Medicare Supplement Plan G: What It Covers and What It Costs in 2026

What Plan G covers in 2026

Plan G is one of the standardized Medigap policies sold in most states. Because the federal government defines each lettered plan, the covered benefits are the same no matter which insurance company sells the policy — only the price and customer service differ.

Plan G fills in the cost-sharing that Original Medicare leaves to you. After you meet the Part B deductible, a Plan G policy is designed to cover the following:

• Part A hospital deductible ($1,736 per benefit period in 2026)
• Part A hospital coinsurance — including $434/day for days 61–90 and $868/day for lifetime reserve days — plus an extra 365 hospital days after Medicare benefits are exhausted
• Part B coinsurance or copayment (the 20% you would otherwise owe after the Part B deductible)
• Skilled nursing facility coinsurance ($217/day for days 21–100 in 2026)
• First 3 pints of blood and Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment
• Part B excess charges (when a provider legally bills more than the Medicare-approved amount)
• Foreign travel emergency care — 80% of approved costs, up to plan limits, after a separate deductible

The one cost Plan G does not cover

Plan G covers nearly everything — but not the annual Medicare Part B deductible, which is $283 in 2026. You pay that out of pocket once per year before your Plan G benefits for Part B services kick in. (This is the single difference between Plan G and the now-restricted Plan F, which also covered the Part B deductible. Plan F is no longer available to people who became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020.)

Plan G also does not include prescription drug coverage. Medigap policies sold after 2006 cannot include drug benefits, so most Plan G enrollees add a separate Part D drug plan. In 2026, Part D includes a $2,100 annual out-of-pocket cap on covered drugs, and the national base beneficiary premium is $38.99 per month.

Finally, Plan G does not pay your Part B monthly premium ($202.90 in 2026, higher for high earners subject to IRMAA), and it does not cover routine dental, vision, hearing, or long-term custodial care.

High-deductible Plan G

Some insurers offer a high-deductible version of Plan G in certain states. It provides the same set of benefits as standard Plan G, but you must first pay an annual deductible before the policy starts paying. For 2026, CMS set that deductible at $2,950.

The trade-off is lower monthly premiums in exchange for more upfront risk. High-deductible Plan G can make sense for people who expect a low-claims year and want catastrophic-style protection, but the right choice depends on your budget and how predictable your health spending is. High-deductible Plan G is available to people who became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020.

How Plan G premiums work

Plan G benefits are fixed by law, but premiums are not. The same coverage can cost very different amounts depending on the insurer, your ZIP code, your age, tobacco use, and whether you enroll during a guaranteed-issue window. Always compare quotes from multiple companies for the identical plan.

Insurers price Medigap one of three ways: community-rated (everyone pays the same regardless of age), issue-age-rated (based on your age when you buy), or attained-age-rated (rises as you get older). Two policies with the same first-year price can diverge significantly over time, so ask how a plan is rated before enrolling.

Premiums typically increase over time due to inflation and, for attained-age plans, your rising age. Because actual dollar amounts vary by plan and are not standardized, we don't quote a single premium figure here — request current quotes for your area.

When you can enroll and pass health questions

The best time to buy any Medigap policy, including Plan G, is during your Medigap Open Enrollment Period — the six months that begin the month you turn 65 and are enrolled in Part B. During this window you have a guaranteed issue right: insurers must sell you a policy at their best available rate and cannot deny you or charge more based on health history.

Outside that window, in most states insurers can use medical underwriting — asking health questions and potentially denying coverage or charging more. A handful of states have their own rules that offer broader or year-round guaranteed-issue protections, so check your state's specific regulations.

This guide is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by the federal government or any insurance company. Verify current figures and your personal eligibility with official sources before making a decision.