Medicare Supplement Plan G: The Most Comprehensive Medigap Coverage in 2024

Medicare Supplement Plan G has become the most popular Medigap plan for new Medicare enrollees since Plan F was phased out for new beneficiaries in 2020. Plan G covers every Medicare-approved cost except the Part B annual deductible ($240 in 2024). For most people, that means zero surprise medical bills from doctors, specialists, outpatient procedures, or hospital stays — as long as the provider accepts Medicare. Understanding exactly what Plan G covers and what it costs is essential before your Initial Enrollment Period closes.

Plan G Coverage Breakdown

• Part A Hospital Coinsurance

  Covers the $408/day coinsurance for hospital days 61–90 and $816/day for lifetime reserve days 91–150. After 150 days, you pay all costs — Plan G covers up to 365 additional hospital days after Medicare benefits are exhausted.

• Part A Deductible

  Pays the full $1,632 Part A deductible per benefit period in 2024. Without Plan G, a second hospitalization in the same year triggers another $1,632 deductible — Plan G eliminates this exposure entirely.

• Part B Coinsurance (80/20 Gap)

  After you pay the $240 Part B deductible once per year, Plan G pays 100% of the 20% coinsurance on all Medicare-approved outpatient services. A $50,000 surgery would otherwise cost you $10,000 out of pocket.

• Skilled Nursing Facility Coinsurance

  Medicare covers skilled nursing facility days 1–20 in full; days 21–100 cost $204/day in 2024. Plan G pays this coinsurance, protecting you from up to $16,320 in potential SNF costs per benefit period.

• Foreign Travel Emergency

  Covers 80% of emergency medical costs abroad after a $250 deductible, up to a $50,000 lifetime limit. Original Medicare provides zero international coverage, making this benefit valuable for retirees who travel.

Plan G premiums are set by insurers using one of three rating methods. Community-rated plans charge the same premium regardless of age — premiums only increase with inflation. Issue-age-rated plans base the premium on the age when you first enroll, then increase only for inflation. Attained-age-rated plans start lowest but increase as you get older. A 65-year-old non-smoker enrolling in Plan G in 2024 typically pays $90–$160/month depending on state and insurer. The same person at age 75 may pay $150–$250/month on an attained-age plan. Always ask which rating method an insurer uses before purchasing.

Plan G makes the most financial sense if you regularly see specialists, take expensive outpatient treatments, or want the certainty of zero surprise bills. The break-even calculation is simple: if your total annual medical costs under Original Medicare alone would exceed your Plan G premiums plus the $240 Part B deductible, Plan G pays for itself. For someone with a single MRI, two specialist visits, and a minor procedure, that threshold is easily crossed. Compare at least three insurers using a licensed Medicare broker — premiums for identical Plan G coverage vary by 40% or more across companies.