Plan G misses $283 deductible

Medicare Supplement Plan G does not pay the 2026 Medicare Part B deductible of $283. Policyholders must cover this initial outlay themselves before the plan begins paying its share of medical bills. This exclusion is the primary cost-sharing gap in an otherwise comprehensive private insurance product designed to work with Original Medicare.

Plan G is a standardized private policy that supplements Medicare Parts A and B. It does not replace Original Medicare and does not restrict patients to a specific network of doctors. The basic benefits are the same across all insurers in most states, though premiums and customer service vary. The plan covers 100% of the Medicare Part A inpatient hospital deductible, which is $1,736 per benefit period in 2026. It also covers 100% of Part B coinsurance and copayments after the Part B deductible is met.

The plan includes coverage for up to 365 additional days of hospital costs after Original Medicare benefits are exhausted. It pays 100% of applicable coinsurance for skilled nursing facility care during days 21 through 100 of a benefit period. Plan G also covers the cost-sharing for the first three pints of blood used in a covered service. For emergency care received outside the United States, the plan pays 80% of eligible expenses after a $250 annual deductible, subject to a $50,000 lifetime maximum and a 60-day trip limit.

Several major expenses remain outside the standard benefits of Plan G. The plan does not include outpatient prescription drug coverage. Beneficiaries must enroll in a separate Medicare Part D plan or pay full price for medications. The policy also does not cover routine dental care, vision services, eyeglasses, or hearing aids. These exclusions apply because Original Medicare does not typically cover these routine services, and the supplement follows the scope of the underlying federal program.

Plan G is not long-term care insurance. It does not pay for ongoing custodial care, such as help with bathing, dressing, or eating, when skilled medical care is not required. Medicare covers qualifying skilled nursing facility care under specific conditions, but that benefit is distinct from long-term personal care at home or in a facility. If Original Medicare excludes a service, Plan G generally will not pay for it, regardless of the medical necessity.

Policyholders must continue paying their monthly premiums to maintain coverage, even in months with no medical visits. Premium amounts depend on location, the insurer’s pricing method, and age-related rules. The exact out-of-pocket cost for a beneficiary depends on their usage of covered services and whether they have met the annual Part B deductible.