Medicare Supplement Plan G — the gold standard.
Plan G is the most popular Medigap plan for new enrollees in 2026, and for good reason: it covers virtually everything Original Medicare leaves behind except one small annual deductible. It also comes in a High-Deductible version with a much lower premium. May River Medicare explains both, and compares every plan against your budget, at no cost.
This page covers both standard Plan G and High-Deductible Plan G. All figures reflect 2026 amounts.
Plan G is the benchmark for new enrollees. Since Plan F closed to anyone eligible on or after January 1, 2020, Plan G became the most comprehensive plan available to new members. It covers everything Plan F did except the small $283 Part B deductible — which is why it’s the most popular choice in 2026.
Three things to know about Plan G
Near-complete coverage
After you pay just the $283 Part B deductible once a year, Plan G covers 100% of your Medicare cost-sharing — including Part B excess charges.
The most popular plan
Plan G is the top choice for new Medicare enrollees in 2026 — predictable costs, nationwide access, no networks, no referrals.
Two versions to choose from
Standard Plan G (higher premium, near-zero out-of-pocket) or High-Deductible Plan G (low premium, $2,950 deductible). We explain both below.
Exactly what Plan A does and doesn’t cover
What Plan G covers
- Part A hospital deductible ($1,736 in 2026)
- Part A hospital coinsurance — plus 365 extra days after Medicare benefits end
- Part B coinsurance or copayment (the 20% Original Medicare leaves you)
- Part B excess charges — a gap Plans D and N don’t cover
- Skilled nursing facility coinsurance
- First 3 pints of blood + Part A hospice coinsurance
- Foreign travel emergency care (80% after deductible, up to plan limits)
What Plan G does not cover
- Part B deductible ($283 in 2026) — the one small gap you pay yourself
- Prescription drugs (pair with a separate Part D plan)
- Routine dental, vision, or hearing
- Long-term custodial care
Plan G’s only gap is the $283 Part B deductible you pay once a year. Compared to Plan F (which covers even that but is closed to new enrollees and costs more), Plan G is almost always the smarter buy: paying $283 yourself usually costs far less than Plan F’s higher premium. That’s why Plan G is the 2026 gold standard.
Standard Plan G vs. High-Deductible Plan G
Both versions cover the exact same benefits — the only difference is when the coverage kicks in and how much you pay in premium. Here’s the honest trade-off.
Standard Plan G
- Higher monthly premium (often $110–$200 in 2026)
- After the $283 Part B deductible, you pay essentially nothing for covered care
- Maximum predictability — no surprise bills all year
- Best if you use healthcare regularly or want total peace of mind
High-Deductible Plan G
- Much lower premium (often $30–$80 in 2026)
- You pay the first $2,950 of Medicare cost-sharing yourself each year
- After that, it pays 100% — identical coverage to standard G
- Best if you’re healthy and rarely need major care
It comes down to your break-even point: add up the yearly premium difference between the two, and compare it to how much care you expect to use. If standard G costs (for example) $1,500/year more in premium, but you rarely spend near $2,950 in cost-sharing, High-Deductible G keeps that money in your pocket. If you have ongoing medical needs, standard G’s predictability usually wins. We run this exact math for your ZIP code — free.
Which version of Plan G fits you?
Choose Standard Plan G if…
You want maximum predictability — pay a higher premium and owe essentially nothing when you get care. Ideal if you use healthcare regularly or want zero surprises.
Choose High-Deductible G if…
You’re healthy, rarely need major care, and want the lowest premium. You take on a $2,950 annual deductible in exchange for big monthly savings.
No Medigap plan includes prescription coverage — you’ll pair Plan A with a separate Part D plan. And your best enrollment window is the 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period (starting when you’re 65 and on Part B), when carriers can’t deny you or charge more for health conditions.
Standard or High-Deductible Plan G? Let’s find your best value.
We’ll compare both versions of Plan G — plus Plan N — using real rates from 30+ A-rated carriers, and calculate your break-even point so you can see which one actually saves you money. Free, no pressure, no carrier bias.
May River Medicare Insurance is an independent agency and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government, the federal Medicare program, or CMS. Medigap benefits are federally standardized; premiums vary by carrier, age, location, and tobacco use. Figures reflect 2026 amounts published by CMS and independent sources. For a complete list of your options, contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.