Plan G covers your Part B deductible in full

Medicare Supplement Plan G pays your Part B deductible after you meet it. This means once you have spent the Part B deductible amount out of your own pocket in a calendar year, Plan G picks up the cost of covered services for the rest of that year. The Part B deductible changes each year — it was $240 in 2024 — so the amount you pay before Plan G starts helping varies.

Plan G is one of the few supplement plans that covers this deductible at all. Most other plans either do not cover it or cover only part of it. If you are comparing supplement plans, this is one of the larger differences between them.

Key Takeaways

  • Plan G pays your full Part B deductible once you have spent that amount on covered services in a calendar year.
  • The Part B deductible amount changes yearly and is set by Medicare, not by your insurance company.
  • You still pay the deductible yourself first; Plan G reimburses it or covers services after you meet it, depending on how your provider bills.
  • Plan G also covers the Part B excess charge (the amount some doctors charge above Medicare's approved amount), which most other plans do not.
  • Plan G does not cover services Medicare does not cover, such as dental, vision, or hearing aids.

How the deductible works with Plan G

When you see a doctor or get an outpatient service covered by Medicare Part B, you are responsible for the deductible before your coverage kicks in. If the Part B deductible is $240 and you have not met it yet this year, you pay the first $240 of covered services out of your own pocket.

Once you have paid $240 in covered services, you have met your deductible. From that point forward in the calendar year, Plan G covers the costs that Medicare Part B would normally leave you to pay — usually 20 percent of the approved amount for most services. Plan G does not reimburse you for the $240 you already paid; it covers services going forward.

Some doctors and providers bill Plan G directly after you meet the deductible, so you may not see a bill at all. Others bill you first and you submit the claim to Plan G for reimbursement. Either way, Plan G's job is to cover what Medicare Part B does not pay once the deductible is satisfied.

The Part B excess charge and why Plan G matters

Plan G also covers the Part B excess charge, which is a separate benefit from deductible coverage. Some doctors do not accept Medicare's approved amount as full payment and charge patients more. Medicare allows doctors to charge up to 15 percent above the approved amount. Plan G pays this extra 15 percent, so you do not have to.

Most other supplement plans do not cover the excess charge. Plan F (the plan that was available before 2020) covered both the deductible and the excess charge, but Plan F is no longer sold to people new to Medicare. Plan G is now the closest option for people who want broad coverage of these costs.

What Plan G does not cover

Plan G covers what Medicare Part B covers, minus the deductible and coinsurance. It does not cover services that Medicare itself does not cover. Dental work, vision care, hearing aids, and routine foot care are not covered by Medicare, so Plan G does not cover them either.

Plan G also does not cover Part A deductible (the hospital deductible), skilled nursing facility coinsurance, or hospice coinsurance. Those are covered by other supplement plans or not at all, depending on which plan you choose. If you need coverage for hospital stays, you may want to compare what different plans cover for Part A costs.

When you pay the deductible and when Plan G takes over

The calendar year runs January 1 through December 31. On January 1 each year, your deductible resets to zero. Any money you spent on the deductible in December does not carry over. This means if you have not met your deductible by late December, you start fresh on January 1.

Some people time their doctor visits to meet the deductible early in the year so Plan G covers more of their care for the rest of the year. Others spread out their visits and pay the deductible gradually. Either way, once you have paid the full amount, Plan G covers its share of your remaining covered services through December 31.

Plan G premiums and what you save

Plan G premiums vary by insurance company and by where you live. Premiums also increase as you age. You pay the premium to your insurance company every month, separate from your Medicare Part B premium.

Whether Plan G saves you money depends on how much medical care you use. If you see doctors frequently and use many covered services, you will likely spend less out of pocket with Plan G than with a plan that does not cover the deductible. If you rarely see a doctor, you may pay more in premiums than you save on medical costs. Comparing the premium cost to your expected medical spending can help you decide whether Plan G is right for you.

Enrollment and when you can switch to Plan G

You can enroll in Plan G during your initial enrollment period when you first become may be able to access for Medicare, or during the annual open enrollment period from October 15 to December 7. Some states have additional enrollment windows if you are switching from one supplement plan to another.

If you enroll in Plan G during your initial enrollment period, insurance companies cannot deny you or charge you more based on your health history. If you enroll outside that window, some companies may underwrite your process, meaning they can ask about your health and potentially decline you or charge a higher premium. Timing your enrollment can affect both your cost and your chances of being accepted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Plan G cover the full Part B deductible or just part of it?

Plan G covers the full Part B deductible. Once you have paid the deductible amount out of pocket in a calendar year, Plan G covers its share of your remaining covered services for the rest of that year.

What is the difference between Plan G and Plan F?

Plan F and Plan G both cover the Part B deductible and excess charge. Plan F is no longer sold to people new to Medicare (only to those who had it before 2020). Plan G is the current equivalent and covers nearly the same benefits, though Plan F covered the Part A deductible as well.

If I switch to Plan G mid-year, do I have to pay the deductible again?

No. The deductible is tied to the calendar year, not to when you enroll in a plan. If you have already met your Part B deductible earlier in the year with another plan, Plan G will cover its share of your costs for the rest of that year without you paying the deductible again.

Does Plan G cover dental, vision, or hearing aids?

No. Plan G covers only what Medicare Part B covers. Since Medicare does not cover routine dental, vision, or hearing aids, Plan G does not either. You would need a separate dental or vision plan for those services.

Can I be denied Plan G coverage because of my health?

If you enroll during your initial Medicare enrollment period, insurance companies cannot deny you or charge more based on health. If you enroll outside that window, some companies may review your health history and can decline your process or charge a higher premium.