Medicare Supplement Plan G is already one of the more popular options for people looking to fill some of the gaps left by Original Medicare. But there is another version of Plan G that works a little differently.
High Deductible Plan G offers the same standardized benefits as regular Plan G once you meet its yearly deductible. The tradeoff is simple: you take on more of your medical costs upfront in exchange for a generally lower monthly premium.
For the right person, that can make High Deductible Plan G an option worth considering.
What is a High Deductible Plan Plan G ?
High Deductible Plan G is a Medicare Supplement, also known as Medigap, policy that works alongside Original Medicare.
Original Medicare still pays its share of your Medicare-approved health care costs. You are then responsible for certain deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments until you reach the High Deductible Plan G deductible.
In 2026, that deductible is $2,950.
Once you meet the deductible, High Deductible Plan G begins paying its share of covered costs for the rest of the calendar year.
It is important to understand that you are not paying the full cost of your medical care until you reach $2,950. Medicare continues paying its portion of covered services as usual. You are responsible for the remaining Medicare-covered costs that would otherwise be picked up by your Medigap policy.
In a nutshell, you are accepting more out-of-pocket responsibility before your Medicare Supplement coverage kicks in.
What Does High Deductible Plan G Cover?
After you meet the yearly high deductible, High Deductible Plan G provides the same basic benefits as standard Plan G.
Those benefits include coverage for:
- Medicare Part A coinsurance and hospital costs
- Medicare Part B coinsurance or copayments
- The first three pints of blood
- Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayments
- Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance
- The Medicare Part A deductible
- Medicare Part B excess charges
- 80% of qualifying foreign travel emergency costs, up to plan limits
Like regular Plan G, High Deductible Plan G does not pay the Medicare Part B deductible.
The Part B deductible is $283 in 2026. However, the Medicare-covered expenses you pay, including deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments, can count toward meeting the High Deductible Plan G deductible.
Regular Plan G vs. High Deductible Plan G
The biggest difference between the two plans comes down to how much financial responsibility you want to take on during the year.
With regular Plan G, your Medicare Supplement coverage begins helping with covered expenses without requiring you to meet a separate high deductible. You are still responsible for the Medicare Part B deductible.
High Deductible Plan G requires you to pay more Medicare-covered costs yourself before the policy begins paying.
Why would anyone choose that?
The answer is the premium.
High-deductible plans generally come with lower monthly premiums because you are agreeing to take on more of the risk yourself.
Someone who prefers more predictable medical expenses may feel more comfortable paying a higher monthly premium for regular Plan G. Someone who would rather keep the monthly premium lower may prefer the high-deductible version.
Neither choice is automatically better. It depends on your budget and how comfortable you are taking on additional costs when you need medical care.
Who Might Consider High Deductible Plan G?
High Deductible Plan G may be attractive to people who do not visit the doctor often and want to keep their monthly Medicare Supplement premium lower.
You may want to consider it if you:
- Prefer a lower monthly premium
- Do not expect frequent medical expenses
- Have enough savings to handle unexpected health care costs
- Are comfortable taking on more financial risk during the year
Of course, none of us can predict when we are going to get sick or need medical care.
Someone who rarely goes to the doctor could still have an unexpected hospital stay, procedure, or health problem. That is why it is important to look at more than just the monthly premium.
Ask yourself whether you could comfortably handle the additional out-of-pocket costs if you had a more expensive medical year.
If the answer is yes, the premium savings may make High Deductible Plan G worth comparing.
What Happened to High Deductible Plan F?
High Deductible Plan G became more important after changes were made to Medicare Supplement Plan F.
People who became newly eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020, cannot purchase Plan F or High Deductible Plan F.
People who were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020, may still be able to purchase Plan F if it is available to them.
One of the biggest differences between Plan F and Plan G involves the Medicare Part B deductible.
Plan F can cover the Part B deductible for people who are eligible to purchase the plan. Plan G cannot.
Because Plan F is no longer available to people newly eligible for Medicare, Plan G has become one of the most comprehensive standardized Medicare Supplement options available to newer Medicare beneficiaries.
Does High Deductible Plan G Cost the Same Everywhere?
No.
Private insurance companies sell Medicare Supplement policies, and premiums can vary considerably from one company to another.
Your price may depend on several factors, including your age, where you live, the insurance company you choose, available discounts, and how the company prices its policies.
High Deductible Plan G is also not offered by every insurance company or in every state.
This is one reason it can pay to compare.
So, when comparing High Deductible Plan G options, do not stop after looking at the first price you find.
Can I Switch to High Deductible Plan G?
You may be able to switch from another Medicare Supplement policy to High Deductible Plan G, but there are a few things to keep in mind.
Your Medigap Open Enrollment Period gives you special protections when you first become eligible. Outside of that period or another guaranteed issue situation, an insurance company may be able to ask health questions and use medical underwriting, depending on your situation and state rules.
That means changing Medicare Supplement plans is not always as simple as deciding you want a different plan.
You also should not cancel your existing Medicare Supplement coverage until your new policy has been approved and you know when the new coverage will begin.
Is High Deductible Plan G Worth It?
That depends on you.
High Deductible Plan G can be a good way to lower your monthly Medicare Supplement premium, but those savings come with additional responsibility when you receive medical care.
One way to look at it is to compare what you would save in premiums during the year against how much you could potentially pay out of pocket.
Then ask yourself one important question:
Would I still be comfortable with this plan if I had an expensive medical year?
If you can comfortably handle the deductible and value the lower monthly premium, High Deductible Plan G may deserve a closer look.
If you would rather have more predictable costs throughout the year, regular Plan G may make more sense.
Got Medicare Questions?
We hope that this information on Medicare and telehealth services is useful to you. This article was updated on August 26, 2026. To read more about High Deductible Plan F, click here.
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