Medicare Supplement Plan G

How Does Medicare Part G Work?

To qualify for Plan G, you must already be enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B. You cannot purchase a Medigap plan if you have a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan, because the two can’t be combined. Assuming you meet the aforementioned criteria, you can shop for a plan from a private insurer, enroll, and pay your monthly premium to begin your coverage.

Medigap kicks in only after Medicare has paid its portion of medical costs. Original Medicare will pay for its approved portion of your medical expenses, and then Plan G will help pay for your remaining out-of-pocket expenses. Most Plan G coverage limits are standardized, but Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin set their own standards for Medigap.

What Does Medigap Plan G Cover?

Your coverage may differ if you live in one of the three states listed above, but the majority of older adults can depend on Medigap to cover these costs:

• Part A coinsurance and hospital costs, up to an extra 365 days beyond standard Medicare benefits
• Part A deductible
• Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment
• Part B coinsurance or copayment
• Part B excess charges (when a provider charges more than Medicare’s approved amount for outpatient care)
• The first three pints of a blood transfusion
• Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance
• Emergency health care for the initial 60 days when traveling abroad1

What Is Not Covered Under Medigap Plan G?

The list above should give you a good idea of Medicare Supplement Plan G coverage, but it is important to understand what your Medigap plan does not cover. Here are some common medical expenses that are not covered under Plan G, regardless of the state in which you reside:

• Part B deductible
• Prescription drugs
• Nursing homes or similar long-term care
• Dental care
• Vision care

Medicare Plan G Pros and Cons

Now that you understand more about what Medicare Supplement Plan G covers, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of enrolling.

Medicare Part G Cost 2024

Like any Medigap plan, Plan G prices vary substantially by location and provider. Seniors in some states can also enroll in High-Deductible Plan G, in which you must pay the first $2,340 of deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance per year before Plan G kicks in. That does not count the actual premium of your Medigap plan either.

Since costs vary so much, you will need to shop for Medigap Plan G in your area to get exact prices. Nonetheless, it is important to have some idea of what to expect. In 2024, for example, Medigap Plan G in Georgia has monthly premiums ranging from $117 to $702 for a standard plan, or $40 to $205 for a high-deductible plan.2 These plans do not cover your Part B deductible, which averages $174.70 per month in 2024.

Compared to other Medigap plans, Plan G is a high-benefit, high-premium plan. You can get slightly lower premiums — and fewer benefits — with Medigap Plans A or B. Medigap Plans C, D, and F are similar to Plan G for price and overall benefits. For significantly lower costs, you should consider Medigap Plans K, L, M, or N.

Medicare Plan F vs. Plan G

Many people compare Medigap Plan F and Plan G since they offer similar benefits. Medigap Plan F, however, is no longer available to people who became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. That means Plan F is not a viable option for many seniors. If you have Medigap Plan F, you can pay similar Medigap premiums and get all the same benefits as Plan G, plus your Part B deductible is fully covered.

Plan F and Plan G are very similar, with two major exceptions: Plan G is still available to new enrollees and Plan F is not, and Plan G does not cover the Part B deductible while Plan F does.

How to Enroll in Medicare Supplement Plan G

Your Medigap initial enrollment period is the best time to enroll in Medigap Plan G. This six-month period begins as soon as you are enrolled in Medicare Part B. During this enrollment window, you will have access to a wider range of plans and prices, with no medical underwriting required. You cannot be refused a plan or charged more because you have health problems or pre-existing conditions.

Things can get a bit tricky if you miss your Medigap initial enrollment period. You can still enroll in Plan G at virtually any time after this period, but there is no guarantee that an insurance provider will accept your application. If you have pre-existing conditions, you may not meet their medical underwriting requirements. Insurance providers can also charge more for plans outside the initial enrollment period, and you may have to pay a late enrollment fee.

There are a few exceptions to these limited windows. If you signed up for Medicare Advantage when you first became eligible for Medicare, then you have a 12-month window to disenroll, enroll in Original Medicare, and sign up for a Medigap plan without losing your Guaranteed Issue rights. That will grant you access to all the same plans and prices you would have gotten during your Medigap initial enrollment period. You also have a small window to enroll in Medigap without medical underwriting if you had a Medicare Advantage plan but were dropped from it by moving out of state. You can learn more about enrolling in Medigap Plan G and other special circumstances that apply to Medigap enrollment on Medicare’s website.

Is Medigap Plan G Right for Me?

Plan G has high benefits and high premiums. If you want to get Plan G benefits at a lower cost, you will have to enroll in a high-deductible plan, which will automatically increase your deductible costs. Plan G is one of the best Medigap plans for seniors who can pay a higher monthly premium to reduce out-of-pocket expenses. It is particularly good for older adults who frequently visit the doctor or require regular medical treatment, since it can cover most of the copays, coinsurance, and deductibles. If you want a cheaper plan, Medigap Plans K, L, M, and N have lower premiums.