High-Deductible Medicare Supplement Plan G

Medicare Supplement Insurance high-deductible Plan G offers the coverage benefits of standard Plan G with lower monthly premiums in exchange for the higher deductible.

Who Can Sign Up for High-Deductible Medigap Plan G?

In order to apply for high-deductible Medicare Supplement Plan G, you must be enrolled in both Medicare Part A and Part B and live in an area that is serviced by a high-deductible Plan G option. 

How Does High-Deductible Plan G Work? 

High-deductible Medigap Plan G will offer the same benefits as standard Medigap Plan G, except the plan won’t pay its share of covered costs until you meet annual deductible amount.

Once you spend a certain amount in qualified out-of-pocket Medicare expenses, you will meet your deductible and your Plan G benefits will kick in. 

The 2024 deductible amount for high deductible Plan G is $2,800. The Plan G deductible is standardized by the federal government and will be consistent no matter where the policy is sold or by whom. 

What Does Medigap High-Deductible Plan G Cover?

High-deductible Medigap Plan G will provide all of the same benefits as standard Plan G, which include:

Plan G Benefits

Medicare Part A Coinsurance

Medicare Part A is known as hospital insurance, and it includes cost-sharing measures like coinsurance. Inpatient hospital stays covered by Medicare Part A require coinsurance fees if they exceed 60 days.

Medigap Plan G pays for all of these coinsurance fees after you meet your deductible.

Medicare Part B Coinsurance and Copayment

Medicare Part B usually charges a coinsurance and copayments for doctor visits and other outpatient care. Medicare Part B typically pays for 80% of the Medicare-approved amount for covered services, leaving a 20% coinsurance in most cases.

After you meet your deductible, Plan G pays the 20% coinsurance or copayment costs.

First 3 Pints of Blood

Original Medicare only covers the fourth pint of blood and beyond. If you need blood while in the hospital, Medigap Plan G covers the cost of the first 3 pints after you meet your deductible.

Part A Hospice Care Coinsurance or Copayment

Hospice care provides medical treatment and care during a terminal illness. Medicare covers these services, but it requires copayments. These copayments include $5 for each symptom and pain relief prescription drugs and 5% of the Medicare-approved amount for inpatient respite care.

Plan G covers these costs completely once you meet your deductible.

Coinsurance for Skilled Nursing Facility

You have to pay coinsurance after you are admitted to a skilled nursing facility as an inpatient for more than 20 days.

The coinsurance charge is $204 per day for days 21-100 of an inpatient skilled nursing facility stay in 2024. After day 100, you are responsible for all costs.

Once you meet your deductible, Plan G fully covers your skilled nursing facility coinsurance.

Medicare Part A Deductible

Medicare Part A comes with a deductible, which is $1,632 per benefit period in 2024. Medigap Plan G will cover your deductible in full for each benefit period you require.

Medigap Plan G will cover your Part A deductible in full for each benefit period you require, once you meet your Plan G deductible.

Medicare Part B Excess Charges

Doctors can bill a procedure for up to 15% higher than what Medicare pays for it. The extra expenses are called “excess charges.”

If there are any excess charges for an approved visit, a person insured under Plan G would be fully covered after they meet their deductible.

Foreign Travel Emergency

This benefit provides coverage for medical care provided outside of the United States. Medigap Plan G pays for 80% of the billed charges after you meet your deductible for the year.

For more detailed information, read our page about Medicare Supplement Insurance benefits.

Medicare Plan G Pros and Cons

Explore the key advantages and drawbacks of Medicare Plan G with this concise list of pros and cons. Discover the comprehensive coverage Medicare Plan G pros and cons that you might encounter when considering this plan. Here are 5 pros and 5 cons of the plan.

How Much Will High-Deductible Plan G Cost?

Like any Medigap plan, high-deductible Plan G premium costs will depend on the insurance carrier selling the plan, the pricing model used and where you live. 

High-deductible Plan G will likely be among the more affordable Medigap plans because it requires you to meet the deductible before any benefits kick in.

In 2023, the average monthly premium for high-deductible Plan G was around $57 per month.¹ 

How Does High-Deductible Plan G Compare to High-Deductible Plan F?

Plan G and Plan F are the only two Medigap plans to offer a high-deductible option. 

The primary difference in the benefits of these two plans is that high-deductible Plan F covers the Medicare Part B deductible, while high-deductible Plan G will not.

In 2024, the Medicare Part B deductible is $240 for the year. Although the new high-deductible Plan G will not provide coverage of the Part B deductible, the contributions you make toward the Part B deductible will also count toward your Plan G deductible. 

Why Should I Enroll in Medigap High-Deductible Plan G?

High-deductible Plan G may be a good fit for beneficiaries who want more affordable monthly premiums.

You may also consider high-deductible Plan G if plan to travel outside of the U.S. during retirement and you want some coverage for foreign travel emergency care costs when you are abroad.

What happened to Plan F and Plan C in 2020?

The popular Medigap Plan F and Plan C isn't available to anyone who became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. 

Some recent legislation has made it illegal for Medigap plans to cover the Medicare Part B deductible for newly eligible Medicare beneficiaries. Plan F and Plan C are the only Medigap plans that cover the Part B deductible.

Anyone who was eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020, may sign up for Plan F (including High-Deductible Plan F) or Plan C, as long as one of these plan options is available where they live.

If you were already enrolled in Plan F or Plan C before January 2020, you will be allowed to keep your coverage. 

How Do I Enroll in High-Deductible Plan G?

High-deductible Medigap Plan G may be offered where you live. Call today to speak with a licensed insurance agent who can help you compare the Medigap plan options that are available in your area.