Medigap Plan G, sometimes called Medicare Plan G, is a popular supplement plan offering comprehensive coverage. However, Plan G can be more expensive than other Medigap plans.
Medicare can be a complicated world to navigate. To determine which plan is best for you, speaking with a licensed agent or using the Medicare plan finder can help you compare options.
Here’s a quick refresher on the basics of Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and Medigap. Because Medicare Plan G is a Medicare supplement insurance plan administered by private insurance companies, the plan is technically referred to as Medigap Plan G.
| Program | Who Offers It | Plans |
|---|---|---|
| Original Medicare | government | parts A and B |
| Medicare Advantage | private Insurance companies | bundles offerings of Parts A and B, plus Part C |
| Medigap | private Insurance companies | Plans A–N, including Medigap Plan G |
Medigap Plan G in a nutshell
- It covers out-of-pocket costs associated with Original Medicare.
- It saves you from the significant costs of long hospital stays, hospice care, and skilled nursing care facilities.
- Monthly premiums can be high.
- You’ll still pay your Part B premium out of pocket.
- Medigap plans, including Plan G, don’t cover prescription drugs.
Medigap Plan G is a form of Medicare supplement health insurance. It covers some of the out-of-pocket costs that remain once Original Medicare pays its share of your bill.
Plan G includes coverage of copayments you might incur after seeing your primary care physician or a specialist. It also covers the copays or coinsurance costs of skilled nursing care facilities and hospice care. These costs can add up, and they can be expensive without coverage.
Medigap plans, including Plan G, can’t be purchased along with a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C), only along with Original Medicare (parts A and B).
Pros of Medigap Plan G
- covers most out-of-pocket costs associated with Original Medicare
- no network limitations
- some states offer high deductible plan G as well as regular deductible plan G options
- significantly reduces out-of-pocket costs
- saves you from the significant costs of long hospital stays, hospice care, and skilled nursing facility care
Cons of Medigap Plan G
- monthly premiums vary; for example, the price ranges from $97 to $438 for female nonsmokers who sign up during initial enrollment in Iowa
- does not cover the Part B monthly premium ($185 in 2025)
- does not cover the Part B deductible ($257 in 2025)
- does not cover prescription drugs
For a full breakdown, we have a detailed summary of Plan G coverage, which includes a benefits chart and information on how policies may differ in certain states.
Here are highlights of Medigap Plan G coverage:
- Part A copayments
- Part A deductible
- Part A hospital costs up to 365 days after Original Medicare benefits are used up
- Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayments
- skilled nursing care facility coinsurance or copayments
- Part B coinsurance
- Part B excess charges
- first three pints of blood
- 80% of the costs of medical emergencies (up to plan limits) during foreign travel
- Part B deductible, which is $257 in 2025
- prescription drugs
- hearing aids
- vision coverage, including eyeglasses and contact lenses (except after cataract surgery)
- dental care
- private duty nursing care
- long-term nonskilled nursing home care
Medicare provides a comprehensive table that compares every Medigap plan. Here are some highlights:
- Plan G covers the Part A deductible, but Plan A does not.
- Plan G does not cover the Part B deductible, while Plans C and F do cover it.
- Plan G covers 80% of foreign travel emergencies, while Plans A, B, K, and L do not.
- Plan G has no out-of-pocket limits. (In 2025, Plan K has an out-of-pocket limit of $7,220, and Plan L has an out-of-pocket limit of $3,610.
By law, you cannot have a Medigap plan alongside Medicare Advantage (Plan C). But if you have or plan to sign up for Original Medicare, adding Medigap Plan G may be a good choice.
Once you sign up for Medicare Part B, you can purchase Medigap Plan G. There are several ways to do this:
- You can contact a private health insurance company you already like and trust to see if they offer Plan G coverage in your area.
- You can use a private health insurance sales agent or broker.
- Medicare has a Medigap policy finder tool, which lists every Plan G option offered in your ZIP code. You can also compare them side by side.
When to buy Medigap Plan G
The best time to buy Medigap Plan G is when you first sign up for Medicare during your initial 6-month enrollment period. You cannot be refused coverage at that time, and you’re certain to get the best price. If you wait, insurers can later refuse to sell you Medigap. They can also charge you higher rates.
Medigap plan coverage is standardized, but the insurers administering the plans set the costs. You can read more in our detailed look at Medigap Plan G costs.
If you sign up for Medigap Plan G when you first become eligible, you cannot be denied coverage, and you will get the best rates. If you opt to buy a Medigap plan later, insurers may use medical underwriting to determine your eligibility and how you will pay.
Some states offer a high deductible Plan G option. To be eligible for high deductible Plan G coverage, you must have become eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. People who became eligible for Medicare before this time are not eligible for this plan.
In 2025, the deductible amount for the high deductible Plan G is $2,870. This is the amount that you will pay each year before the plan pays its share. High deductible plans typically have lower monthly premiums, and they may be a good choice for you if you are in good health and don’t expect to meet that amount.
As reported by Medicare, here are some estimated Plan G costs in May 2025 for a female nonsmoker, age 65 years, and who lives in New York.
Your costs may vary based on your location, health, age, sex, and tobacco-use profile.
| Insurance company | Plan G monthly premium | High deductible Plan G monthly premium |
|---|---|---|
| Emblem HealthServices Company | $332 | $68 |
| AARP United Healthcare Insurance Company of New York (Standard) | $325 | not offered |
| Globe Life Insurance Company of New York | $410 | $81 |
| Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company | $509 | not offered |
| Humana Insurance Company of New York | $606 | $109 |
Plan G is better for some people, but Medicare Advantage may be better for others.
Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans cover healthcare costs that Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) does not. This varies by plan but may include items like hearing aids and gym memberships. Many Part C plans also fold in Part D prescription drug coverage.
In contrast, Medigap Plan G covers the out-of-pocket costs that are left over after Medicare covers part of your bills. Medigap plans do not pay for line items like eyeglasses that Original Medicare will not pay for at all.
- Part A copayments
- Part A deductible
- Part A hospital costs, up to 365 days after Original Medicare benefits are used up
- Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayments
- skilled nursing care facility coinsurance or copayments
- Part B coinsurance and copayments
- Part B excess charges
- first three pints of blood
- 80% of the costs of medical emergencies (up to plan limits) during foreign travel
Once you sign up for Medicare Part B, you can purchase Medigap Plan G. There are several ways to do this:
- You can contact your preferred health insurance company to see if they offer Plan G coverage in your area.
- You can use a private health insurance sales agent.
- Medicare has a Medigap policy finder tool you can use, which lists every Plan G option offered in your ZIP code so you can compare them side by side.
Medigap Plan G is Medicare supplement insurance you buy from private health insurers.
Plan G covers the out-of-pocket costs associated with Original Medicare (parts A and B). Original Medicare and Medigap are designed to cover different costs.
Plan G provides more comprehensive coverage than most other Medigap plans. In many states, a high deductible, low premium option is also available.
You cannot purchase a Medigap plan if you have Medicare Advantage (Part C).