Medigap Plan F vs. Plan G: Which Coverage Fits Your Budget?

If you're shopping for a Medicare Supplement — also called Medigap — policy, two plan letters dominate the conversation: Plan F and Plan G. Both offer broad, predictable coverage that fills the gaps left by Original Medicare Parts A and B. But there's a critical eligibility rule, a meaningful premium difference, and a simple math calculation that should drive your decision. Understanding all three can help you avoid overpaying for coverage you don't need — or underbuying and facing unexpected bills.

The most important fact to know upfront: Plan F is no longer available to anyone who became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. Congress eliminated it for new enrollees as part of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA), which prohibited Medigap plans from covering the Part B deductible for newly eligible beneficiaries. If you turned 65 in 2020 or later, or became eligible through disability after that date, Plan F is simply off the table for you — Plan G is the most comprehensive option you can buy. If you became eligible before January 1, 2020, you can still purchase Plan F, and if you already have it, you can keep it.

So what's the actual difference between the two plans? It comes down to one line item: the Medicare Part B deductible. In 2025, that deductible is $257 per year. Plan F pays it for you. Plan G does not — you pay it once at the start of each calendar year before Medicare begins covering your outpatient services. Everything else — Part A hospital coinsurance, Part B coinsurance and copayments, skilled nursing facility coinsurance, Part A hospice care coinsurance, the first three pints of blood, Part A deductible, and foreign travel emergency coverage (up to plan limits) — is covered identically by both plans. Neither plan has network restrictions, so you can see any doctor or specialist in the country who accepts Medicare.

Here's where the math matters. Because Plan F covers that $257 deductible, insurers charge more for it — typically $30 to $60 more per month than a comparable Plan G policy, though premiums vary significantly by age, gender, tobacco use, location, and the insurer's pricing method. Run the numbers: if Plan F costs you $45 more per month than Plan G, that's $540 more per year in premiums. You're paying $540 extra to avoid a $257 deductible. That's a net loss of $283 annually. In most scenarios, Plan G is the better financial value — and that gap tends to widen over time as Plan F's risk pool ages and premiums rise faster than Plan G's.

There's also a longer-term pricing dynamic worth understanding. Because Plan F is closed to new enrollees, its risk pool is shrinking and aging. Older, sicker enrollees tend to use more healthcare, which drives up claims costs, which drives up premiums. Plan G, by contrast, continues to attract new, younger enrollees, which helps stabilize its risk pool. Many insurance analysts expect Plan F premiums to increase at a faster rate than Plan G premiums over the coming decade. If you currently have Plan F and are paying significantly more than a comparable Plan G policy, it may be worth shopping — though switching Medigap plans typically requires passing medical underwriting unless you qualify for a guaranteed issue right or live in a state with special protections.

Speaking of state protections: a handful of states give Medigap enrollees a 30-day window around their birthday each year to switch to an equal or lesser plan without medical underwriting. These so-called birthday rule states include California, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, and Oregon. If you live in one of these states and currently have Plan F, your birthday window may be an opportunity to switch to Plan G without health questions — potentially locking in lower premiums going forward. Contact your state's insurance commissioner's office or visit Medicare.gov's Medigap comparison tool to check plan availability and pricing in your ZIP code.

One more option worth mentioning: Plan G also has a high-deductible version (Plan G-HD) available in most states. In 2025, the high-deductible threshold is $2,870 — meaning you pay all Medicare-covered costs up to that amount before the plan kicks in. In exchange, premiums can be dramatically lower, sometimes under $50 per month for a 65-year-old. This version suits healthier beneficiaries who want catastrophic protection without paying for first-dollar coverage they may not use. It's not right for everyone, but it's worth comparing if you're budget-conscious and in good health.

The bottom line: if you became eligible for Medicare after January 1, 2020, Plan G is your most comprehensive Medigap choice — and for most people, it's also the smarter financial pick over Plan F even for those who are still eligible for it. Compare premiums from multiple insurers for the same plan letter, since benefits are standardized by federal law but prices vary widely. Use Medicare.gov's plan finder or call 1-800-MEDICARE to get started.