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.