Medicare Supplement Plan G Guide for 2027: Coverage, Cost, and Trade-offs

Medicare Supplement Plan G is the most popular Medigap plan for beneficiaries who turned 65 after January 2020. The reason is simple: Plan F — the old gold standard — was retired for new enrollees, and Plan G inherited almost all of its coverage with a lower premium. If you’re on Original Medicare and want predictable monthly costs, Plan G is probably where the conversation starts.

What Plan G covers

Plan G fills nearly every gap left by Original Medicare (Parts A and B). After you pay the 2027 Part B deductible of $283, Plan G covers:

• Part A coinsurance and hospital costs (up to 365 extra days after Medicare benefits end)
• Part A deductible
• Part A hospice coinsurance
• Part B coinsurance or copayment
• Part B excess charges (for providers who don’t accept Medicare assignment)
• Skilled nursing facility coinsurance
• First three pints of blood
• Foreign travel emergency, up to plan limits

The one gap: Plan G does not cover the annual Part B deductible. After you pay that deductible once each year, Plan G takes care of the rest.

What Plan G does NOT cover

Medigap plans — including Plan G — only cover gaps in Original Medicare. They don’t cover:

• Prescription drugs (that’s Part D, enrolled separately)
• Routine dental, vision, or hearing
• Long-term care
• Private-duty nursing

If you want prescription drug coverage with a Medigap plan, you’ll add a standalone Part D plan. For dental, vision, or hearing, you’ll either add a supplemental policy or pay out of pocket.

What Plan G costs

Plan G premiums vary widely by location, insurer, age, and tobacco use. For 2027, expect monthly premiums roughly in these ranges:

• Age 65 non-smoker in Florida: $130–$220/month
• Age 70 non-smoker in Florida: $160–$260/month
• Age 80 non-smoker in Florida: $220–$340/month

Note: Medigap plans are standardized by federal law. Plan G from one carrier has the same coverage as Plan G from any other carrier. So the only reason to pay more is customer service or financial stability of the carrier — the benefits are identical.

Plan G vs. Plan N: how they differ

Plan N is the usual alternative to Plan G. It has a lower monthly premium but adds small copays at each service:

• Up to $20 copay for most doctor visits
• Up to $50 copay for emergency room visits (waived if admitted)
• Does not cover Part B excess charges

If you see doctors frequently or have a provider who doesn’t accept Medicare assignment, Plan G usually wins the math. If you’re healthy and see providers maybe 3-4 times a year, Plan N can save you $20-$50/month.

Plan G vs. Plan F: what changed in 2020

Plan F covered everything Plan G covers plus the Part B deductible. It was the richest Medigap plan. But Congress decided the Part B deductible shielding was leading to overutilization, so Plan F was retired for anyone who became eligible for Medicare after January 1, 2020. If you were eligible before that date, you can still buy Plan F; otherwise, Plan G is the closest equivalent.

When to enroll

The best time to buy Plan G (or any Medigap plan) is during your Medigap Open Enrollment Period — the 6-month window starting the first month you have both Part B and are age 65 or older. During that window, carriers cannot deny coverage or charge you more based on your health history. Outside that window, Medigap enrollment is subject to medical underwriting in most states.

A few states (New York and Connecticut among them) have year-round guaranteed-issue Medigap rules. In those states, Plan G is available anytime without underwriting — but premiums tend to be higher to compensate for that generosity.

Should you choose Plan G?

Plan G is a strong default for someone who:

• Wants predictable monthly costs with low out-of-pocket risk
• Travels or splits time between states (Medigap works nationwide with any Medicare-accepting provider)
• Has a provider who charges Part B excess fees (common for specialists in some areas)
• Would rather pay a known premium than risk surprise bills

Plan G is probably not the right fit for someone who:

• Rarely sees a doctor and wants to minimize monthly costs (consider high-deductible Plan G or Plan K/L)
• Wants a $0 monthly premium and is okay with a network and copays (consider Medicare Advantage instead)

How to compare Plan G carriers

Since coverage is federally standardized, compare carriers on three things: (1) current premium, (2) rate increase history over the last 5-10 years, and (3) financial strength (AM Best rating A- or better). A carrier with a stellar premium today but a track record of 8%+ annual rate increases is often more expensive after three years than a carrier that started higher.

A licensed Medigap agent can run this comparison for you — our team specifically keeps the rate-history data current for the carriers we represent.