Medicare Supplement Plan G
Medicare Supplement Plan G is a standardized Medigap policy that works with Original Medicare. In most states, every insurer’s Plan G provides the same basic standardized benefits. The insurer sets the premium, so the price can vary even when the standardized benefits are the same. [1][2]
What does Plan G cover?
According to Medicare’s standardized Medigap benefit chart, Plan G covers:
- Part A coinsurance and hospital costs for up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits are used
- Part B coinsurance or copayments
- The first three pints of blood
- Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayments
- Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance
- The Medicare Part A deductible
- Medicare Part B excess charges
- 80% of foreign-travel emergency costs, up to plan limits [1]
Plan G does not cover the Medicare Part B deductible. After you meet the Part B deductible, Plan G pays according to its standardized benefits for Medicare-approved Part B cost sharing. [1]
Does Plan G cover prescription drugs?
No. Medigap policies sold after 2005 do not include prescription drug coverage. If you choose Original Medicare plus Plan G and want Medicare drug coverage, you generally need to consider a separate Part D plan. [3]
Does Plan G cover dental, vision or hearing?
Standard Medigap Plan G does not generally cover routine dental care, routine vision care, hearing aids, eyeglasses, long-term care or private-duty nursing. Some insurers may offer separate products, discounts or non-insurance services, but those are not part of Plan G’s federally standardized core benefits. [3]
What is high-deductible Plan G?
Some states allow insurers to offer a high-deductible version of Plan G. Medicare’s 2026 standardized benefit chart states that the high-deductible amount is $2,950 for 2026. With high-deductible Plan G, you pay Medicare-covered costs up to the applicable high deductible before the policy begins paying under the high-deductible structure. [1]
Because the deductible can change by year, verify the current amount before publishing or enrolling.
Plan G vs. Plan N
Plan G and Plan N share many standardized benefits, but there are important differences.
Plan G covers Part B excess charges. Plan N does not. Plan N may also require copayments of up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for certain emergency-room visits that do not lead to an inpatient admission. Neither Plan G nor Plan N covers the Part B deductible. [1]
The better fit depends on premiums, how often you expect to use outpatient services, whether Part B excess charges matter in your situation, and your preference for predictable cost sharing.
Plan G vs. Plan F
Plan F covers the Part B deductible; Plan G does not. Otherwise, the standardized benefit chart shows broad similarities between the two. Plan F is restricted to people who were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020. People newly eligible for Medicare on or after that date cannot buy Plan F. [1][4]
For someone who is not eligible for Plan F, Plan G is often one of the broadest standardized Medigap options available, but that does not mean it is automatically the right plan for every person.
Who can buy Plan G?
You generally need Original Medicare Part A and Part B to buy Medigap. Your federal Medigap Open Enrollment Period lasts six months and starts when you are both age 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. During that period, insurers cannot deny Medigap coverage because of pre-existing health problems. [5]
Outside that period, medical underwriting may apply unless you have a guaranteed-issue right or state-specific protection. Availability for people under 65 varies by state. [5]
How much does Plan G cost?
There is no single national Plan G premium. Insurers set their own Medigap premiums, and rates vary by company, location and other permitted rating factors. Medicare recommends comparing the same plan letter across insurers because the standardized benefits are the same while premiums can differ significantly. [2]
When comparing Plan G premiums, also ask how the policy is rated and how premiums may change over time. An inexpensive first-year rate is not necessarily the lowest long-term cost.
Can you use any doctor with Plan G?
Plan G works with Original Medicare. Your provider access therefore follows Original Medicare rules rather than a Medicare Advantage provider network. Before receiving care, confirm that the doctor or facility participates in or accepts Medicare as appropriate for the service. [6]
Get help comparing Plan G
Wise Owl Insurance Group can help you compare Plan G premiums and insurers available in your area and compare Plan G with Plan N, Plan F if you are eligible, or Medicare Advantage.
Availability, premiums, underwriting and eligibility vary. Review the current insurer outline of coverage and policy documents before enrolling.
Last reviewed: 2026-09-21