High-Deductible Medicare Supplement Plan G Cost 2026

High-Deductible Plan G (HD Plan G) is a federally standardized Medicare Supplement plan that provides identical coverage to standard Plan G after you meet a 2,950 annual deductible. Like all Medigap plans, the benefits are the same regardless of which insurance company sells the policy — only the premium and customer service differ.

After meeting the deductible, HD Plan G covers: Part A hospital coinsurance and costs up to an additional 365 days, Part B coinsurance (typically 20% of approved charges), first 3 pints of blood, Part A hospice care coinsurance, skilled nursing facility coinsurance, Part B excess charges, and 80% of foreign travel emergency care (up to $50,000 lifetime).

The only gap not covered by either standard or HD Plan G is the Part B annual deductible ($283 in 2026). You pay this once per year before Medicare begins covering 80% of Part B services.

Key distinction: With standard Plan G, your only out-of-pocket cost beyond the monthly premium is the 283 Part B deductible. With HD Plan G, your out-of-pocket cost is the 283 Part B deductible plus up to 2,950 in Medicare cost-sharing before the plan kicks in. The trade-off is substantially lower monthly premiums.

HD Plan G is designed for healthy seniors with low healthcare utilization who want catastrophic protection at minimal monthly cost. The plan is most advantageous when your annual Medicare cost-sharing stays well below the 2,950 deductible.

Consider HD Plan G if you: rarely visit specialists or hospitals beyond routine preventive care (which Medicare covers at 100% with no cost-sharing); have sufficient savings to cover a 3,233 worst-case year; prefer lower fixed monthly expenses; and are comfortable with some financial uncertainty in exchange for premium savings.

Standard Plan G may be the better choice if you: have chronic conditions requiring frequent doctor visits or specialist care; take multiple medications that lead to regular Part B services; are risk-averse and prefer predictable monthly costs; or expect a hospitalization (the Part A deductible alone is estimated at 1,762 per benefit period in 2026).

The key question is: at what level of healthcare spending does standard Plan G become cheaper overall? The answer depends on the premium difference between the two plans and the deductible.

Using estimated mid-range premiums for a 65-year-old non-tobacco user: HD Plan G at ~45/month (540/year) vs. standard Plan G at ~155/month (1,860/year). The annual premium savings with HD Plan G is approximately 1,320.

If your Medicare cost-sharing is $0 in a year (only routine preventive care), HD Plan G saves you the full premium difference — roughly 1,320/year. You pay no deductible because you had no covered expenses.

If your Medicare cost-sharing hits the full 2,950 deductible, your total HD Plan G cost is 3,490 (premiums + deductible), compared to 1,860 for standard Plan G. In this scenario, standard Plan G costs approximately 1,630 less.

The approximate break-even point: If your annual Medicare cost-sharing exceeds approximately 1,320, standard Plan G begins to win. Below that threshold, HD Plan G is typically the more economical choice. Note that one hospitalization alone could trigger the Part A deductible of 1,762, which would push you past the break-even point.

Switching later may require underwriting. If you choose HD Plan G now and want to switch to standard Plan G later (e.g., if your health changes), you will likely need to pass medical underwriting in most states. Insurers may deny your application or charge higher rates based on health conditions developed since your initial enrollment. A few states offer periodic guaranteed-issue windows, but most do not.

Deductible resets annually. The 2,950 deductible resets to zero each calendar year. Medicare cost-sharing from the previous year does not carry over.

Preventive care is free regardless. Medicare covers preventive services (annual wellness visits, screenings, vaccinations) at 100% with no cost-sharing. These services do not count toward or against your HD Plan G deductible because there is no cost-sharing to begin with.

Part B premium is separate. All Medicare beneficiaries pay the Part B premium ($202.9/month in 2026) regardless of which Medigap plan they choose. This cost is in addition to your Medigap premium.