Quick Answer: Medicare Supplement Plan G is the most popular Medigap plan for new enrollees in 2026, and for good reason: after you pay the $283 Part B deductible, it covers nearly every other out-of-pocket cost Original Medicare leaves behind. The trade-off is the premium itself, which averages roughly $166 to $220 a month depending on your age, location, and carrier. Whether that’s worth it depends on how much you value predictability over a lower monthly bill.
If you’ve started comparing Medigap plans, you’ve probably noticed Plan G comes up more than any other. There’s a reason for that: it’s become the default recommendation for people newly eligible for Medicare, and it’s consistently the best-selling Medicare Supplement plan on the market. But “most popular” and “right for you” aren’t always the same thing, especially once you see the premium.
This is one of the most common comparisons I walk clients in the Tulsa area through, so let’s look at exactly what Plan G covers, what it actually costs in 2026, how it stacks up against Plan N, and how to think about whether the premium makes sense for your situation.
What Is Medicare Supplement Plan G?
Medicare Supplement Plan G, sometimes called Medicare Part G, is a standardized Medigap policy that works alongside Original Medicare. After you meet the annual Part B deductible, which is $283 in 2026, Plan G picks up nearly everything else: the Part A deductible ($1,736 in 2026), Part A and B coinsurance, skilled nursing facility coinsurance, and Part B excess charges, plus a foreign travel emergency benefit.
Plan G became the top recommendation for new enrollees after Plan F, which covered the Part B deductible too, closed to anyone who became Medicare-eligible on or after January 1, 2020. If you’re new to Medicare, Plan G is now the most comprehensive option actually available to you.
What Plan G Doesn’t Cover
Plan G isn’t total coverage. You’ll still pay the annual $283 Part B deductible yourself before Plan G kicks in, and Plan G doesn’t include dental, vision, hearing, or prescription drug coverage. You’ll need a standalone Part D plan and, if you want them, separate dental and vision policies.
How Much Does Medicare Supplement Plan G Cost in 2026?
Plan G premiums vary significantly by age, location, gender, and insurance carrier, typically ranging from $130 to $300 or more a month, with national averages landing somewhere around $166 to $220 a month for a 65-year-old. That’s on top of the standard Part B premium of $202.90 a month that everyone pays regardless of which Medigap plan they choose.
The gap between carriers can be dramatic for identical coverage. Since Medigap plans are standardized by the federal government, meaning every Plan G policy covers exactly the same benefits no matter who sells it, the only real differences between carriers are price, customer service, and financial stability. A few hundred dollars a year in premium differences between companies for the exact same coverage is common, which is exactly why comparing actual rates in your area matters more than picking a familiar name.
High-Deductible Plan G: A Lower-Cost Alternative
If the standard Plan G premium feels steep, High-Deductible Plan G offers the same coverage after you meet a much higher annual deductible, $2,950 in 2026, in exchange for a considerably lower monthly premium, often $52 to $135 a month. For healthy beneficiaries who rarely need care and have the savings to cover the deductible if something comes up, this can meaningfully lower your annual costs while keeping the same protection against a catastrophic year.
Is Plan G Worth the Premium?
The honest answer is that it depends entirely on how you weigh predictability against monthly cost. With Plan G, your maximum annual out-of-pocket exposure for Medicare-covered services is the $283 Part B deductible plus your premium. No surprise hospital bills, no 20% coinsurance on a major surgery, no skilled nursing facility charges. For people on a fixed retirement income who want to budget precisely, that predictability is the entire point.
The trade-off is that you’re paying $1,560 to $3,600 or more a year in premium whether you use much care or not. If you’re healthy and rarely see a doctor, that money may feel wasted in any given year, the same way home insurance can feel wasted in a year without a claim.
A Trade-Off Worth Understanding
Plan G is expensive insurance against expensive outcomes. In a healthy year, you’re likely paying more than you’d spend under a cheaper plan. In a year with a major hospitalization or surgery, Plan G can save you thousands of dollars compared to Medicare Advantage or a plan with more cost-sharing. Which scenario matters more to you is really the whole decision.
Plan G vs. Plan N: What’s the Real Difference?
Plan N is Plan G’s closest competitor, and the two get compared constantly because their coverage is so similar. Both cover the Part A deductible, Part A and B coinsurance, and skilled nursing facility coinsurance. Neither covers the Part B deductible.
The differences come down to three things. Plan N includes small copays, up to $20 for certain office visits and up to $50 for ER visits that don’t result in admission, while Plan G has none. Plan N doesn’t cover Part B excess charges, the up-to-15% extra a doctor can charge if they don’t accept Medicare’s approved rate as full payment, while Plan G covers those in full. In exchange for those two gaps, Plan N typically costs $20 to $50 less per month than Plan G.
A Real Scenario Worth Considering
Say you’re comparing Plan G and Plan N in Oklahoma, where Part B excess charges are allowed. If you see several specialists a year and want zero exposure to either copays or excess charges, Plan G’s higher premium buys real peace of mind. If you’re generally healthy, see the doctor infrequently, and are comfortable with the occasional small copay, Plan N’s lower premium could save you real money over the course of a year without meaningfully changing your risk.
How Do You Decide If Plan G Is Right for You?
Start with your own health picture and risk tolerance rather than what’s most popular. If you have chronic conditions, see specialists regularly, travel internationally, or simply want to never think about a Medicare bill again, Plan G’s comprehensive coverage tends to earn its premium. If you’re healthy, budget-conscious, and comfortable with a bit of cost variability, Plan N or High-Deductible Plan G may deliver better value for the same underlying protection.
Because Plan G is standardized, the coverage is identical no matter which company you buy it from, so the real decision comes down to comparing actual rates for your specific age and location. Want a Plan G quote for your area? I can pull real rates from multiple carriers so you’re comparing apples to apples rather than guessing. You can schedule a free consultation and we’ll run the numbers together.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Medicare Supplement Plan G?
Medicare Supplement Plan G is a standardized Medigap policy that covers nearly all of Original Medicare’s out-of-pocket costs after you pay the annual Part B deductible, including the Part A deductible, coinsurance, and Part B excess charges.
Is Medicare Supplement Plan G worth it in 2026?
For many people, yes, especially those who want predictable costs, see specialists often, or travel frequently. The premium, typically $130 to $300 a month, is the main trade-off against that comprehensive coverage.
What is the difference between Plan G and Plan N?
Plan G has no copays and covers Part B excess charges, while Plan N includes small copays for office and ER visits and does not cover excess charges. Plan N typically costs $20 to $50 less per month than Plan G.
How much does Medicare Plan G cost in 2026?
Plan G premiums typically range from $130 to $300 or more a month depending on age, location, gender, and carrier, with national averages around $166 to $220 a month for a 65-year-old.
What is High-Deductible Plan G?
High-Deductible Plan G offers the same coverage as standard Plan G but requires you to meet a $2,950 annual deductible first, in exchange for a much lower monthly premium, often $52 to $135 a month.
The Bottom Line
Medicare Supplement Plan G earns its popularity by covering nearly everything Original Medicare leaves behind after one predictable annual deductible. Whether the premium is worth it comes down to your own math: how much you value certainty over a lower monthly bill, and how often you actually expect to use care.
Want a Plan G quote for your area? schedule a free consultation and we’ll pull real rates from multiple carriers so you can compare Plan G, Plan N, and Medicare Advantage side by side. You can also browse our Medicare plan options or read our Medicare frequently asked questions for more detail.