Plan F vs. Plan G: Which Is the Better Value? (2026–2027)
Bottom Line
For comparable standard policies, Plan G costs less when annual premium savings exceed its Part B deductible exposure. Plan F may cost less with a smaller gap and enough deductible charges, but eligibility and underwriting can restrict access.
Standard Plan G costs less overall in 2026 when its annual premium is more than $283 below standard Plan F’s, assuming you qualify for both and compare their standardized benefits. Plan F’s extra benefit is payment of the $283 annual Part B deductible. With a smaller premium difference, Plan F can be worth considering.
If you also have a separate need for permanent life insurance, comparing IUL companies deserves its own review, apart from this Medicare decision.
What changes between Plan F and Plan G?
Medicare Supplement insurance and Medigap are two names for the same coverage. These policies supplement Original Medicare: Part A, hospital insurance, and Part B, medical insurance. Medicare Advantage is a different way to receive Medicare benefits; Medigap cannot pay its copayments or deductibles.
As you explore Medicare Supplement plan options, focus on which expenses a policy leaves for you to pay. This comparison concerns standard F and G policies in states using these standardized plan letters. Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin standardize Medigap differently.
| Standardized benefit | Standard Plan F | Standard Plan G |
|---|---|---|
| Part B annual deductible | Covered | You pay |
| Part B coinsurance or copayments | Covered | Covered |
| Part B excess charges | Covered | Covered |
| Part A deductible and hospital coinsurance benefits | Covered | Covered |
| Skilled nursing facility coinsurance | Covered | Covered |
| Part A hospice coinsurance or copayments | Covered | Covered |
| Blood benefit, first three pints | Covered | Covered |
| Foreign travel emergency care | 80%, subject to plan limits | 80%, subject to plan limits |
Understanding what Medicare Plan G covers helps separate benefits from price: the insurer sets the premium, while the standardized plan defines the protection you purchase. The table’s standardized benefits remain subject to applicable conditions and limits.
Neither plan generally covers routine dental or vision care, hearing aids, or long-term custodial care. New Medigap policies do not include a Part D prescription drug benefit; compare standalone Part D coverage separately.
Who can still buy Plan F?
The key date is when you first became eligible for Medicare:
- Before January 1, 2020: You may still buy Plan F if it is offered and you meet the applicable enrollment or underwriting requirements, even if you enrolled in Medicare later.
- On or after January 1, 2020: You cannot buy Plan F.
Plan F’s pre-2020 eligibility restriction is federal. Confirm your original eligibility date if you had Medicare before age 65.
Existing Plan F policyholders do not have to switch because of the restriction. Standardized Medigap policies renew automatically, and an insurer cannot cancel coverage simply because your health worsens. You must continue paying premiums; other limited cancellation grounds still apply.
Compare the premium gap with $283
For a full year with unchanged premiums, calculate:
Annual extra cost of Plan F = (Plan F monthly premium − Plan G monthly premium) × 12.
Compare that result with the $283 Part B deductible for 2026. Dividing $283 by 12 gives a monthly break-even difference of approximately $23.58, assuming you incur the full deductible. Use annual totals for the exact comparison.
The following examples are hypothetical arithmetic, not available rates or personalized quotes. Both assume 12 months of coverage and the full deductible being incurred.
| Hypothetical extra Plan F premium | Extra annual premium | Result after including Plan G’s $283 deductible |
|---|---|---|
| $35 per month | $420 | Plan G costs $137 less |
| $15 per month | $180 | Plan F costs $103 less |
The decision follows from the same calculation:
- Plan F costs more than $283 extra annually: Plan G’s premium savings exceed its additional deductible exposure.
- Plan F costs up to $283 extra annually: Plan F may cost less overall if you incur enough deductible charges. If you use little deductible-subject care, Plan G may still cost less.
- Plan F has an equal or lower premium: Its deductible coverage gives it the cost advantage when you incur deductible charges, assuming otherwise comparable policies.
These totals compare Medigap premiums and the Part B deductible only. Continue budgeting separately for Medicare premiums, Part D, and care outside the policies’ coverage.
For a midyear switch, compare premiums for the months remaining and the Part B deductible still unpaid. The deductible applies annually.
All dollar amounts here concern 2026. For coverage beginning in 2027, redo the calculation using official 2027 Medicare amounts and quotes for that effective date.
Compare actual premiums and future affordability
There is no single national Plan F or Plan G premium. Rates vary by insurer, location, and other factors. Obtain written quotes using the same ZIP code, applicant information, and effective date. Check which discounts you qualify for and whether the quoted premium depends on medical underwriting.
Compare standard policies with standard policies. Identify high-deductible versions separately, and check whether a quote is for Medicare SELECT, which may require particular providers for full benefits. A lower premium needs to be evaluated alongside those conditions.
Ask how the insurer prices renewals:
- Attained-age pricing: Your current age affects premiums.
- Issue-age pricing: Pricing uses your age when you buy.
- Community pricing: Premiums are not based on your age.
All three approaches can have increases for other reasons. Request the policy’s recent rate history and any announced increase, but treat those as information rather than a forecast.
When high-deductible Plan G deserves a separate comparison
If standard premiums strain your budget, understanding how high-deductible Plan G works can help you assess another option where available. You take on more of Original Medicare’s cost sharing before this supplement pays.
The high deductible is $2,950 in 2026, excluding premiums. Medicare continues paying its share of covered care while you meet the supplement’s deductible.
Request a separate quote and compare the premium savings with the additional costs you could face. Consider whether you could pay the deductible early in the year without delaying care. The $283 standard F-versus-G test does not measure this different arrangement, and the high deductible is not a cap on every health expense.
Check your right to switch before canceling coverage
Your federal Medigap Open Enrollment Period lasts six months, starting the first month you are at least 65 and enrolled in Part B. During it, insurers cannot deny a policy because of your health. Afterward, without a guaranteed issue right or applicable state protection, you may face underwriting, higher prices, or rejection.
The annual October 15–December 7 Medicare open enrollment period concerns Medicare Advantage and Part D choices. It does not generally guarantee acceptance into Medigap without underwriting. State laws may provide additional opportunities.
Also consider switching Medigap companies for the same plan: another insurer’s standard Plan F may preserve your standardized benefits at a different premium. Keeping the same letter does not automatically remove underwriting requirements. Confirm your specific rights with your state insurance department before proceeding.
Get written acceptance, the final premium, and the effective date before replacing coverage. Medicare provides a 30-day “free look” period to evaluate the new policy; you pay both premiums during the overlap. Keep the old policy until you have decided to keep the replacement. Include the overlap premiums when estimating your first-year switching savings.
Prepare a comparison you can act on
Gather your current policy and renewal notice, original Medicare eligibility date, Part B start date, ZIP code, and desired coverage date. Request written standard Plan G quotes and, if eligible, standard Plan F quotes.
For each offer, record the final premium, discounts, pricing method, underwriting decision, and coverage start date. Then apply the annual premium-gap calculation and decide whether the savings justify paying the deductible yourself. Confirm acceptance and replacement timing before giving up coverage you already have.