You're comparing Medigap plans and one line stands out: High Deductible Plan G, with a monthly premium a fraction of regular Plan G. It pays the exact same benefits as regular Plan G. The one difference is that it only starts covering your costs after you first pay a high annual deductible yourself, which is $2,950 in 2026.

In This Guide

How High Deductible Plan G Works in Medigap

Start with what stays the same. Medigap plans are sold by letter, and every insurer offering a given letter has to include the identical benefits, so Plan G is Plan G no matter which company sells it. High Deductible Plan G covers the exact same things regular Plan G does. The benefits don't shrink at all.

What changes is when the coverage starts. With regular Plan G, the plan pays its share from your first covered bill. With the high-deductible version, you pay your own Medicare-covered costs first, meaning the coinsurance, copayments, and deductibles you would normally owe, up to $2,950 in 2026. Only once you reach that amount does the plan begin paying.

Medicare's own Medigap guide puts it plainly: you pay for Medicare-covered costs up to the deductible amount of $2,950 before your policy pays anything. One of those costs is the Part B deductible, $283 in 2026, which counts toward your $2,950, along with the Part A hospital deductible and the 20% coinsurance you would owe on doctor visits and outpatient care.

Once you cross $2,950, the plan works like standard Plan G for the rest of that year, picking up your Medicare cost-sharing. Then the deductible resets every January.

One practical note before you plan around it: Medicare's guide says the high-deductible option is offered in some states, so confirm it is actually sold where you live.

Same Benefits, Much Lower Premium: The Trade-Off

This is the whole pitch. Because you are taking on that first $2,950 yourself, the insurer's risk is lower, so the monthly premium runs much lower than regular Plan G. You are trading a bigger possible out-of-pocket hit in a bad year for a smaller, predictable bill every month.

Think of it as two ways to buy the same coverage. Regular Plan G is the higher-premium, almost-no-surprise option: you pay more each month and owe very little when you actually use care. High Deductible Plan G flips that around. You pay less each month, but you need to be ready to cover up to $2,950 if you have a heavy year of medical care.

So the math tends to favor the high-deductible plan when your yearly premium savings are larger than the deductible you are likely to face. In a healthy year where you barely touch the system, that low premium is pure savings. In a year with surgery or a hospital stay, you will probably pay the full deductible and come out closer to even. Neither version is a gimmick. They are just built for different comfort levels with risk.

Who High Deductible Plan G Suits

It tends to fit people who are relatively healthy, have some savings set aside to absorb the deductible if a bad year hits, and want catastrophic-style protection without a big monthly premium. If you would rather bank the premium difference and handle the smaller bills yourself, this is the plan that lets you do that.

It is a weaker fit if a surprise $2,950 bill would genuinely strain your budget, or if you use a lot of care every year and value paying almost nothing at the point of service. In that situation, regular Plan G, with its higher premium and minimal cost-sharing, may be worth the extra monthly cost.

And if you are still deciding between Medigap and Medicare Advantage in the first place, that is a separate comparison worth its own research. High Deductible Plan G is a Medigap option, so it only comes into play once you have chosen the Medigap route.

High Deductible Plan G vs. Plan F in Medigap

Here is where people mix things up. There are two high-deductible Medigap plans, F and G, and they are not equally available to everyone.

High Deductible Plan F is closed to newcomers. If you became newly eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020, you cannot buy any version of Plan F, including the high-deductible one. High Deductible Plan G has no such lock. It is open to people who are new to Medicare on or after that date.

So for most people signing up today, High Deductible Plan G is the high-deductible Medigap plan actually on the table. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services states it directly: the high-deductible version of Plan F is only available to those not new to Medicare before January 1, 2020, while High Deductible Plan G is available to those new to Medicare on or after that date.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the High Deductible Plan G deductible for 2026?

It is $2,950 in 2026, up from $2,870 in 2025. That is the amount of Medicare-covered costs, meaning your coinsurance, copayments, and deductibles, that you pay yourself before the plan starts paying anything. The deductible resets at the start of each calendar year.

Does High Deductible Plan G cover less than regular Plan G?

No. The benefits are identical to regular Plan G. The only difference is that you pay the high annual deductible first, and in exchange the monthly premium is typically much lower than regular Plan G.

Can I still buy High Deductible Plan F instead?

Only if you were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020. People who became newly eligible on or after that date cannot buy Plan F in any form, but they can buy High Deductible Plan G, which stays open to new enrollees.

Is High Deductible Plan G worth it?

It depends on your health and your budget. In a healthy year, the low premium is close to pure savings. In a heavy year, you may pay the full $2,950 deductible before the plan pays. It tends to suit healthy people who have savings to cover the deductible and want a low monthly premium.

Does the deductible include the Part B deductible?

Yes. Medicare-covered costs like the Part B deductible, which is $283 in 2026, count toward your $2,950 deductible, as do the Part A hospital deductible and your 20% coinsurance on outpatient care.

Learn More

MedicareMedigap (Medicare Supplement): How the Lettered Plans WorkMedigap (Medicare Supplement) explained: how the standardized A-N plans work, Plan G vs Plan N, closed C and F plans, and the 6-month guaranteed-issue window. MedicareMedigap Plan G vs Plan N: Which Should You Pick?Medigap Plan G vs Plan N comes down to two things: Plan N's office and ER copays and its excess-charge gap, traded for a lower premium. Here's how to choose. MedicareCan You Still Get Medigap Plan F?Can I still get Medigap Plan F? It depends on one date. If you were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020, yes. If not, here's what to buy instead. MedicareHow Medigap Premiums Are Priced: The Three Rating MethodsTwo people can pay very different premiums for the same Medigap plan. Here's how community-rated, issue-age, and attained-age pricing methods differ. MedicareHow Much Does Medicare Cost in 2026?How much does Medicare cost in 2026? Part A, B, C, and D premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance, plus IRMAA and ways to lower your Medicare costs.

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The information on Brevy.com is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal, financial, or medical advice. Rules vary by state and program and change frequently. Always verify with the relevant agency or a qualified professional. Brevy is not a law firm, financial advisor, or healthcare provider.

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Expert eldercare guidance from Brevy's team of healthcare professionals and researchers.