Medicare plans can be confusing – there are just so many available. Medicare supplement plan G is very similar to the Plan F option. Coverage varies depending on if you have Part A and/or B, so it’s important to know what benefits you’ll receive and if this is a good option for you.
What is Medicare Supplement Plan G Plan?
Plan G is a top choice because it lowers your premiums while also offering top-tier coverage. A major consideration is that you’ll need to pay the annual deductible for Medicare Part B ($203 in 2021) before the Plan G coverage begins.
Once you pay the deductible, you’ll enjoy a lot of coverage that’s lacking in Original Medicare.
What Does Medigap Plan G Cover?
Plan G covers most medical costs that Medicare Part a and Part B do not.
Medigap Benefits | Medigap Plans | |||||||||
F* | G* | N | ||||||||
Part A coinsurance and hospital costs up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits are used up | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||||||
Part B coinsurance or copayment | Yes | Yes | Yes*** | |||||||
Blood (first 3 pints) | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||||||
Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||||||
Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||||||
Part A deductible | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||||||
Part B deductible | Yes | No | No | |||||||
Part B excess charge | Yes | Yes | No | |||||||
Foreign travel exchange (up to plan limits) | 80% | 80% | 80% | |||||||
Out-of-pocket limit** | N/A | N/A | N/A | |||||||
* Plans F and G also offer a high-deductible plan in some states. With this option, you must pay for Medicare-covered costs (coinsurance, copayments, and deductibles) up to the deductible amount of $2,340 in 2020 ($2,370 in 2021) before your policy pays anything. (Plans C and F aren’t available to people who were newly eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020.)
*** Plan N pays 100% of the Part B coinsurance, except for a copayment of up to $20 for some office visits and up to a $50 copayment for emergency room visits that don’t result in inpatient admission.
If you reside in Massachusetts, Minnesota, or Wisconsin – things are a little different!
- You live in Massachusetts
- You live in Minnesota
- You live in Wisconsin
Medicare Part A Hospital Services
Hospital care is expensive, and if you don’t have Medigap Plan G, you’ll be paying a lot of the expenses out of pocket. Under Plan G, you’ll receive the following benefits that are not covered under Medicare Part A:
- $1,408 deductible paid for first 60 days
- $352/per day for days 61 to 90
- Full pay for 91 days or after along with 100% eligible expenses paid
- $0 payment for skilled nursing facility care
- Full payment for Medicare copayment and coinsurance for hospice
- All blood service costs
Medicare Part B Medical Services
Medicare Part B also has an annual deductible ($203 in 2021) and only covers 80% of charges. Medigap Plan G picks up all of the costs except the Part B deductible.
Any excess charges under Part B are covered, too.
The first three pints of blood and 20% of approved amount remainders are covered. If you need to go to the clinic and have laboratory work done, you can have peace of mind that you’ll pay $0 if you have Part G.
If you like to travel, you’ll be happy to know that Part G will provide some additional benefits for the first 60 days that you’re out of the country. Part G will not pay the first $250 that you’ll pay for the year, but it will cover 80% of the remainder of charges.
There is a maximum lifetime benefit of $50,000 for foreign travel coverage. If you exceed this amount during your lifetime, Part G will not provide any further coverage.
