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

Updated: June 22, 2026

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

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

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

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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 are nearly identical in coverage, with one exception: the Medicare Part B deductible, set at $283 in 2026. Plan F pays that deductible in full, but Plan G doesn't. At age 65, Plan F averages $271 a month against Plan G's $220, a $51 gap that grows to $63 by age 75.

Plan G's premium advantage totals $2,640 a year at age 65, more than double the $283 deductible it leaves to the enrollee, for a net annual saving of roughly $2,357. 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
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    Part A Deductible

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

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    Part B Coinsurance

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

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    Part B Excess Charges

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

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    Skilled Nursing Facility Coinsurance

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

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    Hospital Coinsurance

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

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    Blood Transfusions

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

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    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 the premium difference more than offsets that gap. Here's the net financial comparison at age 65:

  • Plan G's monthly premium is $51 below Plan F, for $612 in annual savings.
  • The Part B deductible Plan G leaves to the enrollee is $283 in 2026.
  • The net annual advantage of Plan G over Plan F is roughly $329.

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 large. 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. Review the table:

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: whether Plan F is available based on Medicare eligibility date and whether the $283 Part B deductible Plan G leaves unpaid justifies the premium gap.

Federal law closed Plan F to anyone who became Medicare-eligible after December 31, 2019, leaving Plan G as the closest available alternative for that group. For pre-2020 enrollees, health care use and premium tolerance determine which plan is the better value.

When Plan F Makes More Sense

Plan F is the right fit for a specific group: Medicare-eligible before January 1, 2020, with high utilization and a preference for eliminating all out-of-pocket costs at the point of service. Enrollees who see specialists often or need regular outpatient procedures may find zero cost-sharing worth the $612 annual premium over Plan G.

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    You became Medicare-eligible before January 1, 2020.

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

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    You visit specialists frequently or have chronic conditions

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

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    You prefer zero out-of-pocket costs

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

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    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 unpaid, producing a net annual advantage of roughly $2,357 at age 65. Plan G has no eligibility restriction and is available to all Medicare enrollees regardless of enrollment date. The scenarios below identify when Plan G's financial advantage is strongest.

You became Medicare-eligible on or after January 1, 2020
Federal law makes Plan F unavailable. Plan G covers the same benefits minus the Part B deductible and is the next closest option.
Your annual health care use is moderate
Plan G saves $2,640 a year at age 65. After the $283 deductible, net savings total approximately $2,357.
You want to avoid potential closed risk pool premium increases
Actuaries project that Plan F's closed enrollment pool will push premiums up over time as the group ages with no new members entering. Plan G doesn't have that exposure.
You're comfortable with one annual out-of-pocket cost
The $283 Part B deductible is fixed each year. Plan G's lower monthly premium exceeds that amount by more than double, so the math favors Plan G in most years.
Compare Medigap Plan F and Plan G Rates

Ensure you are getting the best rate for your insurance. Compare quotes from the top medicare supplement companies.

Medigap Plan G vs. Plan F: FAQ

Questions about Plan F vs. Plan G cluster around cost math, eligibility rules and what happens when enrollees attempt to switch. The answers depend on enrollment timing, state-specific underwriting rules and current premium levels. Anyone considering a switch from Plan F to Plan G should confirm whether medical underwriting applies in their state before acting.

About Mark Fitzpatrick

Mark Fitzpatrick, Licensed P&C Insurance Expert, MoneyGeek

Mark Fitzpatrick, a licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer in Connecticut, is MoneyGeek's resident insurance expert. He has spent nearly a decade analyzing the market, first at LendingTree and now at MoneyGeek, where he produces original research on hundreds of carriers and millions of rates across auto, home, renters, health and life insurance.

He covers economics and insurance at MoneyGeek, and his work has been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times and NPR, among other outlets.

Like all MoneyGeek analysts, he draws on independent cost and consumer experience data. No insurance company partnership influences his recommendations.

Mark holds a B.A. from Boston College and an M.A. in Economics and International Relations from Johns Hopkins University. He started his career in financial risk management at State Street and is also a five-time “Jeopardy!” champion.

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