Medicare Supplement Plan G vs Plan F – Which Medigap Plan Covers More in 2026?

Note: Medicare Supplement Plan F is no longer available for people who turned 65 after January 1, 2020. 

If you’re planning to enroll in a Medicare Supplement Plan, two of the most common options are Plan G and Plan F.   

Of the 10 standardized Medicare Supplement Plans available today, these two plans provide beneficiaries with the most coverage. 

But which one is better for your unique situation? 

In this article, we’ll go over these two plans,  and then compare them side-by-side to show you which might be a better fit for you. 

We’ll also talk about how Medigap Plan F is only available for people who turned 65 before January 1, 2020, and why it might not be worth enrolling in despite its coverage. 

Quick Answer: Medicare Supplement Plan G and Plan F are Most Popular With…

Medicare Supplement Plan G is common for people who want predictable costs. It typically costs more than other plan types (such as Plan N), but leaves you with low and predictable out-of-pocket expenses. 

Plan G covers most of the gaps of Original Medicare, except the Medicare Part B deductible, which costs $283 in 2026. 

Prior to January 1, 2020, Medicare Supplement Plan F was the most popular Supplement plan because it covered all the out-of-pocket expenses associated with Medicare, including the Medicare Part B deductible (which Plan G doesn’t cover). 

People who turned 65 before January 1, 2020 may still enroll in a Plan F. However, since younger beneficiaries are no longer eligible for Plan F, the monthly premiums for people already on the plan are expected to rise as the pool of enrollees ages.

What are Medicare Supplement Plans (Medigap)?

Both Plan G and Plan F are Medicare Supplement Plans (also known as Medigap Plans). 

These plans are provided by private insurance companies and are designed to help you cover the out-of-pocket expenses of Original Medicare (Medicare Parts A and B). 

There are 10 standardized Medicare Supplement Plans available today (namely Plans A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N). Since these plans are standardized, all Plan Gs provide the same level of coverage as every other Plan G regardless of which insurance company you get them from (the same goes for Plan F and the eight other plan letters). 

Unlike Medicare Advantage Plans, Medicare Supplement Plans typically don’t include prescription drug coverage. Nor do they provide coverage for items and services not covered by Original Medicare. 

Medicare Supplement Plans simply “supplement” Original Medicare by helping you lower your out-of-pocket expenses. 

However, unlike Medicare Advantage (the main alternative to Supplement Plans), Medicare Supplement Plans allow you to visit any doctor or hospital that takes Medicare. You usually don’t have to worry about networks with these plans. 

Note: “Medigap” and “Medicare Supplement” are interchangeable terms; they mean the same thing. 

Medigap Plan G vs Plan F: The Full Comparison

Here are all the important differences to know between Medicare Supplement Plan G and Plan F.

Medigap Plan G vs Plan F Comparison Chart

	Plan G	Plan F
Monthly Cost (Premium)	Varies by zip code*See premiums chart below	Varies by zip code*See premiums chart below
Part A deductible	✅	✅
Part A coinsurance and hospital costs (up to 365 days after Medicare benefits are used)	✅	✅
Part A hospice care coinsurance and copayments	✅	✅
Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance	✅	✅
Blood benefit (first 3 pints)	✅	✅
Part B deductible	❌	✅
Part B coinsurance and copayments	✅	✅
Part B excess charge	✅	✅
Foreign travel emergencies	80%	80%
Out-of-pocket limit	N/A	N/A

Medigap Plan G

Medicare Supplement Plan G has a reputation as a very comprehensive Medicare Supplement Plan. 

With low and predictable out-of-pocket costs, a wide network of doctors and hospitals to choose from, and plenty of new enrollees every year, people who want predictable costs tend to lean towards Plan G. 

However, before enrolling in Plan G, it’s important to know about things like its faster rate increases than other Supplement Plans. 

How Much Medigap Plan G Costs

The exact cost of a Medicare Supplement Plan G depends on several factors, such as your age, gender, tobacco use, whether you qualify for household discounts, and your ZIP code. 

To help you get an idea of how much this plan costs, here are the median premiums for a 65-year-old male who doesn’t smoke tobacco and doesn’t qualify for household discounts in the most populated cities in the country. 

City	Median Plan G Premium*
New York City, NY	$485/mo
Los Angeles, CA	$217/mo
Chicago, IL	$201/mo
Houston, TX	$195/mo
Phoenix, AZ	$204/mo

*Numbers taken from Medicare’s Plan Finder Tool.

Based on the numbers above, you can see that the average premium for Plan G is around the $200/mo range in most cities that use attained-age pricing (prices go up as you get older). Some areas, like New York City, may cost more due to state rules or using different pricing structures, while Plan G may cost less in other areas. 

Medigap Plan G Rate Increases

According to a report by Medicare Market Insights, Medicare Supplement Plan G premiums have increased by an average of 6.8% in 2023, 9.8% in 2024, and 13.3% in 2025 (9.97% average in these three years). 

If you’re considering a Plan G, it’s important to take these rate increases into account. Medicare Supplement Plans are typically at their lowest price when you’re at age 65, but can get more expensive as the years go by. 

A $200/mo Plan G for a 65-year-old today could double to $427.78 in as little as eight years (if we assume a steady 9.97% rate increase per year). 

What Does Medigap Plan G Cover?

Medicare Supplement Plan G covers most of the out-of-pocket expenses of Original Medicare. Including: 

• Medicare Part A Deductible – Medicare Part A (the inpatient hospital part of Medicare) has a $1,736 deductible per benefit period in 2026. Medicare Supplement Plan G covers this, so you won’t have to pay this deductible when you’re admitted to a hospital. 

• Part A Coinsurance and Hospital Costs – Medicare Part A typically has copays if you stay at a hospital for more than 60 days. With a Medicare Supplement Plan G, you won’t have to pay these because they’re covered by your plan. 

• Part A Hospice Care Coinsurance and Copayments – Hospice care also falls under Medicare Part A. Plan G will typically cover your coinsurance and copayments if you opt for hospice care. 

• Skilled Nursing Facility Care Coinsurance – Medicare Part A covers your stay at a skilled nursing facility after an inpatient hospital admission (at least 3 days admitted). Plan G will typically cover any coinsurance you’re responsible for in this scenario. 

• Blood Benefit – If you need to buy blood for a transfusion, Medicare won’t cover the first 3 pints. But if you have a Plan G, it will cover these first 3 pints for you. 

• Part B Coinsurance and Copayments – Once you’ve paid the Part B deductible, you’re typically responsible for paying 20% for Part B covered services. However, this coinsurance is covered by Medicare Supplement Plan G. 

• Part B Excess Charges – Some doctors can charge up to 15% more than the Medicare-approved amount; this is known as an excess charge. Plan G covers excess charges for you, so you won’t have to pay this should you get hit by one. 

• Foreign Travel Emergencies – Original Medicare typically doesn’t cover you outside the country. However, Medicare Supplement Plan G will cover you in  emergencies. They typically cover 80% of your bill, with a lifetime limit of $50,000. 

What Medigap Plan G Does NOT Cover

• Medicare Part B Deductible – Medicare Part B, the outpatient and medical part of Medicare, has a $283 deductible in 2026 that you’d pay before coverage kicks in. Medicare Supplement Plan G does NOT cover this deductible. 

• Maximum Out-of-Pocket Limit – Technically, Medicare Supplement Plan G doesn’t have a set maximum out-of-pocket limit. However, since your only out-of-pocket expense is the Medicare Part B deductible, you can say the most you’ll spend out-of-pocket for covered services with Plan G is $283 in 2026. 

Who is Medigap Plan G For? 

Medicare Supplement Plan G is typically chosen by people who can afford the higher premiums and rate increases, and also want predictable costs. 

It’s also popular with people who are expecting higher medical costs due to existing issues. These people are okay with the higher monthly premiums because they reason that the out-of-pocket savings will make up for it. 

Finally, some people sign up for Plan G when they’re first eligible because it can become difficult to join later on. Most Medicare Supplement Plans require you to medically qualify for the plan if you enroll six months after your Medicare Part B start date. This window is known as the Medigap Open Enrollment Period. 

Meanwhile, Medicare Supplement Plan G is usually avoided by people who want the lowest-cost plans (these people often choose Medicare Advantage), or savvy people who want to save money while still having a high level of coverage (these people may opt for something like a Plan N). 

Medigap Plan F

Medigap Plan F was the most common Medicare Supplement Plan before it was no longer offered to people aging into Medicare after January 1, 2020. 

People who turned 65 before January 1, 2020, can still sign up for Plan F. People who are already on the plan can also keep their Plan F. 

However, even if you are eligible for Plan F, there are some things we’d highly recommend you keep in mind about this plan…for instance, some people believe it could go into a “death spiral” (more on this later).

Let’s take a look at what it covers and whether you may want to avoid it. 

How Much Does Medigap Plan F Cost? 

If you’re eligible to sign up for Medicare Supplement Plan F, the exact premium will also depend on your age, gender, tobacco use, whether you qualify for household discounts, and your ZIP code. 

Here are the median premiums for a 71-year-old male (people aged 65 today no longer qualify for Plan F unless they had Medicare Part A before January 1, 2020) who doesn’t smoke tobacco and doesn’t qualify for household discounts in the five most populated cities in the country:

City	Median Plan F Premium*
New York City, NY	$580/mo
Los Angeles, CA	$382/mo
Chicago, IL	$326/mo
Houston, TX	$318/mo
Phoenix, AZ	$337/mo

*Numbers taken from Medicare’s Plan Finder Tool. 

What Medigap Plan F Covers

Medicare Supplement Plan F covers all the “gaps” of Original Medicare. This leaves you with ZERO out-of-pocket expenses for covered services. This includes: 

• Medicare Part A Deductible – Plan F covers the $1,736 Medicare Part A deductible if you’re admitted to the hospital. 

• Part A Coinsurance and Hospital Costs – If you stay at a hospital for more than 60 days, Plan F will cover the daily Medicare Part A copays. 

• Part A Hospice Care Coinsurance and Copayments – Plan F will also cover your costs if you choose to receive hospice care. 

• Skilled Nursing Facility Care Coinsurance – If you’re admitted to a skilled nursing facility after spending at least 3 days as an inpatient at the hospital, Medicare Part A and your Plan F will cover your costs. 

• Blood Benefit – Plan F covers the first 3 pints of blood if you need a blood transfusion. 

• Medicare Part B Deductible – Unlike most other Medicare Supplement Plans available today, Plan F covers the Medicare Part B deductible. 

• Part B Coinsurance and Copayments – Plan F also covers the 20% coinsurance you’re typically responsible for with Original Medicare. 

• Part B Excess Charges – If you’re hit with an excess charge (up to 15% more than the Medicare-approved amount), your Plan F will cover this charge for you. 

• Foreign Travel Emergencies – If you have an emergency outside the country, Plan F covers 80% of your bill, with a lifetime limit of $50,000. 

What Medigap Plan F Does NOT Cover

Medicare Supplement Plan F covers all the gaps of Original Medicare. It doesn’t have a set out-of-pocket maximum since you don’t have any out-of-pocket costs for covered services with a Plan F. 

What is an Insurance Death Spiral? 

An insurance death spiral often happens when an insurance plan closes its doors to new enrollees. Its current pool of beneficiaries starts to age, get sick, and use more services, which pushes the plan to raise its premiums to keep up with its expenses. 

Insurance companies usually thrive when the premiums of younger, healthier beneficiaries offset the expenses of beneficiaries who receive plenty of healthcare services. 

Since Medicare Supplement Plan F is no longer accepting people who turn 65 on or after January 1, 2020, many agents predict that Plan F may go into an insurance death spiral in the coming years. 

That’s why many Medicare beneficiaries avoid Medicare Supplement Plan F, even if they’re eligible for it. 

Who is Medigap Plan F For?

Nowadays, Medigap Plan F is usually seen as being for people who signed up for this plan prior to January 1, 2020, and chose to keep their plan instead of switching to another option. 

This may be because they can no longer medically qualify for another Medicare Supplement Plan. Or, it may be because their particular plan hasn’t hit a “death spiral” yet. 

The Key Differences Between Medigap Plan G and Plan F

	Plan G	Plan F
Premiums	Plan G usually has premiums around the $175-$225/mo range for people aged 65	Plan F typically has premiums in the $300-$400/mo range for people aged 71
Coverage	Plan G covers the gaps of Original Medicare except the Medicare Part B deductible, which costs $283 in 2026.	Plan F covers all the gaps of Original Medicare, leaving you with no out-of-pocket expenses for covered services.
Availability (AHIP, 2023)	77% of Medicare insurance companies offer Plan G	86% of Medicare insurance companies offer Plan F
Popularity (AHIP, 2023)	5,336,942 people were enrolled in a Plan G in 2023	4,920,780 people were enrolled in a Plan F in 2023
Plan Popularity Rank (AHIP, 2023)	#1: Plan G overtook Plan F as the most common Medicare Supplement Plan in 2023	#2: Despite fewer people joining the plan, Plan F remains the 2nd most common Medicare Supplement Plan.
People Who Often Choose It	People who want predictable out-of-pocket costs.	People who signed up for Plan F before it barred people aging into Medicare from joining.

Frequently Asked Questions About Medigap Plan G vs Medigap Plan F

Can I Switch From a Medigap Plan F to a Medigap Plan G? 

It depends on your health condition and the state you live in. 

Most Medicare Supplement Plans today require you to medically qualify for the plan if you’re joining after your Medigap Open Enrollment Period. This is known as medical underwriting. 

If you’re relatively healthy and haven’t had a major illness, health condition, or hospitalization in the past few years, you can sometimes pass medical underwriting. However, if you’ve had cancer, a recent heart attack, or have a condition that’s expensive to treat, Medicare Supplement Plans will usually decline your application. 

Medical underwriting questions and rules vary from insurance company to insurance company. Some companies are stricter, while others are more lenient. 

What Are Birthday Rules? 

Some states, such as Connecticut and New York, allow you to switch between Medicare Supplement Plans anytime without medical underwriting. 

Other states, such as California, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming, allow you to switch from Plan F to Plan G during certain periods of the year. 

Many of these state rules are known as “Birthday Rules” since they usually allow you to switch around your birthday (others have fixed dates when you can switch regardless of your birthday). 

Check with your local state regulations to see if you can take advantage of these special rules. 

Can I Switch From a Medigap Plan G to a Medigap Plan F?

You can switch from a Plan G to a Plan F if you medically qualify for it, or if your state has special rules that allow you to switch without medical underwriting. 

For states with special rules (like birthday rules), make sure it allows you to switch to a plan that’s greater than your current plan (Plan G is generally considered lesser than Plan F). Many states with these special rules only allow you to switch to a plan that’s equal to or less than your current plan. 

However, be sure to do your research before switching to a Plan F. 

Again, Medicare Supplement Plan F is no longer available for people aging into Medicare after January 1, 2020. With fewer new enrollees and an aging pool of beneficiaries, Plan F premiums are expected by many to rise faster than other plans in the coming years. 

What’s an Alternative to Medigap Plan G?

Medicare Supplement Plan N is widely considered the most common alternative to Plan G today. 

Plan N typically has lower premiums than Plan G (around $30-$50/mo less in most areas), but doesn’t cover the Medicare Part B deductible and Part B excess charges. 

Medicare Supplement Plan N also has copays of up to $20 per doctor’s office visit, and up to $50 per emergency room visit (unless you’re admitted to the hospital). 

You can read more about how Plan N compares with Plan G in our full comparison article.

What’s an Alternative to Medigap Plan F? 

Medicare Supplement Plan G is widely considered the most common Medigap Plan today. 

If you are unable to medically qualify for Plan G, and your state doesn’t have special rules that allow you to switch without medical underwriting, you can also consider joining a Medicare Advantage Plan. 

Medicare Advantage Plans work very differently from Medicare Supplement Plans. 

While Medicare Supplement Plans typically have higher premiums for lower out-of-pocket costs, Medicare Advantage Plans can sometimes have $0 premiums but higher out-of-pocket costs. 

Medicare Advantage Plans usually have networks of doctors and hospitals, and may require prior authorization for some services. 

To learn more about Medicare Advantage Plans, check out our full overview of these plans here. 

Need Help Deciding Between Medigap Plan G and Plan F?

Whether you’re still unsure if Medicare Supplement Plan G or Plan F is the right choice for you…

Or you need help switching from one plan to the other, we’re here to help. 

Our team of licensed insurance agents can help you find the right plan for your needs, help you find insurance companies that are less strict with medical underwriting, and assist you with any other concerns you may have. 

The best part?

We do this all at no cost to you! 

So call or text us at +1 877-360-6565 (TTY: 711), or click the button below to book an appointment.