Medicare Supplement Plan G has become the most popular Medigap plan for people newly eligible for Medicare, and for a simple reason: among the plans available to those who became eligible in 2020 or later, it offers the most comprehensive set of standardized benefits. Plan G works alongside Original Medicare, paying many of the out-of-pocket costs that Parts A and B leave behind. This guide explains what Plan G covers, the one notable cost it does not pay, how it compares with Plan N and high-deductible Plan G, and who typically considers it in 2026.
How Plan G fits with Original Medicare
Original Medicare consists of Part A, which covers hospital stays, skilled nursing care, and hospice, and Part B, which covers doctor visits, outpatient services, and durable medical equipment. Medicare pays its share first, and the enrollee is responsible for deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. Because Original Medicare has no annual cap on those out-of-pocket amounts, many people buy a Medigap policy to make costs more predictable. Plan G is one of the standardized plan letters, so its core benefits are identical no matter which insurance company sells it. What varies between companies is the premium, the pricing method, and customer service.
What Plan G covers
Plan G pays the Part A hospital deductible, Part A coinsurance for extended hospital stays plus an additional year of hospital coverage after Medicare benefits are used up, and Part A hospice coinsurance. It covers the Part B coinsurance, which is generally 20 percent of the Medicare-approved amount for outpatient care, as well as the first three pints of blood, skilled nursing facility coinsurance, and Part B excess charges, which are amounts up to 15 percent above the Medicare-approved rate that some non-participating providers may bill. Plan G also includes a foreign travel emergency benefit that pays a share of qualifying emergency care abroad, subject to a lifetime maximum. With this combination, a Plan G policyholder’s cost exposure for Medicare-covered services is largely limited to one item, described next.
The Part B deductible exception
The single Medicare cost-sharing item Plan G does not pay is the annual Part B deductible. The policyholder pays that deductible out of pocket each year before Part B coinsurance coverage takes over. This is not an oversight: federal law prohibits Medigap plans sold to people who became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020 from covering the Part B deductible, which is why Plan C and Plan F, the plans that did cover it, are closed to newer enrollees. People who were eligible before 2020 may still keep or, where offered, apply for Plan F, but for everyone else Plan G is the most comprehensive letter available.
Plan G vs. Plan N
Plan N is the other letter most often compared with Plan G. The two plans share most benefits, but Plan N introduces additional cost sharing in exchange for what is usually a lower premium. Plan N enrollees may pay a copayment of up to a set amount for certain office visits and for emergency room visits that do not result in an inpatient admission. Plan N also does not cover Part B excess charges, so an enrollee who sees a non-participating provider could owe the additional amount, though several states prohibit excess charges entirely. People who visit doctors infrequently sometimes find Plan N’s trade-off attractive, while those who want the fewest possible bills often lean toward Plan G. The right comparison is the annual premium difference against the copayments and potential excess charges you would realistically face.
Plan G vs. high-deductible Plan G
High-deductible Plan G is a variant with the same benefit list, but coverage begins only after the policyholder meets an annual deductible set by federal rules and adjusted each year. Until that deductible is met, the enrollee pays Medicare cost sharing out of pocket. In exchange, premiums are substantially lower than standard Plan G. This structure appeals to people who are comfortable absorbing routine costs and mainly want protection against a very expensive year. Not every insurer offers the high-deductible version, and it is not available in every state, so availability is worth checking early in your comparison.
Who typically considers Plan G
Plan G tends to attract people who want to keep Original Medicare’s nationwide provider access, see any doctor who accepts Medicare without networks or referrals, and prefer predictable costs over the lowest possible premium. It is also a frequent choice for people who travel within the United States for part of the year, since coverage is not tied to a local network. Because Medigap plans do not include prescription drug coverage, most Plan G policyholders pair the policy with a standalone Part D plan. Timing matters as well: during the six-month Medigap open enrollment period that begins when you are 65 or older and enrolled in Part B, insurers generally cannot decline your application or charge more because of health history. Outside that window, medical underwriting may apply in most states.
What Plan G does not do
It helps to be clear about the boundaries. Plan G supplements Medicare cost sharing; it does not expand what Medicare covers. Services Original Medicare excludes, such as routine dental care, eyeglasses, hearing aids, and long-term custodial care, remain uncovered under Plan G as well. The plan also has no prescription drug benefit, which is why pairing it with a standalone Part D plan is the standard arrangement. Finally, Medigap policies cover one person each, so spouses need separate policies, though some insurers offer household discounts when two people in a home hold coverage with the same company.
Comparing Plan G premiums across companies
Because the benefits are standardized, shopping for Plan G means shopping the companies. Insurers price policies using attained-age, issue-age, or community rating, and each method affects how premiums change as you age. A carrier’s history of rate increases in your state, available discounts, and financial strength ratings are all reasonable points of comparison. Well-known carriers offering Plan G in many states include UnitedHealthcare through its AARP-branded plans, Mutual of Omaha, Aetna, Cigna, Humana, and Blue Cross Blue Shield affiliates, though the competitive carrier in your ZIP code may be a smaller regional company.
How to choose a Plan G policy
Confirm that Plan G suits your budget and expected care, then gather quotes from several insurers for the same plan letter in your area. You can review standardized Medigap benefits and search policies at Medicare.gov, and free, unbiased one-on-one help is available from your State Health Insurance Assistance Program through shiphelp.org. A licensed insurance agent can also compare carriers and explain each company’s pricing method before you apply.
Final thoughts
Medicare Supplement Plan G offers the broadest standardized coverage available to people newly eligible for Medicare, leaving only the annual Part B deductible as a routine out-of-pocket item for covered services. Whether standard Plan G, lower-premium Plan N, or high-deductible Plan G fits best depends on how you weigh monthly premiums against cost sharing. Compare several carriers for the same letter, ask about rate history, and use free counseling resources before deciding in 2026.
Disclaimer
This article is for general informational purposes only and is not medical, financial, legal, or enrollment advice. This site is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. Benefits, availability, underwriting rules, and premiums vary by state and change over time. Always verify current details on Medicare.gov or with a licensed insurance agent or SHIP counselor before making coverage decisions.