Medicare Supplement Plan G: The Complete 2026 Guide for New Enrollees

By Paul Barrett, Principal Agent, The Modern Medicare Agency | Updated June 2026

Quick Answer: Medicare Supplement Plan G is the most comprehensive Medigap plan available to new Medicare enrollees in 2026. It covers virtually everything Original Medicare doesn’t — with one exception: the annual Part B deductible ($283 in 2026). After you pay that, Plan G covers 100% of Medicare-approved costs for the rest of the year. No copays. No specialist bills. No hospital bills. See any doctor in the U.S. who accepts Medicare — no networks, no referrals.

Average cost: $180/month for a 65-year-old woman who doesn’t smoke. Ranges from ~$100/month in low-cost states to $372/month in New York.

Best for: Anyone who wants complete cost predictability, nationwide provider access, and no financial surprises — and is willing to pay a higher monthly premium for that peace of mind.

Why I Wrote This Guide — and Why It’s Different

Most Plan G guides online are written by websites that earn money when you click “Get a Quote.” Their content is shaped by what drives revenue, not what helps you make the right decision.

I’m Paul Barrett, founder of The Modern Medicare Agency. I’ve spent 18 years working exclusively in Medicare, representing 40+ carriers in 34 states, and serving more than 5,000 clients. I earn commissions on every plan I sell — Plan G, Plan N, Medicare Advantage, High Deductible Plan G. My commission structure doesn’t change based on which one I recommend.

What does change is whether I’ve actually served you well.

This guide gives you everything you need to understand Plan G from the ground up: what it covers, what it costs, what it doesn’t cover, how to choose a carrier, and when to buy. I’ll also give you my honest take on situations where Plan G is not the right answer — because that’s information you deserve.

What Is Medicare Supplement Plan G?

Medicare Supplement insurance — also called Medigap — is private insurance that works alongside Original Medicare (Parts A and B) to cover the gaps Medicare leaves behind. When Medicare approves a service, it pays its share. Your Medigap plan covers what’s left.

Plan G is the most comprehensive Medigap plan available to anyone who became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. (Plan F, which was historically the most comprehensive, is no longer available to new enrollees as a result of federal legislation passed in 2015.)

Here is the single most important thing to understand about Plan G: it is standardized by federal law. That means every insurance company selling Plan G must offer identical benefits. A Plan G from UnitedHealthcare covers exactly the same services as a Plan G from Mutual of Omaha, Aetna, or any other carrier. The only difference between carriers is the monthly premium, the rate increase history, the financial strength rating, and the customer service experience.

Because the benefits are identical, shopping for Plan G is entirely about finding the right carrier for your situation — not about comparing different coverage packages.

Source: Medicare.gov: Compare Medigap Plan Benefits; CMS: Medigap Standardization

What Plan G Covers: Every Benefit in Plain English

Here is a complete breakdown of what Plan G pays for in 2026 — explained in plain language, not insurance jargon.

Part A: Hospital Coverage

Hospital deductible — When you’re admitted to a hospital, Medicare charges a $1,736 deductible per benefit period in 2026. Plan G pays this in full. You owe nothing.

Hospital stays, Days 1-60 — Medicare covers these after you pay the deductible. Since Plan G covers the deductible, you pay nothing.

Hospital stays, Days 61-90 — Medicare charges $434 per day. Plan G pays this in full.

Hospital stays, Days 91+ (lifetime reserve days) — Medicare charges $868 per day. Plan G pays this in full.

Hospital stays beyond lifetime reserve — After your 60 lifetime reserve days are exhausted, Medicare pays nothing. Plan G covers up to an additional 365 days of hospital costs after your lifetime reserve runs out.

Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) coinsurance — After a qualifying hospital stay, Medicare covers SNF care. For days 1-20, you owe nothing. For days 21-100, Medicare charges $217 per day in 2026. Plan G pays this in full. After day 100, neither Medicare nor Plan G pays — you bear all costs.

Blood — Medicare doesn’t cover the first three pints of blood you need. Plan G covers them.

Hospice care — Medicare covers most hospice costs but requires a small copay for prescription drugs and respite care. Plan G covers those copays.

Part B: Medical Coverage

The Part B deductible — This is the one cost Plan G does NOT cover. In 2026 it’s $283 per year — the only out-of-pocket exposure you have for covered medical services under Plan G. You pay this once, at the start of the year when you first use a Part B service. After that, Plan G covers 100% of Medicare-approved Part B costs for the rest of the year.

Part B coinsurance — After your deductible is met, Medicare covers 80% of approved services and you owe the remaining 20%. Plan G pays that 20% in full. Every time.

Part B excess charges — If a doctor accepts Medicare but not Medicare’s “assignment” (meaning they want to charge more than Medicare’s approved rate), they can bill up to 15% above the Medicare rate. Plan G covers this 100%. You owe nothing.

Blood (Part B) — Same as above — Plan G covers the first three pints.

Clinical laboratory services — Medicare covers these at 100%. Plan G covers any residual.

Home health care — Medicare-approved home health care is covered. Plan G covers the 20% coinsurance.

Durable medical equipment — Wheelchairs, oxygen, walkers, and similar equipment are covered at 80% by Medicare. Plan G covers the remaining 20%.

Additional Benefits

Foreign travel emergency — Original Medicare does not cover emergency care abroad. Plan G covers 80% of the cost of medically necessary emergency care that begins during the first 60 days of a trip outside the United States, after a $250 deductible per calendar year, up to a lifetime maximum of $50,000.

Preventive care — Medicare covers preventive services at 100% when you see participating providers. Plan G has no copay for preventive care.

What Plan G Does NOT Cover

• Medicare Part B deductible ($283 in 2026 — the one out-of-pocket cost)
• Prescription drugs — No Medigap plan covers prescription medications. You need a separate Medicare Part D plan.
• Routine dental care — Cleanings, fillings, crowns, dentures. Not covered by Medicare, not covered by Plan G.
• Routine vision — Eye exams for glasses or contacts, eyewear. Not covered.
• Routine hearing — Hearing exams, hearing aids. Not covered.
• Long-term care — Custodial care in a nursing home or assisted living. Not covered by Medicare, not covered by Plan G.
• Private-duty nursing
• Cosmetic surgery
• Medicare Advantage copays — Plan G only works with Original Medicare. If you have Medicare Advantage, Plan G provides no benefit.

Source: CMS 2026 Medicare Costs; Medicare.gov: What Medigap Covers

What Does Plan G Actually Cost in 2026?

The National Average

Medigap Plan G costs an average of $180 per month for a 65-year-old woman who doesn’t smoke in 2026 — up from $159 per month in 2025, a 13% increase. High-deductible Plan G options start at $61 a month for the same profile.

That $180 national average is a useful starting point. But it obscures enormous variation — and the variation is where the real story is.

The State-by-State Reality

Your state can shift your Medigap cost by more than $190 a month for the same coverage. New York is the most expensive at $354 a month, while South Carolina and New Mexico are the cheapest at $160 for 65-year-olds.

Here is a representative picture of Plan G pricing across key states in 2026 (65-year-old female nonsmoker, national carrier averages):

Source: ValuePenguin: Medicare Supplement Plan G Costs 2026; MoneyGeek: Medicare Supplement Cost 2026; PolicyGuide: Plan G Costs 2026

Important: These are representative ranges, not quotes. Your specific premium depends on your exact ZIP code, age, gender, tobacco status, carrier choice, and available household discounts. Rates for the same Plan G from the same carrier can vary significantly by ZIP code within the same state. Always get actual quotes for your specific situation.

What Affects Your Premium — The Six Key Factors

1. Your age — This is the biggest factor in most states. Under attained-age pricing (the most common method), your premium increases every year on your birthday. A premium that’s $150/month at 65 might be $200/month at 72 just from age increases alone — before any general rate increases are added.
2. Your state and ZIP code — As shown above, location drives enormous premium variation. Someone in New York pays three times what someone in South Carolina pays for identical Plan G coverage.
3. Your gender — Men typically pay 5-15% more than women for the same plan. Not all states allow gender-based pricing.
4. Tobacco use — Smokers typically pay 10-50% more than nonsmokers, depending on the carrier and state.
5. Timing and household discounts — Many carriers offer discounts of 5-12% for household members. If two people in the same household both enroll with the same carrier, both may qualify for this discount. Always ask.
6. The carrier itself — For identical Plan G coverage, premiums can vary by 50% or more between carriers offering coverage in the same ZIP code. This is why comparison shopping from an independent broker isn’t optional — it’s the single most effective way to lower your premium without reducing coverage.

Source: Medicare.gov: Get Medigap Costs; MoneyGeek: Medicare Supplement Cost 2026

The Pricing Model Question: The Decision Most People Miss

This is the factor that determines not just what you pay today, but what you’ll pay in 10 years — and it’s the one most people never ask about.

Insurance companies use three different methods to price Medigap plans. Understanding which method a carrier uses in your state is as important as the starting premium.

Attained-Age Pricing (Most States, Most Carriers)

Your premium is based on your current age. It increases every year on your birthday, in addition to any general rate increases the carrier files. This is the most common pricing model — and the most dangerous for long-term budgets.

A plan that looks cheap at 65 ($130/month) can become expensive by 75 ($200/month) from age increases alone, before adding any general rate inflation. When you’re comparing plans in an attained-age state, always ask what the rate will be at age 70, 75, and 80 — not just today.

Issue-Age Pricing

Your premium is locked to the age you were when you first enrolled. It doesn’t increase just because you get older — only from general rate increases the carrier files. This model starts higher than attained-age but tends to be more cost-effective over time. UnitedHealthcare uses issue-age pricing in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, and New Hampshire.

Community-Rated Pricing

Everyone in the same plan pays the same premium regardless of age. A 65-year-old and an 80-year-old pay the same rate. Premiums increase from general rate filings, not from aging. This model starts highest but offers the flattest long-term trajectory.

States with community-rated Medigap include New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts (limited), and Vermont. UnitedHealthcare also uses community pricing in 43 states.

What this means for New York specifically: New York’s community-rated requirement means premiums don’t rise with age — but they start significantly higher than attained-age states and are subject to general rate increases from carriers. The 2026 Plan G premium in NY (~$372/month for UHC) is the market price for everyone, regardless of whether you’re 65 or 82. The year-round guaranteed issue rules mean you can switch carriers without underwriting at any time — but as we’ve discussed in detail in our Rate Increase article, UHC is currently the lowest-priced Plan G option in NY, so switching carriers often doesn’t produce meaningful savings.

Source: MedicareSupplement.com: Pricing Models; MoneyGeek: Medigap Costs by State

High Deductible Plan G: The Option Most Agents Don’t Mention

I want to spend extra time here because this plan is genuinely underused, genuinely underexplained, and — for the right person — genuinely the smartest financial choice.

High Deductible Plan G (HD Plan G) provides identical medical benefits to standard Plan G. The same nationwide access, the same 100% coverage of Medicare-approved costs, the same excess charge protection. The only difference: you pay a $2,950 annual deductible before the plan’s coverage activates.

In exchange for that higher deductible, the monthly premium drops dramatically.

A high-deductible Plan G costs only $52 per month, on average, for a 65-year-old woman who doesn’t smoke — compared to $180/month for standard Plan G. That’s a difference of $128/month — $1,536/year in premium savings.

The Math That Makes HD Plan G Compelling

Let’s use real 2026 numbers. Standard Plan G at $180/month vs. HD Plan G at $52/month:

Annual premium savings with HD Plan G: $1,536/year

Worst-case scenario (you hit the full $2,950 deductible):

• HD Plan G total annual cost: $624 premiums + $2,950 deductible = $3,574
• Standard Plan G total annual cost: $2,160 premiums + $283 Part B deductible = $2,443
• Standard Plan G wins by $1,131

Average healthy year (you use $600 in medical costs):

• HD Plan G total: $624 premiums + $600 out-of-pocket = $1,224
• Standard Plan G total: $2,160 premiums + $283 Part B deductible = $2,443
• HD Plan G saves $1,219 this year

5-year cumulative (4 healthy years + 1 worst-case year):

• HD Plan G: ($1,224 × 4) + $3,574 = $8,470
• Standard Plan G: $2,443 × 5 = $12,215
• HD Plan G saves $3,745 over 5 years — even including a worst-case year

The math clearly favors HD Plan G for healthy enrollees. The premium savings accumulate rapidly, and even factoring in an occasional high-use year, HD Plan G frequently wins over a 5-10 year horizon.

Source: CMS: HD Plan G Deductible Announcement 2026; ValuePenguin: Medigap Plan G Costs 2026

Why I Recommend HD Plan G More Often Than Most Agents Do

I’ll be direct about something: HD Plan G pays a lower commission than standard Plan G. Most agents don’t recommend it — not because it’s the wrong choice for the client, but because it’s the less profitable sale.

I recommend it when it fits. Here’s who HD Plan G is genuinely right for:

HD Plan G is a strong fit if:

• You are in good to excellent health with no chronic conditions requiring frequent care
• You have at least $2,950 in accessible savings to cover a high-use year without financial stress
• You rarely see specialists and your annual healthcare costs are modest
• You want maximum premium savings while maintaining the same underlying coverage
• You understand and are comfortable with the “pay as you go, then full coverage” structure

HD Plan G is not right if:

• You see multiple specialists regularly or manage a chronic condition with frequent care
• A $2,950 bill in a single year would cause real financial hardship
• You want complete cost predictability above all other considerations
• Your state has very few HD Plan G carrier options

One important note on HD Plan G: The annual deductible for High Deductible Plan G is $2,950 in 2026, up from $2,870 in 2025. The deductible rises annually based on the CPI. It has gone from $2,370 in 2021 to $2,950 in 2026 — a 24% increase in five years. This trajectory continues. Factor it into your long-term planning, not just the 2026 figure.

Source: CMS: F, G & J Deductible Announcements; Boomer Benefits: High Deductible Plan G

Plan G vs. Plan F: Why Plan F Almost Never Makes Sense for New Enrollees

This is a straightforward one.

Plan F is the most comprehensive Medigap plan that has ever existed — it covers everything, including the Part B deductible. But as of January 1, 2020, Plan F is no longer available to anyone who became newly eligible for Medicare. If you turned 65 in 2020 or later, Plan F is not an option for you.

If you were eligible for Medicare before 2020, you can still purchase Plan F — but you almost certainly shouldn’t. Here’s why.

Medigap Plan F costs $227 per month on average in 2026 — compared to $180/month for Plan G. That’s $47/month more, or $564/year in additional premiums.

What does Plan F cover that Plan G doesn’t? The Part B deductible: $283 in 2026.

The math is simple: you’re paying $564/year in extra premiums to avoid a $283 annual deductible. You pay the difference. Every year. For the rest of your life.

Plan G is almost always the better financial choice for anyone who can still select between the two.

There’s also a structural concern specific to Plan F: because it’s closed to new enrollees, the Plan F risk pool is permanently aging. As younger, healthier beneficiaries can no longer join, the pool becomes progressively older and sicker — which drives up claims and fuels accelerating rate increases. Plan F prices increased the most in 2026, at an average of 14%, while Plan G increased around 13%. This trend is likely to continue as the Plan F pool ages further.

Source: ValuePenguin: Medigap Plans 2026; Medicare.gov: Medigap Plan Benefits

How to Choose the Right Plan G Carrier

Since all Plan G policies cover identical benefits, choosing a carrier comes down to four factors — and the order matters.

Factor 1: Rate Increase History (Most Important)

The premium you pay today is not the premium you’ll pay in 10 years. What a carrier has done with rates over the past 5 years is the single best predictor of what they’ll do in the next 5.

Ask any broker you work with: “Can you show me the rate increase history for this carrier over the past 5 years?” A good independent broker will provide this without hesitation. If they can’t or won’t, that tells you something important.

As documented in our Medigap Rate Increase Guide, rate increases across the industry have accelerated significantly — with major carriers filing increases of 12-26% in early 2026, according to Telos Actuarial data reported by CBS News/KFF Health News. Some outlier carriers imposed increases of 45% or more. Rate history is not a guarantee of future behavior — but a carrier with a 3-5% average annual increase history is a very different risk profile from one with a 15% average.

Factor 2: Financial Strength Rating (AM Best)

Medigap is a long-term commitment. The plan you buy at 65 may still be paying your claims at 85. That’s 20 years during which a lot can happen to an insurance company.

AM Best is the gold standard rating agency for insurance companies specifically. Look for an AM Best rating of A- or higher before enrolling with any carrier.

Key 2026 ratings update: AM Best downgraded UnitedHealthcare’s insurance subsidiaries — including the entity that underwrites AARP Medicare Supplement plans — from A+ (Superior) to A (Excellent) in 2026. They remain a financially sound company with a stable outlook, but this is a real-world reminder that ratings are not permanent. Always verify current ratings rather than relying on what you heard or read previously.

You can check any carrier’s current AM Best rating at ambest.com — search by company name. This takes two minutes and is worth doing for any carrier you’re seriously considering.

Factor 3: NAIC Complaint Index

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) publishes complaint index scores for every Medicare Supplement insurer. A score below 1.0 is better than the market average. A score significantly above 1.0 is a warning sign about how the company treats policyholders when problems arise.

You can look up any carrier’s NAIC complaint index at naic.org. State Farm and USAA consistently receive some of the lowest complaint scores among major Medigap carriers.

Factor 4: Current Premium Competitiveness

Because Plan G benefits are identical across carriers, the premium difference between carriers for the same coverage is pure cost difference. If Carrier A charges $175/month and Carrier B charges $210/month for the same Plan G in your ZIP code, you’re paying $420/year more with Carrier B for no additional benefit.

However — and this is important — the lowest premium today isn’t always the lowest premium over 10 years. A carrier offering a teaser rate with aggressive future rate increases can become more expensive than a carrier that started slightly higher but has a stable rate history. This is why rate increase history comes first.

A specific warning about UHC/AARP enrollment discounts that most agents never explain: UHC builds a significant enrollment discount into their starting premium. For policyholders who enrolled several years ago, that discount started at approximately 39% at age 65 and phases out by roughly three percentage points per year between ages 69 and 81 — at which point the discount is gone entirely and you pay the full undiscounted base rate. For newer enrollees, UHC has updated the structure with a higher starting discount (reportedly around 45%) but a slower phase-out of approximately two percentage points per year.

What this means practically: the UHC premium you’re quoted at 65 is not the premium you’ll pay at 73 or 79. You’re seeing a discounted entry price, not the long-term rate. This discount phase-out creates premium growth above and beyond any general rate increases — particularly in your late 60s and 70s. When comparing UHC quotes to competitors, always ask for the projected premium at age 70, 75, and 80 — not just today’s rate. A starting premium that looks competitive can look very different once the discount disappears.

Source: paulbinsurance.com: How to Check a Medicare Supplement Company’s Financial Strength; NerdWallet: Best Plan G Companies 2026; ValuePenguin: AARP Medicare Supplement Review 2026

The Enrollment Window: When to Buy and What Happens If You Wait

This is the most important section in this entire guide for anyone approaching 65. Please read it carefully.

Your One-Time Open Enrollment Period

When you turn 65 and enroll in Medicare Part B, you enter a 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period during which every insurance carrier selling Medigap in your state must accept you for any plan they offer — at standard rates, with no health questions, no medical underwriting, and no ability to deny you coverage based on pre-existing conditions.

This window is one-time. It starts the first month you are both 65 or older AND enrolled in Part B. Medicare.gov confirms explicitly: “Your Medigap Open Enrollment Period is a one-time enrollment period. It doesn’t repeat every year.”

During this window, you have complete freedom — any plan, any carrier, guaranteed acceptance at standard rates. The most expensive insurance mistake most Medicare enrollees make is not using this window wisely.

What Happens After the Window Closes

In most states, once your 6-month open enrollment period ends, switching to a Medigap plan requires medical underwriting. The carrier can:

• Ask detailed health questions
• Review your medical history
• Charge you a higher premium based on health status
• Decline your application if you have certain conditions

The people who most want to switch to Plan G later are often the ones least able to do so — because they’ve developed health conditions that make underwriting difficult or impossible.

State exceptions: New York, Connecticut, and Vermont offer year-round guaranteed issue — you can apply for any Medigap plan at any time without underwriting. Sixteen other states have “birthday rules” that give you an annual window to switch plans without underwriting. See our complete guide: When Is the Best Time to Switch Medicare Supplement Plans?

The 30-Day Free Look Period

When you enroll in any Medigap plan, federal law gives you a 30-day free look period during which you can cancel and receive a full premium refund if you’re not satisfied. Critical rule: do not cancel your existing coverage until you’ve decided to keep the new plan.

Source: Medicare.gov: When Can I Buy a Medigap Policy?

The Biggest Mistake New Enrollees Make

After 18 years and thousands of client conversations, I can tell you with certainty: the single biggest mistake new Medicare enrollees make is waiting.

Waiting to learn about their options until after they need care. Waiting to compare plans until the open enrollment window is closing. Waiting to decide because the topic feels overwhelming. Waiting because a friend said Medicare Advantage looked fine.

Here’s the cost of waiting:

Your open enrollment period starts on a specific date. It ends 6 months later. During that window, you can get any Medigap plan from any carrier at standard rates. Outside that window, in most states, carriers can say no.

I talk to people every year who let that window close, stayed on Medicare Advantage for a few years, developed a health condition, and then tried to get Plan G. In most states, they can’t. Or they can, but only at rates that are significantly higher than what they would have paid at 65.

The two decisions that drive this outcome are always the same:

1. They didn’t understand what the enrollment window was
2. Nobody sat down with them before that window opened

That’s a solvable problem. That’s exactly what an independent Medicare broker does — and it costs you nothing. The carrier pays the broker’s commission. Your premium is the same whether you work with a broker or not.

Plan G vs. Medicare Advantage: A Honest Note

Plan G is not right for everyone. I want to be clear about that because an article that tells you Plan G is always the answer isn’t giving you honest advice.

Medicare Advantage plans — which replace Original Medicare with a private plan — can offer lower monthly premiums, bundled prescription drug coverage, and extras like dental, vision, and hearing benefits. For a healthy senior on a tight budget who lives locally and sees doctors infrequently, Medicare Advantage may genuinely be the better choice.

Plan G wins when:

• You see specialists regularly or have chronic health needs
• You travel frequently or live part of the year in another state
• You want complete cost predictability
• Provider choice and network-free access matter to you

For a detailed side-by-side comparison, see our full guide: Medicare Supplement vs. Medicare Advantage: The Honest Side-by-Side

Plan G at a Glance: The Numbers You Need (2026)

Paul’s Honest Bottom Line

Plan G is the plan I recommend most often — but not because it’s always the right answer. I recommend it most often because most of my clients have health needs that make Plan G’s comprehensive, predictable coverage genuinely the best fit. And because the freedom to see any Medicare provider, anywhere in the country, without prior authorization or network restrictions is something people don’t fully appreciate until they need it.

For clients who are healthy, cost-conscious, and comfortable with modest financial risk, I recommend High Deductible Plan G — and I’ll keep recommending it even though it pays me less, because that’s the right answer for them.

For clients who are genuinely on tight fixed incomes and can’t sustain the Plan G premium, I explore Plan N and sometimes Medicare Advantage — because the best plan is always the one you can actually maintain.

What I don’t do is sell you a plan based on what earns me the most commission. That’s not the kind of broker I am, and after 18 years, it’s not the kind of reputation I’ve built.

If you’re approaching 65 — or if you already have Plan G and want to know whether you’re with the right carrier at the right price — I’m happy to look at your specific situation.

Ready to Get a Real Quote From Someone Who Will Tell You the Truth?

Getting a Medigap quote through an independent broker costs you nothing. The carrier pays the commission — your premium is identical whether you work with a broker or go directly to the carrier. The difference is that an independent broker with 40+ carrier appointments can show you the full market instead of one company’s options.

I’ll compare rates from every carrier available in your ZIP code, walk you through the rate increase histories, and give you my honest take on what makes sense for your health, your budget, and your state’s rules.

Paul Barrett | The Modern Medicare Agency 📞 (631) 358-5793 ✉️ medicare@paulbinsurance.com 🌐 paulbinsurance.com

Additional Resources in This Series

This article is part of Paul Barrett’s Medicare Supplement content cluster. Each article links to the others:

• Medigap Rate Increases 2026: Who Raised Rates the Most — and What That Means for You
• Medicare Supplement vs. Medicare Advantage: The Honest Side-by-Side Nobody Else Will Show You
• Medicare Plan G vs. Plan N in 2026: Which One Is Actually Worth It?
• When Is the Best Time to Switch Medicare Supplement Plans — and When Is It Too Late?

Sources and Further Reading

• CMS: 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles
• CMS: F, G & J Deductible Announcements (HD Plan G $2,950 for 2026)
• Medicare.gov: Compare Medigap Plan Benefits
• Medicare.gov: When Can I Buy a Medigap Policy?
• Medicare.gov: Get Medigap Costs
• ValuePenguin: Best Medicare Supplement Plans 2026
• MoneyGeek: Medicare Supplement Plans Cost by State 2026
• PolicyGuide: Medicare Supplement Plan G Costs 2026
• The Big 65: Medicare Supplement Plan G Coverage and Costs 2026
• Boomer Benefits: High Deductible Plan G
• NerdWallet: Best Medicare Supplement Plan G Companies 2026
• MedicareSupplement.com: Average Cost by Age 2026
• paulbinsurance.com: How to Check a Medicare Supplement Company’s Financial Strength
• paulbinsurance.com: Medigap Rate Increases 2026
• CBS News/KFF Health News: Medigap Premiums Leap (April 2026)
• KFF: A Snapshot of Sources of Coverage Among Medicare Beneficiaries
• AM Best: Insurance Company Ratings
• NAIC: Consumer Insurance Information
• MedPAC: March 2026 Report to Congress

Paul Barrett is the founder and Principal Agent of The Modern Medicare Agency. He has worked exclusively in Medicare for 18+ years, holds licenses in 34 states, and represents 40+ carriers. He is the author of Medicare Mastery Unlocked and hosts the Insurance Wise Guys Podcast. This article is for educational purposes only. Premium data represents national averages for a 65-year-old female nonsmoker — your actual premium will vary based on state, ZIP code, age, gender, tobacco use, carrier, and applicable discounts. All 2026 cost figures are sourced from CMS official publications. Contact a licensed independent Medicare broker for guidance specific to your situation.