Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan G

What is Medigap Plan G

Medigap Plan G (sometimes incorrectly called part G) is one of the standardized Medicare Supplement Insurance plan options available in most states. (Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin have different options).

Medicare Supplement Plan G is the fastest growing Medigap plan.¹ Learn more about what Plan G covers, its cost and why it might be the right Medigap plan for you.

What Does Medigap Plan G Cover?

Plan G currently provides coverage for each of the standardized Medigap benefits except for the Medicare Part B deductible.

In 2020, changes to Medigap coverage requirements made Plan G the most comprehensive of any Medigap plan available to newly eligible Medicare beneficiaries (see below for more information).

Plan G Benefits

Medicare Part A Coinsurance

Medicare Part A is known as hospital insurance, and it includes cost-sharing measures like coinsurance. Inpatient hospital stays covered by Medicare Part A require coinsurance fees if they exceed 60 days.

Medigap Plan G pays for all of these coinsurance fees.

Medicare Part B Coinsurance and Copayment

Medicare Part B usually charges a coinsurance and copayments for doctor visits and other outpatient care. Medicare Part B typically pays for 80% of the Medicare-approved amount for covered services, leaving a 20% coinsurance in most cases.

Plan G pays the 20% coinsurance or copayment costs.

First 3 Pints of Blood

Original Medicare only covers the fourth pint of blood and beyond. If you need blood while in the hospital, Medigap Plan G covers the cost of the first 3 pints.

Part A Hospice Care Coinsurance or Copayment

Hospice care provides medical treatment and care during a terminal illness. Medicare covers these services, but it requires copayments. These copayments include $5 for each symptom and pain relief prescription drugs and 5% of the Medicare-approved amount for inpatient respite care.

Plan G covers these costs completely.

Coinsurance for Skilled Nursing Facility

You have to pay coinsurance after you are admitted to a skilled nursing facility as an inpatient for more than 20 days.

The coinsurance charge is $200 per day for days 21-100 of an inpatient skilled nursing facility stay in 2023. After day 100, you are responsible for all costs.

Plan G fully covers your skilled nursing facility coinsurance.

Medicare Part A Deductible

Medicare Part A comes with a deductible, which is $1,600 per benefit period in 2023. Medigap Plan G will cover your deductible in full for each benefit period you require.

Medigap Plan G will cover your deductible in full for each benefit period you require.

Medicare Part B Excess Charges

Doctors can bill a procedure for up to 15% higher than what Medicare pays for it. The extra expenses are called “excess charges.”

If there are any excess charges for an approved visit, a person insured under Plan G would be fully covered.

Foreign Travel Emergency

This benefit provides coverage for medical care provided outside of the United States. Medigap Plan G pays for 80% of the billed charges after a $250 deductible has been met for the year.

For more detailed information, read our page about Medicare Supplement Insurance benefits.

What Is High-Deductible Plan G?

There is a regular Plan G and a high-deductible Plan G.

If you choose the high-deductible Plan G, you must meet a yearly deductible of $2,700 in 2023 before the plan covers anything.

The high-deductible version of Plan G may have lower premiums than the regular Plan G, but it also comes with much higher out-of-pocket costs.

How Does Medigap Plan G Compare to Other Plans?

You can use this Medigap plans comparison chart to compare Medigap Plan G vs. Plan F vs. Plan N and the other standardized Medigap plans. (Use the scroll bar at the bottom to view all plans and information.

Plan G Enrollment Statistics

The popularity of Plan G is on the rise among Medicare beneficiaries, with Plan G being the fastest-growing Medigap plan.¹

How Much Does Medigap Plan G Cost?

The average Medigap Plan G premium in 2022 was $137 per month.

The only benefit not covered by Plan G — the annual Medicare Part B deductible — costs just $226 per year in 2023 (around $19 per month).

Beneficiaries who have a choice between Plan G and Plan F may benefit from choosing Plan G if the cost of the plan is at least $19 lower per month than Plan F. 

How Did Medigap Plans Change in 2020?

The popularity of Plan G increased even faster beginning in 2020.

• Starting in 2020, the highly-popular Plan F and Plan C are no longer available to new Medicare beneficiaries who first became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020.
  
  
• If you were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020, you may be able to enroll in Medigap Plan C or Plan F if the plans are available where you live. If you currently have Plan C or Plan F, you will be allowed to stay with either plan coverage going forward. 

With Plan F and Plan C no longer offered to new Medicare beneficiaries after 2020, Plan G is now the Medigap plan that offers coverage for more standardized benefits than any other Medigap plan available for sale. 

When Is the Best Time to Sign Up for Plan G?

A great time to enroll in Medigap is during your Medigap Open Enrollment Period (OEP).

Your Medigap Open Enrollment Period lasts for 6 months, and it starts as soon as you are at least 65 years old AND enrolled in Medicare Part B.

If you sign up for a Medigap plan during your Medigap Open Enrollment Period, Medicare Supplement Insurance companies can’t use your health status to determine your eligibility for a plan. They also can’t charge you more for a Medigap plan based on your health.

You may be able to enroll in a Medigap plan anytime outside of your Medigap Open Enrollment Period. You may face medical underwriting if you do so, unless you qualify for a guaranteed issue right.

If you have a guaranteed issue right, Medigap insurance companies can’t use your health to determine your eligibility or plan rates.

A licensed insurance agent can help you determine whether or not you qualify for a guaranteed issue right. Not all plan types may be available for purchase if you have a guaranteed issue right.

How Do I Sign up for Plan G?

You may have Plan G options available in your area. A licensed insurance agent can help you compare Medigap plans available near you and help you find a plan that fits your coverage and budget needs.