your doctors, medications, travel habits, and budget. Enrollment data shows both are widely used: Plan G held 43% of standardized Medigap enrollment in 2024, while Medicare Advantage covers roughly 55% of beneficiaries with Parts A and B.
How Much Does Plan G Cost and When Can You Enroll?
Why there's no single average premium
Premiums depend on the insurer, your location, age, tobacco use, discounts, and state rules. Any "average" you read is an example at best. Get quotes for your ZIP code and age.
Rating methods and long-term affordability
- Community-rated: Same premium regardless of age; increases reflect inflation and other factors.
- Issue-age-rated: Based on your age when you buy; no aging-related increases.
- Attained-age-rated: Based on your current age, so it rises as you age.
A low starting premium can hide steep future increases. Ask each carrier about its rate history; past increases don't guarantee future ones.
Standard versus high-deductible Plan G
High-deductible Plan G is available in some states. You pay a lower premium but cover up to $2,950 (2026) in qualifying costs before benefits begin. Premiums don't count toward that amount.
Open enrollment and guaranteed-issue rights
Your Medigap Open Enrollment Period lasts six months, starting the first month you have Part B and are 65 or older. It happens once.
During it, insurers can't refuse a policy they sell or charge more based on health conditions. Miss it, and underwriting may affect acceptance and price.
Certain events create guaranteed-issue rights, typically a window from 60 days before to 63 days after coverage ends:
- Your Medicare Advantage plan leaves your area or Medicare
- You move out of a plan's service area
- You leave Advantage during a first-year trial period
- Your insurer goes bankrupt or breaks the rules
States add their own protections:
- Virginia birthday rule: 60-day window beginning on your birthday to switch to a same-benefits policy from any insurer, regardless of health
- West Virginia: 24-month continuous coverage condition and generally same-or-lesser benefits
Choosing a plan
Before you buy:
- Confirm you're enrolled in Parts A and B.
- List your doctors and expected services.
- Review prescription needs for a separate Part D plan.
- Compare premiums and rating methods.
- Check foreign travel provisions.
- Understand underwriting before you change coverage.
Muneris Benefits provides personalized Medicare guidance and plan comparisons through licensed agents for eligible clients in its supported Virginia and West Virginia service areas. The firm isn't affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan G?
It's a private Medigap policy that works with Original Medicare. It generally pays many Part A and Part B cost-sharing amounts, except the Part B deductible.
What is the average cost of a Medicare Plan G supplement?
No single nationwide average exists. Premiums vary by location, insurer, age, tobacco use, and rating method, so compare current quotes for your situation.
Is Plan G worth the monthly premium?
It depends. You're paying for predictable costs and provider flexibility, so it tends to pay off for frequent care users. Affordability and personal preference decide the rest.
Which is better, Medicare F or G?
Plan F covers the Part B deductible but is generally unavailable if you became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. Plan G offers broad coverage, with the Part B deductible remaining yours.
What is not covered under Plan G?
The Part B deductible, services Original Medicare excludes, and retail prescription drugs. Check policy terms and consider separate Part D or supplemental coverage.
