Medicare Supplement Plan G

medicare supplement plan g

Medicare Supplement Plan G is quickly becoming one of the most popular Medigap plans. According to AHIP, Plan G enrollment increased by 31 percent from 2016 to 2017, by almost 400,000 enrollees. The only benefit difference between Plan G and Plan F is that Plan G does not pay for the Part B deductible. On the other hand, rates are considerably lower for Medicare Supplement Plan G.

Part A Hospital Coinsurance

  • Days 61-90 of a hospital stay in each Medicare benefit period.
  • Days 91-150 of a hospital stay. Medicare will only pay for these 60 days once during your lifetime.

Additional Part A Hospital Benefits

  • An extra 365 days of inpatient hospital care after you use your Original Medicare hospital benefits.

Part B Coinsurance

  • Pays for the Part B coinsurance after you meet your annual deductible.

Part A and B Blood Coverage

  • Pays for the first three pints of blood per calendar year.

Part A Hospice Coinsurance

  • Pays for outpatient prescriptions drug and inpatient respite care coinsurance.

Part A Deductible

  • In 2020, the Medicare Part A Deductible is $1,408. Medigap Plan G covers the deductible amount.

Skilled Nursing Facilities

  • In 2020, the co-payment for skilled nursing is $176/day for days 21-100. Medigap Plan G covers the co-payment amount.

Part B Excess Charges

  • If you go to a provider that does not accept Medicare assignment, that provider is allowed to charge an additional 15%. Plan G will cover that additional 15% charge at 100%.

Foreign Travel Emergency

  • Plan G pays only for emergency care outside the U.S.
  • Pays only after you first meet and pay a $250 deductible.
  • Pays 80% of billed charges for Medicare eligible expenses for medically necessary hospital, physician, and medical care received in a foreign country. You would be responsible for the other 20%.
  • Has a $50,000 lifetime maximum benefit.

Plan G Advantages:

  • Plan G has fewer Guaranteed Issue situations than Plans A, C, and F – rewarding people with more stable rate increases
  • Some people could save several hundred dollars by choosing Plan G over Plan F
  • Even though people with Plan G pay the Part B deductible, they often save more in premium by choosing Plan G over Plan F

Enrollment by State

The following data is provided by Ahip.org and it is as of December 31, 2018:

  • Texas leads all states with 254,314 enrollees in Plan G. For example, only Plan F has more enrollees.
  • Illinois had 161,490 people enrolled in Plan G. Above all, Plan G has the 2nd most enrollees, only behind Plan F.
  • Indiana had 113,457 enrollees in Plan G. That is to say only Plan F had more enrollees.
  • Pennsylvania had 111,214 enrollees in Medigap Plan G. Plan F and also Plan G had more enrollees.
  • Ohio had 110,710 enrollees in Plan G. In short, only Plan F has more enrollees but Plan N is a close third.
  • Georgia had 90,411 enrollees in Plan G. More enrollees than all plans except Plan F.
  • Virginia had 90,245 people enrolled in Plan G. Moreover, only Plan F had more enrollees.
  • Missouri had 87,259 enrollees in Plan G. More enrollees than all plans except Plan F.
  • Michigan had 85,583 people enrolled in Plan G. Behind Plans C and also F in total enrollees.
  • Arizona had 74,748 enrollees in Plan G. Moreover, only Plan F had more enrollees
  • New Jersey had 72,809 enrollees in Plan G. Plans F and also N had more enrollees.
  • Tennessee had 70,799 people enrolled in Medigap Plan G. More enrollees than all plans except Plan F.
  • South Carolina had 62,199 enrollees in Plan G. Plan G has more enrollees than the other plans except Plan F.
  • Nebraska had 58,261 enrollees in Plan G. Plan G has more enrollees than the other plans except Plan F.
  • Kansas had 53,829 people in Plan G. More enrollees than all plans except Plan F.
  • Iowa had 47,065 enrollees in Plan G. More enrollees than all plans except Plan F.