Who Should Get a Medicare Supplement Plan G?
A Medicare Supplement Plan G may be a good choice for you if you:
- Have Original Medicare and want comprehensive coverage for most out of pocket expenses you incur when you receive your Part A and Part B benefits.
- Want to see any Medicare provider in the U.S.
- Travel abroad or choose to receive care from providers who charge more for Medicare-covered services than what Medicare allows.
Work with licensed insurance agents to compare and find the best Medicare Supplement Plan for you. Only a few details are needed to work with the most trusted insurance providers.
What is Medicare Supplement Plan G?
Medicare Supplement Plan G (Medigap Plan G) is one of eight standardized insurance plans that are available for Original Medicare beneficiaries who became eligible for Medicare after January 1, 2020. There is a high-deductible version of Plan G as well.
Plan G offers the most comprehensive coverage of all the standardized plans (except for Plans C and F which are not available to newer beneficiaries) and includes coverage for excess charges and foreign travel emergencies.
| Plan structure | Supplemental insurance plan that covers most of the out of pocket costs associated with Medicare Parts A and B. Plan pays after Medicare pays. |
| Benefits available | Coinsurance and copayments for Part A inpatient and Part B outpatient services. Part A deductible, Part A hospice copays, Part B excess charges, and 80% of foreign travel emergency expenses. |
| Cost sharing | You pay a monthly premium which may increase each year depending on your age or inflation. You are responsible for the Part B annual deductible and the plan’s deductible if you choose the high-deductible version. |
How Medigap Plan G works
Plan G helps fill in “gaps” in Original Medicare and is issued by Medicare-approved private insurance companies. Plan G will pay for costs that remain after Original Medicare pays it’s portion for services received. For instance, if you are hospitalized, you are charged a Part A deductible per benefit period. Plan G will cover that expense, plus hospital costs up to an additional 365 days after your Medicare benefits are used up.
Plan G pays for copays and coinsurance charges for Part B benefits. For instance, if you see your physician, Medicare pays for 80% of approved charges, and Plan G covers the rest. Plan G also pays for 80% of foreign travel emergency costs, which is not covered by Medicare.
If you have a high-deductible Plan G, you must pay for Medicare-covered costs (coinsurance, copayments, and deductibles) up to the deductible amount of $2,700 in 2023 before your policy pays anything.
As long as you continue to pay your monthly premiums, your Plan G will remain in effect.
Benefits available with a Medigap Plan G
- Part A coinsurance and hospital costs
- Part B copays and insurance
- First three pints of blood
- Part A hospice
- Skilled nursing facilities
- Part A deductible
- Part B excess charges
- 80% of foreign travel emergencies
| Advantages of Medigap Plan G | Disadvantages of Medigap Plan G |
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Compare your Medicare Supplement options
See how Medigap Plan G compares to other standardized Medigap plans:
| Medigap Benefits | Plan A | Plan B | Plan C | Plan D | Plan F* | Plan G* | Plan
K |
Plan
L |
Plan M | Plan N |
| Part A coinsurance and hospital costs up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits are used up | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Part B coinsurance or copayment | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 50% | 75% | Yes | Yes*** |
| Blood (first 3 pints) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 50% | 75% | Yes | Yes |
| Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 50% | 75% | Yes | Yes |
| Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 50% | 75% | Yes | Yes |
| Part A deductible | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 50% | 75% | 50% | Yes |
| Part B deductible | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Part B excess charge | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Foreign travel exchange (up to plan limits) | No | No | 80% | 80% | 80% | 80% | No | No | 80% | 80% |
| Out-of-pocket limit** | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $6,940 in 2023 | $3,470 in 2023 | N/A | N/A |
Plans F and G also offer a high-deductible plan in some states. With this option, you must pay for Medicare-covered costs (coinsurance, copayments, and deductibles) up to the deductible amount of$2,700 in 2023 before your policy pays anything. (Plans C and F aren’t available to people who were newly eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020.)
** For Plans K and L, after you meet your out-of-pocket yearly limit and your yearly Part B deductible, the Medigap plan pays 100% of covered services for the rest of the calendar year.
*** Plan N pays 100% of the Part B coinsurance, except for a copayment of up to $20 for some office visits and up to a $50 copayment for emergency room visits that don’t result in inpatient admission.
Who is Eligible for a Medigap Plan G?
Anyone who is eligible for Medicare and enrolled in Part A and Part B may be eligible to purchase Medigap Plan G. If you miss your Medigap Open Enrollment period, you may not be able to purchase a policy depending on your health condition. You cannot have a Medigap policy and a Medicare Advantage Plan at the same time.
How Much Does a Medigap Plan G Cost?
You pay a monthly premium for Plan G. This premium varies depending on when you purchase your policy, how it is priced, and in which state you reside. Because Medigap plans are offered through private insurance companies, the companies set their own premiums. Monthly premium costs may increase each year based on age, inflation, or other factors.
If you choose a high-deductible Plan G, you will pay the full amount of any Medicare-covered costs, including coinsurance, copayments and deductibles, up to the set deductible amount for that year. In 2023, the deductible amount for Plan G is $2,700.
See how costs and plan availability compare for these Medigap Plans G for a 65 year old female who doesn’t use tobacco in three different states in 2023:
| State | Monthly premium range | Number of Plans available | Number of high-deductible plans available |
| Colorado | $101 to $417
$35 to $73 high-deductible |
56 total
*49 (attained age) ^2 (community) ~5 (issue age) |
15 total
*14 (attained age) ~1 (issue age |
| California | $120 to $176
$370to $57 high-deductible |
28 total
*26 (attained age) ^1 (issue age) |
*7 total (attained age) |
*Attained age pricing: Premiums are low for younger buyers, but go up as you get older and can eventually become the most expensive.
^Community pricing: Premiums are the same no matter how old you are. Premiums may go up because of inflation and other factors.
~Issue age pricing: Premiums are low for younger buyers and won’t change as you get older.
How Do I Enroll in a Medigap Plan G?
In general, you will get the best price for Medicare Supplemental Insurance if you purchase a plan as soon as you are eligible for Medicare and enrolled in Parts A and B. Medigap Open Enrollment starts on the first day of the month that you turn 65 and are enrolled in both Parts A and B and lasts for six months. An insurance company is not allowed to use medical underwriting to decide whether to accept your application or change the price during this time.
To enroll in a Medigap Plan G, contact the insurance company to make sure you are in your open enrollment period or have guaranteed issue rights. Complete the application and determine when you want your policy to start.
Who Should Get a Medigap Plan G?
If you rely on Original Medicare for your healthcare coverage, you should consider Plan G to offset the portion of costs that Medicare doesn’t pay. Plan G gives you the most freedom of choice of providers because you can see any Medicare provider in the U.S., and it covers excess charges you may get if your provider doesn’t take Medicare assignment. If you travel abroad, you have some coverage for emergency care. Plan G as a comprehensive Medicare supplement can give you peace of mind if you anticipate the need for frequent health care now or in the future.
Learn More From Our Sources
- CMS | 2023 Guide to Choosing a Medigap Policy | Last accessed September 2023
- Medicare | Find a Medigap policy that works for you | Last accessed September 2023
- Medicare | How to compare Medigap policies | Last accessed September 2023
- Medicare | Guaranteed Issue Rights | Last accessed September 2023
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