Medigap Plan G is a standardized Medicare Supplement policy that pays most of your out-of-pocket costs under Original Medicare, including Part B coinsurance and Part B excess charges. The main Medicare cost it leaves to you is the yearly Part B deductible ($283 in 2026), and you still pay your Part B premium plus Plan G's own premium.
Key facts: Plan G covers every benefit on Medicare's Medigap comparison chart except the Part B deductible; foreign travel emergencies are covered at 80% up to plan limits. · Plan G's benefits are the same at every insurer that sells it, so Medicare.gov says price is the only difference between Plan G policies. · CMS hadn't announced 2027 Part B figures as of Nov. 3, 2026; Medicare's trustees project the deductible rising from $283 to $292.
Let's face it: Medigap Plan G has the kind of fan club usually reserved for boy bands. Mention Medicare at any barbecue and some retiree will lean in and whisper "just get G" like he's passing along a stock tip.
The fans aren't wrong. But nobody at the barbecue mentions the bill Plan G hands back, or why two identical Plan G policies can cost very different amounts.
Medicare Open Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7, per Medicare's Choosing a Medigap Policy guide, so let's meet the celebrity before you commit. (For the switching rules, see our guide to leaving Medicare Advantage for Medigap.)
What Medigap Is (Medicare's Wingman, Not Its Replacement)
Medicare.gov defines Medigap as extra insurance from a private company that helps pay your share of costs in Original Medicare: copayments, coinsurance and deductibles. You generally need Part A and Part B to buy it.
Think of Original Medicare as the main act and Medigap as the friend who splits the check. It doesn't replace Medicare.
Two quick reality checks from Medicare.gov's cost page: you pay the Medigap premium to the insurer, you still pay your Part B premium, and Medicare doesn't pay your Medigap premium. The standard Part B premium is $202.90 a month in 2026, per CMS. Two monthly bills. Romance!
What Plan G Actually Covers (Nearly the Whole Buffet)
Per Medicare's Medigap comparison chart (confirmed in its Getting Started guide), Plan G pays 100% of:
- Part A coinsurance and hospital costs, up to an extra 365 days after Medicare benefits run out. (Longer than most TV series.)
- The Part A deductible, which is $1,736 per benefit period in 2026, per CMS. (Gone, like your patience on hold.)
- Part B coinsurance, usually your 20% share. (The tab you'd otherwise split forever.)
- Skilled nursing facility coinsurance, hospice coinsurance and the first 3 pints of blood. (Medicare's least-glamorous greatest hits.)
- Part B excess charges. (More on those in a second.)
It also covers foreign travel emergencies at 80%, up to plan limits. Your Paris shopping is not included.
About those excess charges: a doctor who doesn't accept assignment can charge more than the Medicare-approved amount, in many cases up to 15% more, per Medicare.gov. On Medicare's chart, only Plans F and G cover that gap. It's the surprise cover charge at the club, and G pays it.
The One Bill Plan G Hands Back (Say Hi to the Part B Deductible)
Here's the catch the barbecue skips: Plan G doesn't cover the Part B deductible. That's $283 in 2026, per CMS.
This isn't Plan G being stingy. It's federal rules. The Choosing guide says plans sold to people new to Medicare on or after January 1, 2020 can't cover the Part B deductible. So Plans C and F are off the menu for newcomers, and they get the right to buy D or G instead.
What about 2027? CMS hadn't published the 2027 Part B premium or deductible when we checked on November 3, 2026. AARP reports that Medicare's trustees project the deductible rising to $292 and the premium to $209.50. Treat those as projections until CMS makes them official. (Announcing prices after the sale has already started: very on brand for bureaucracy.)
Same Letter, Different Price (Shopping for Identical Twins)
Medigap plans are standardized. The Choosing guide says every plan with the same letter offers the same basic benefits, no matter where you live or which company sells it. Price is the only difference.
Medicare.gov says insurers can charge very different premiums for the same coverage, so compare Plan G with Plan G. Discounts, medical underwriting and Medicare SELECT policies (network hospitals, possibly lower premium) also move the price.
How Insurers Set the Price (Read the Fine Print, Not the Teaser Rate)
The Choosing guide lists three pricing methods:
- Community-rated: generally everyone pays the same, regardless of age. (The flat-fee buffet.)
- Issue-age-rated: priced by your age when you buy, and it won't rise just because you age. (Locked in, minus inflation.)
- Attained-age-rated: priced by your current age, so it rises as you get older. It may be cheapest at first and can eventually be the most expensive. (The gym membership with an "introductory rate.")
Medicare.gov adds that premiums typically increase each year anyway. The cheapest quote at 65 is a first date, not a marriage.
The Fine Print: Even during your Medigap Open Enrollment Period, an insurer can refuse to cover your out-of-pocket costs for a pre-existing condition for up to 6 months, if that condition was treated or diagnosed in the 6 months before coverage starts. If you had at least 6 months of continuous creditable coverage with no break over 63 days, it can't make you wait. Source: Choosing a Medigap Policy.
High-Deductible G and the Honest Pros and Cons (Swipe Right, Swipe Left)
Some states sell a high-deductible Plan G: you pay up to $2,950 in Medicare-covered costs in 2026 before it pays anything, plus a separate $250 foreign-travel deductible, per the Choosing guide. Plan G for people who'd rather self-insure the small stuff.
The legit upsides:
- Near-total coverage of Original Medicare cost-sharing. (Fewer surprise bills.)
- Original Medicare lets you use any doctor or hospital that takes Medicare, anywhere in the U.S., per the guide. (No network drama.)
- Any Medigap policy issued since 1992 is guaranteed renewable: the insurer can't cancel as long as you pay. (Commitment, finally.)
The legit downsides:
- A monthly premium on top of Part B, and it typically rises. (Two bills, both growing.)
- No drug coverage. Medigap plans sold after 2005 don't include it, so you'd need a separate Part D plan, per Medicare.gov. (Bring your own pills.)
- No dental, vision, hearing aids, glasses or long-term care. (Your teeth are on their own.)
The Bottom Line (G Is for "Generally Great, Go Read the Pricing")
Plan G covers almost everything Original Medicare leaves you, except the Part B deductible, drugs and the stuff Medicare never covered. Whether it's worth the premium depends on your budget, your health and how much you love predictable bills.
Your one move this week: before you buy, ask each insurer the questions from Medicare's guide: "Do you price this policy by community, issue-age or attained-age rating?" and "Has the premium increased in the last 3 years?" Your local SHIP gives free counseling, per the guide; 1-800-MEDICARE can give you its number.
Go forth, compare G with G, and may your premiums climb slower than that escalator.
This is general education with a side of sarcasm, not insurance, legal, tax or financial advice, and we don't recommend any insurer or plan. Rules vary by state, and your policy beats this article every time. No celebrities were consulted, though the letter G did ask for a trailer.
Sources:
- Medicare.gov: What's Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap)?
- Medicare.gov: Compare Medigap Plan Benefits
- Medicare.gov: Get Medigap costs
- Medicare.gov: Learn what Medigap covers
- Medicare.gov: Does your provider accept Medicare as full payment?
- CMS/NAIC: Choosing a Medigap Policy (PDF)
- Medicare.gov: Getting Started with Medicare Supplement Insurance (PDF)
- CMS: 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles
- AARP: Medicare Part B Premium May Rise in 2027
- SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program)
Frequently asked questions
Does Medigap Plan G cover prescription drugs?
No. Medicare.gov says Medigap plans sold after 2005 don't include prescription drug coverage. You can enroll in a separate Medicare drug plan (Part D) if you want drug coverage.
Can I buy Plan F instead of Plan G?
Only if you were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020. Medigap plans sold to people new to Medicare on or after that date can't cover the Part B deductible, so Plans C and F aren't available to them. They have the right to buy Plan D or G instead.
Does Plan G work with Medicare Advantage?
No. Medigap helps pay costs in Original Medicare, and you generally need Part A and Part B to buy it. For the rules on leaving Medicare Advantage, see our guide to switching back to Original Medicare.
