Medicare Supplement Plan F vs. Plan G: Differences, Pros & Cons

Plan F covers the $283 Part B deductible, while Plan G does not. But Plan G costs $51 less per month on average, making it the better value for most eligible enrollees.

Compare premiums and coverage to find the best Medigap plan for you.

Written by Mark Fitzpatrick

Updated: April 21, 2026

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Key Takeaways

Plan F costs $271 monthly at age 65 versus Plan G's $220, a $51 gap that widens to $63 by age 75.

Plan F covers the $283 Part B deductible in 2026 but Plan G does not, leaving that cost to the enrollee.

Plan G saves $2,357 annually at age 65, more than double the $283 deductible it skips.

Plan F is unavailable to anyone who became Medicare-eligible on or after January 1, 2020.

How Do Plan F and Plan G Differ?

Medicare Supplement Plan F and Plan G share nearly identical coverage, with one exception: the Medicare Part B deductible, set at $283 in 2026. Plan F covers that deductible in full but Plan G does not. At age 65, Plan F averages $271 per month while Plan G averages $220, a $51 monthly difference that grows to $63 by age 75.

Plan G's premium advantage totals $2,640 per year at age 65, more than double the $283 deductible it leaves unpaid, producing a net annual savings of roughly $2,357 for most enrollees. Eligibility is also a factor: federal law bars anyone who became Medicare-eligible on or after January 1, 2020, from purchasing Plan F.


Average Monthly Premium (Age 65)	$271	$220
Average Monthly Premium (Age 75)	$342	$279
Part B Deductible Coverage	Covered	Not Covered ($283 in 2026)
Annual Premium Difference (Age 65)	$612 more than Plan G	$612 less than Plan F
Net Annual Cost Advantage (Age 65)	None	$2,357 ($2,640 savings minus $283 deductible)
Eligibility Restriction	Pre-2020 Medicare enrollees only	Available to all Medicare enrollees
Part A Deductible Coverage	Covered	Covered
Part B Coinsurance Coverage	Covered	Covered
Part B Excess Charges Coverage	Covered	Covered
Skilled Nursing Facility Coinsurance	Covered	Covered
Foreign Travel Emergency Coverage	Covered	Covered

What Do Plan F and Plan G Cover?

Medicare Supplement Plan F and Plan G cover the same core cost exposures under Original Medicare: Part A hospital deductible, Part B coinsurance, Part B excess charges, skilled nursing facility coinsurance and foreign travel emergency costs. Both plans eliminate the most substantial out-of-pocket risks associated with hospital stays and outpatient care. The single coverage difference between Plan F and Plan G is the Medicare Part B annual deductible, which Plan F absorbs and Plan G leaves to the enrollee.

Federal standardization means the benefit structure of Plan F or Plan G is set by CMS, not by the insurer selling it. A Plan G policy from Humana pays out identically to one from Cigna or Blue Cross Blue Shield. The seven benefits below apply to every Plan F and Plan G policy sold in a standard Medigap state, regardless of insurer, pricing method or premium level.

Benefits Both Plans Include

Part A Deductible

Both plans cover the $1,736 Part A deductible in 2026, eliminating the upfront hospital admission cost.

Part B Coinsurance

After the Part B deductible is met, both plans pay the 20% coinsurance on all Medicare-approved outpatient services.

Part B Excess Charges

Both plans cover the difference when providers charge up to 15% above Medicare's approved amount for a service.

Skilled Nursing Facility Coinsurance

Both plans cover the $217 daily coinsurance for days 21 through 100 of a skilled nursing stay in 2026.

Hospital Coinsurance

Both plans cover Part A coinsurance for hospital stays beyond 60 days, including the lifetime reserve day costs.

Blood Transfusions

Both plans cover the first three pints of blood per year, which Original Medicare otherwise leaves to the enrollee.

Foreign Travel Emergency

Both plans cover 80% of emergency care costs outside the United States after a $250 deductible, up to a $50,000 lifetime maximum.

What Plan F Covers That Plan G Doesn't?

The only benefit Plan F provides that Plan G does not is coverage of the Medicare Part B deductible, set at $283 in 2026. Plan F absorbs that cost entirely, meaning enrollees owe nothing out of pocket for any Medicare-covered service in a given year. Plan G enrollees must meet the $283 threshold once per calendar year before outpatient cost-sharing coverage takes effect.

Where Plan G Makes Up the Difference Financially

Plan G matches Plan F on every covered benefit except the Part B deductible and its lower premium more than compensates for that gap. The net financial comparison at age 65:

Plan G's monthly premium averages $51 less than Plan F, saving $612 annually.
The Part B deductible Plan G leaves to the enrollee: $283 in 2026.
Net dollar advantage of Plan G over Plan F: roughly $329 per year.

Pros and Cons of Medicare Supplement Plan F vs. Plan G

Plan F and Plan G differ on one coverage line, but the premium gap between them is substantial. Plan F trades a higher monthly cost for complete elimination of out-of-pocket expenses. Plan G accepts one annual deductible of $283 and returns the savings every month. The table below puts both sides of that exchange in plain view.


Pros	No out-of-pocket costs for any Medicare-covered service: deductibles, coinsurance, copays and excess charges are all absorbed. One monthly premium is the entire financial obligation for covered care. Well suited to enrollees with heavy annual utilization who want cost certainty across every visit and procedure. Covers the $283 Part B deductible that Plan G passes to the enrollee.	Saves an average of $51 per month at age 65 and $63 at age 75 compared to Plan F, totaling $612 and $756 in annual premium savings respectively. Premium savings exceed the $283 Part B deductible by roughly $2,357 at age 65, producing a net financial advantage for most enrollees. Available to all Medicare enrollees with no eligibility cutoff date. Covers Part B excess charges, all hospital costs, skilled nursing coinsurance and every other benefit Plan F carries except the Part B deductible.
Cons	Monthly premium averages $271 at age 65, $51 more than Plan G and $342 at age 75, $63 more than Plan G. Restricted to enrollees who became Medicare-eligible before January 1, 2020: not purchasable by anyone entering Medicare after that date The closed risk pool of pre-2020 enrollees ages over time, a dynamic that may push Plan F premiums higher relative to Plan G over the coming years. For most enrollees, the annual premium difference exceeds the deductible it covers, making Plan F a more expensive route to only marginally more coverage.	Does not cover the Part B deductible: enrollees pay $283 in 2026 before outpatient cost-sharing begins each calendar year For a small number of very high-utilization enrollees, the annual deductible adds a layer of financial tracking that Plan F eliminates entirely

How Much Do Plan F and Plan G Cost?

The premium gap between Medicare Supplement Plan F and Plan G widens with age: $51 per month at age 65, growing to $63 by age 75. The Part B deductible that Plan G leaves uncovered stays fixed at $283 in 2026 regardless of age, while the premium difference compounds annually. The table below shows 2026 national average premiums for both plans across four age points.


65	$271	$220	$51	$612
75	$342	$279	$63	$756

Which Plan Is Right for You?

Two variables determine the better Medigap choice for most enrollees: whether Plan F is still an option based on Medicare eligibility date and whether the $283 Part B deductible Plan G skips is worth the premium difference. Anyone who became Medicare-eligible after December 31, 2019, cannot purchase Plan F by federal law, making Plan G the closest available alternative. For pre-2020 enrollees, health care use patterns and premium tolerance determine which plan delivers better value.

When Plan F Makes More Sense

Plan F suits a specific enrollee profile: Medicare-eligible before January 1, 2020, with high health care utilization and a preference for paying more each month to eliminate all out-of-pocket costs at the point of service. Enrollees who visit specialists frequently or require regular outpatient procedures may find the predictability of zero cost-sharing worth the $612 annual premium difference over Plan G.

You became Medicare-eligible before January 1, 2020.

Federal law restricts Plan F to this group only; post-2019 enrollees cannot purchase it.

You visit specialists frequently or have chronic conditions

High annual utilization means the $283 deductible Plan F covers gets hit early and often.

You prefer zero out-of-pocket costs

Plan F eliminates all cost-sharing for Medicare-covered services, simplifying budgeting.

You value predictability over premium savings

Paying $612 more annually removes the need to track or pay any annual deductible.

Why Most Enrollees Find Plan G the Stronger Option

For most eligible enrollees, Plan G's premium savings exceed the deductible it leaves behind, producing a net annual advantage of roughly $2,357 at age 65. Plan G also carries no eligibility restriction, making it accessible to all Medicare enrollees regardless of when they first enrolled. The scenarios below show when Plan G delivers the clearest financial benefit.


You became Medicare-eligible on or after January 1, 2020	Plan F is unavailable to you by federal law, Plan G is the closest alternative with nearly identical coverage.
Your annual health care use is moderate	Plan G saves $2,640 annually at age 65, the $283 deductible you pay leaves $2,357 net savings.
You want to avoid potential closed risk pool premium increases	Some actuaries project that Plan F's closed enrollment pool may drive premiums higher over time as the group ages and no new enrollees join.
You're comfortable with one annual out-of-pocket cost	The $283 deductible is predictable and fixed, Plan G's lower monthly premium offsets it by more than double.

Medigap Plan G vs. Plan F: FAQ

Common questions about Plan F vs. Plan G center on three topics: cost math, eligibility rules and what happens when enrollees attempt to switch between plans. The answers depend on enrollment timing, state-specific underwriting rules and current premium levels. Enrollees considering a switch from Plan F to Plan G should confirm whether medical underwriting applies in their state before making a change.

How much more does Plan F cost than Plan G?

At age 65, Plan F runs $51 more per month than Plan G on average ($271 vs. $220), adding up to $612 extra annually. By age 75 that monthly gap reaches $63 or $756 per year.

What does Plan F cover that Plan G doesn't?

The Part B deductible is the only benefit Plan F covers that Plan G does not. At $283 in 2026, it's a fixed annual amount that Plan F absorbs entirely. Every other benefit, from Part B coinsurance to excess charges, is identical across both plans.

Can I still buy Plan F?

Plan F is off the market for anyone who became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. That cut-off is set by federal law and applies regardless of health status, income or state of residence. Pre-2020 enrollees can still purchase it where available.

Is Plan G better than Plan F?

For most enrollees who can access both, Plan G produces better net value. Its annual premium savings of $2,640 at age 65 outrun the $283 deductible it leaves to the enrollee by roughly $2,357.

Can you switch from Plan F to Plan G?

Moving from Plan F to Plan G is possible in most states, but medical underwriting applies outside guaranteed issue windows. Insurers can charge higher premiums or decline an application based on health history. Guaranteed issue rights are limited to specific qualifying events under federal rules.

Are Plan F and Plan G available in all states?

Plan G is sold in most states. Plan F remains available to pre-2020 Medicare enrollees in most states as well. Massachusetts, Minnesota and Wisconsin standardize their Medigap markets differently and don't use the federal letter system, so neither Plan F nor Plan G is sold there.

About Mark Fitzpatrick

Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer in Connecticut, is MoneyGeek's resident insurance expert. He has analyzed the insurance market for almost a decade, first with LendingTree and now with MoneyGeek, conducting original research on hundreds of insurance companies and millions of insurance rates for insurance shoppers.

He writes about economics and insurance on MoneyGeek, breaking down complex topics so people can have confidence in their purchase. Like all MoneyGeek analysts, Mark collects and analyzes independent cost and consumer experience data on insurance companies to provide objective recommendations in our content that are independent of any of MoneyGeek's insurance company partnerships.

His insights — on products ranging from car, home and renters insurance to health and life insurance — have been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times and NPR among others.

Mark holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He started his career working in financial risk management at State Street before transitioning to analysis of the personal insurance market. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!

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