Key takeaways
- Plan G is a Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policy that helps cover out-of-pocket costs associated with Original Medicare (parts A and B), including copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles (except for the Medicare Part B deductible).
- Medigap Plan G provides 100% coverage for Part A coinsurance, hospital costs, Part A deductible, hospice care coinsurance, blood (first 3 pints), and skilled nursing facility care coinsurance, plus 80% coverage for foreign travel emergencies up to plan limits.
- Medigap Plan G does not cover prescription drugs, the Part B annual deductible, or benefits like dental, hearing, and vision that are not covered under Original Medicare.
“Medigap” is another term for Medicare supplement insurance. Medicare Supplement Plan G is extra insurance you can buy to help cover your portion of costs for medical services with Original Medicare, such as:
- copayments
- coinsurance
- deductibles (with the exception of the Medicare Part B deductible)
Original Medicare includes Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance).
Medigap Plan G is one of the most popular of the 10 Medigap policies because of its broad coverage, including coverage for Part B excess charges.
Keep reading to learn more about Medicare Part G and what it covers.
What are Medicare Part B excess charges?
Medicare Part B only covers services from healthcare professionals who participate in Medicare. If you choose a doctor who doesn’t participate in Medicare, they may charge up to 15% more than the standard Medicare rate.
If your Medigap plan does not cover Part B excess charges, you will pay these charges — known as excess charges — out of pocket.
Once you’ve paid your deductible, most Medigap policies cover coinsurance, and some also pay the deductible.
Coverage with Medicare Supplement Plan G includes:
| Medicare Plan G benefits | Coverage |
|---|---|
| Part A coinsurance and hospital costs after Medicare benefits are used up (up to an additional 365 days) | 100% |
| Part A deductible | 100% |
| Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment | 100% |
| blood (first 3 pints) | 100% |
| Part B deductible | not covered |
| skilled nursing facility care coinsurance | 100% |
| foreign travel emergency (up to plan limits) | 80% |
What does Plan G not cover?
Medicare Supplement Plan G does not cover prescription drugs. It also does not cover the Part B annual deductible, which is $257 in 2025.
Additionally, benefits such as dental, hearing, and vision, which are not covered under Original Medicare, would not be covered under Plan G.
Learn more about the Medicare Plan G pros and cons.
Medigap policies, such as Medicare Supplement Plan G, do not provide additional coverage but instead help cover some of the costs of Original Medicare.
Medigap policies are:
- sold by private insurance companies
- standardized and follow federal and state laws
- identified in most states by the same letter — in this case, “G”
A Medigap policy is for only one person. You and your spouse each need an individual policy.
If you want a Medigap policy, you:
- must have Original Medicare Part A and Part B
- cannot have a Medicare Advantage plan
- will pay a monthly premium (in addition to your Medicare premiums)
The best time to sign up for a Medigap policy is during the Medicare initial enrollment period, when you first become eligible. If you sign up at this time, a provider cannot deny you for underlying health conditions.
But, if you sign up later, such as during Medicare open enrollment, an insurance provider may deny you or charge you more if you have underlying health conditions.
Finding the right Medigap policy for you
One method of finding a Medicare supplement insurance policy that fits your needs is through Medicare’s website.
The online search tools set up by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) can help you search and compare plans available in your location.
If you live in Massachusetts, Minnesota, or Wisconsin, Medigap policies are standardized differently than in other states:
- In Massachusetts, Medigap plans have a Core Plan, a Supplement 1 Plan, and a Supplement 1A plan.
- In Minnesota, Medigap plans have Basic and Extended Basic benefit plans.
- In Wisconsin, Medigap plans have a Basic Plan, 50% and 25% cost-sharing plans, and a high deductible plan.
For detailed information, you can view policies on the Medicare website. For help over the phone, you can call your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) or your State Insurance Department.
Call 877-839-2675 to get the phone number for the SHIP in your state.
What are guaranteed issue rights with Medigap?
Guaranteed issue rights (also called Medigap protections) require insurance companies to sell you a Medigap policy during a one-time open enrollment period that:
- covers preexisting health conditions
- doesn’t cost more on account of past or present health conditions
Guaranteed issue rights typically come into play when your healthcare coverage changes, such as if you’re enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan and it stops providing care in your area or if you retire and your employee’s healthcare coverage is ending.
Visit this page for more information on guaranteed issue rights.
Medicare Supplement Plan G is a Medigap policy that helps cover healthcare costs not covered by Original Medicare. It’s one of the most comprehensive Medigap plans, including coverage for Medicare Part B excess charges.
Medigap policies are standardized differently in Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. If you live in one of those states, you’ll have to review their Medigap offerings to get a policy similar to Medicare Supplement Plan G.