Medicare Supplement Plan G: The Most Comprehensive Medigap Coverage in 2024

Medicare Supplement Plan G has become the most popular Medigap plan for new Medicare enrollees since Plan F was phased out for new beneficiaries in 2020. Plan G covers every Medicare-approved cost except the Part B annual deductible ($240 in 2024). For most people, that means zero surprise medical bills from doctors, specialists, outpatient procedures, or hospital stays, as long as the provider accepts Medicare. Understanding exactly what Plan G covers and what it costs is essential before your Initial Enrollment Period closes.

Plan G Coverage Breakdown

• Part A Hospital Coinsurance

  Covers the $408/day coinsurance for hospital days 61–90 and $816/day for lifetime reserve days 91–150. After 150 days, you pay all costs, Plan G covers up to 365 additional hospital days after Medicare benefits are exhausted.

• Part A Deductible

  Pays the full $1,632 Part A deductible per benefit period in 2024. Without Plan G, a second hospitalization in the same year triggers another $1,632 deductible, Plan G eliminates this exposure entirely.

• Part B Coinsurance (80/20 Gap)

  After you pay the $240 Part B deductible once per year, Plan G pays 100% of the 20% coinsurance on all Medicare-approved outpatient services. A $50,000 surgery would otherwise cost you $10,000 out of pocket.

• Skilled Nursing Facility Coinsurance

  Medicare covers skilled nursing facility days 1–20 in full; days 21–100 cost $204/day in 2024. Plan G pays this coinsurance, protecting you from up to $16,320 in potential SNF costs per benefit period.

• Foreign Travel Emergency

  Covers 80% of emergency medical costs abroad after a $250 deductible, up to a $50,000 lifetime limit. Original Medicare provides zero international coverage, making this benefit valuable for retirees who travel.

Plan G premiums are set by insurers using one of three rating methods. Community-rated plans charge the same premium regardless of age, premiums only increase with inflation. Issue-age-rated plans base the premium on the age when you first enroll, then increase only for inflation. Attained-age-rated plans start lowest but increase as you get older. A 65-year-old non-smoker enrolling in Plan G in 2024 typically pays $90–$160/month depending on state and insurer. The same person at age 75 may pay $150–$250/month on an attained-age plan. Always ask which rating method an insurer uses before purchasing.

Plan G makes the most financial sense if you regularly see specialists, take expensive outpatient treatments, or want the certainty of zero surprise bills. The break-even calculation is simple: if your total annual medical costs under Original Medicare alone would exceed your Plan G premiums plus the $240 Part B deductible, Plan G pays for itself. For someone with a single MRI, two specialist visits, and a minor procedure, that threshold is easily crossed. Compare at least three insurers using a licensed Medicare broker, premiums for identical Plan G coverage vary by 40% or more across companies.

Medicare Supplement Plan G has become the most popular Medigap plan since Plan F became unavailable to newly eligible beneficiaries in 2020. Plan G covers the same benefits as Plan F except for the annual Part B deductible, which means Plan G enrollees pay approximately $240 per year out of pocket before the plan covers 100 percent of remaining costs. Because Plan G premiums are typically $300 to $600 per year less expensive than Plan F premiums for those who were grandfathered in, Plan G usually saves money overall even with the deductible payment. Plan N is the main alternative to Plan G: it has lower premiums but requires copayments of up to $20 for doctor visits and $50 for emergency room visits that do not result in admission. Plan N also does not cover Part B excess charges, which are additional fees some doctors charge above the Medicare-approved amount. For beneficiaries who want comprehensive, predictable coverage with minimal out-of-pocket costs, Plan G offers the best value among currently available Medigap plans.

Plan G benefits are standardized by federal law, meaning every Plan G policy provides identical coverage regardless of which insurance company sells it. This standardization makes price comparison straightforward because the only differences between companies are premium cost, rate increase history, and customer service quality. Premiums for the same Plan G coverage can vary by 30 to 50 percent between companies in the same area, making comparison shopping essential. Request quotes from at least 5 to 7 companies and check each company's rate increase history over the past 5 to 10 years, which is a better predictor of future costs than the current premium alone. Companies use three pricing methods: community-rated (same price regardless of age), issue-age-rated (price based on your age when you enroll), and attained-age-rated (price increases as you age). Community-rated and issue-age-rated plans cost more initially but tend to have more stable long-term costs, while attained-age-rated plans start cheaper but become increasingly expensive over time.

The best time to purchase Plan G is during your Medigap Open Enrollment Period, which begins the month you turn 65 and are enrolled in Medicare Part B and lasts for 6 months. During this window, insurance companies cannot deny coverage or charge higher premiums based on pre-existing health conditions. After this period, insurers in most states can use medical underwriting to evaluate your application, and applicants with significant health conditions may be denied coverage or charged substantially higher premiums. If you are under 65 and qualify for Medicare due to disability, Medigap open enrollment rights vary by state: some states require insurers to offer Medigap policies to disabled beneficiaries under 65 at the same terms as those over 65, while others do not. Planning your Medigap purchase around these enrollment windows ensures you get the most favorable rates and guaranteed acceptance.

Plan G policyholders benefit from the freedom to see any doctor or specialist who accepts Medicare anywhere in the United States without network restrictions, prior authorizations, or referral requirements. This flexibility is particularly valuable for snowbirds who split their time between states, frequent travelers, and beneficiaries who need specialized care at major medical centers that may be outside a managed care network. Plan G also covers the Medicare Part B 20 percent coinsurance, skilled nursing facility coinsurance, Part A deductible, and foreign travel emergency coverage up to plan limits. The comprehensive nature of Plan G means your healthcare costs become highly predictable: once you pay the annual Part B deductible and your monthly premiums, virtually all Medicare-approved services are covered at 100 percent.