Medicare Plan F vs. Plan G: How to Choose in 2026

The Only Real Difference: The Part B Deductible

Medigap (Medicare Supplement) plans are standardized by the federal government, meaning a Plan G from one insurer covers exactly the same gaps as a Plan G from any other insurer. Because of that standardization, comparing Plan F and Plan G comes down to one line on the benefits chart.

Plan F pays the annual Medicare Part B deductible for you. Plan G does not. In 2026 that deductible is $283 — you pay the first $283 of Part B-covered services yourself before Medicare and a Plan G policy begin paying. Once that deductible is met, both plans cover your share the same way.

Every other benefit is the same on both plans. Both pay 100% of the Part B coinsurance (the 20% you would otherwise owe after the deductible), the Part A hospital deductible of $1,736 per benefit period, Part A and skilled nursing facility coinsurance, the first three pints of blood, Part A hospice coinsurance, Part B excess charges, and 80% of approved foreign travel emergency care up to plan limits.

Who Can Still Buy Plan F

This is the deciding factor for many people, because eligibility — not preference — often makes the decision. Federal law closed Plan F (and Plan C) to people who are new to Medicare. Specifically, Medigap policies sold to anyone who became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020 are not allowed to cover the Part B deductible.

If you first became eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020, you may still buy or keep Plan F, even if you enroll later. If you became eligible on or after that date, Plan F is not available to you and Plan G (or high-deductible Plan G) is the comparable choice.

Because the pool of people eligible for Plan F is fixed and gradually shrinking, some insurers price new Plan F policies differently over time. That pricing dynamic — not the benefits — is often the practical reason advisors point newer-eligible shoppers toward Plan G.

Weighing the Cost Trade-Off

Because Plan F covers the $283 Part B deductible and Plan G does not, a Plan F premium is generally higher than a Plan G premium from the same insurer. The math to compare is straightforward: if Plan F costs more than $283 per year extra in premium, you are paying more than the deductible it saves you.

Premiums vary by insurer, age, location, gender, tobacco use, and how the policy is rated, so there is no single 'right' answer or universal price — you have to compare actual quotes for your ZIP code. The benefit difference, however, never changes: at most, Plan F saves you the $283 deductible per year compared with Plan G.

Both plans pair with a standalone Part D drug plan, which is separate. Neither Plan F nor Plan G includes prescription drug coverage.

High-Deductible Plan F and Plan G

Both plans also come in a high-deductible version in some states. With these, you pay Medicare-covered costs out of pocket until you reach an annual deductible, after which the policy pays. For 2026, that high-deductible amount is $2,950 for high-deductible Plan F, Plan G, and Plan J.

High-deductible plans typically carry much lower monthly premiums in exchange for that larger up-front exposure. As with the standard versions, high-deductible Plan F is only available to those eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020, while high-deductible Plan G is available to people new to Medicare on or after that date.

High-deductible plans can suit healthier enrollees who want catastrophic protection at a low premium, but they shift more first-dollar risk to you. Whether that trade works depends on your expected use of care and your budget for unexpected costs.

How to Decide Between Them

• Check your eligibility date first: if you became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020, Plan F is off the table and the choice is really between standard Plan G and high-deductible Plan G.
• If you can buy either, compare real quotes: only choose Plan F if its annual premium is no more than about $283 higher than Plan G — otherwise Plan G's lower premium wins on math.
• Consider premium stability over time, not just today's price, since the closed Plan F pool can affect future rate increases.
• Remember the coverage is otherwise identical and standardized — you are not giving up benefits by choosing Plan G, only taking on the modest $283 Part B deductible.
• Buy during your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period when possible, when insurers cannot deny you or charge more for health reasons.