Suppose you’re looking into your options for a Medicare Supplement plan, also known as Medigap coverage. In that case, you’ll likely come across Medicare Plan F and Medicare Plan G. As some of the most comprehensive methods of gap coverage, finding the best Medicare coverage for your circumstances includes pinning down the coverages in Medicare Plan F vs. Plan G.
Supplement and Medigap coverage for Medicare recipients
For those who enroll in Medicare Part A and B, it’s essential to get Part D for prescription coverage, as well, and most enrollees who opt for Original Medicare also elect to enroll in what is called “Medicare Supplement,” “MedSup,” or “Medigap” plans. These plans, including Plan F and Plan G, are administered by private insurance companies at an additional cost to Medicare A, B, and D. While different insurance companies carry these plans, each plan maintains the federally determined menu of coverages, so Plan G coverage remains the same no matter which Insurance carrier you choose.
What Does Medicare Plan F Cover?
Medicare Supplement Plan F is one of the most comprehensive wraparound plans on the market, extending a private insurance carrier’s coverage over the remaining costs Medicare doesn’t cover. So, if Medicare covers 80 percent of certain services, Supplement Plan F will pick up the tab for the remaining 20 percent.
Specifically, Medicare Plan F covers:
- Part A (hospital) coinsurance
- Part A deductible
- Hospital costs up to 365 days past Original Medicare’s benefit
- Hospice copays and coinsurance
- 3 pints of blood
- Part B (diagnostics and treatment) deductible
- Part B excess charges (when a doctor or other care provider bills more than what Medicare is willing to pay)
- 80 percent of foreign travel healthcare
Because Plan F also covers Part A and Part B’s deductibles, people with Plan F coverage generally pay their Part B, Part D, and Plan F premiums but little else.
What Does Medicare Plan G Cover?
Like Plan F, Plan G is comprehensive, extending coverage for Medicare’s services.
Medicare Plan G covers:
- Part A coinsurance
- Part A deductible
- Hospital costs up to 365 days past Original Medicare’s benefit
- Hospice copays and coinsurance
- 3 pints of blood
- Part B excess charges
- 80 percent of foreign travel healthcare
Someone who enrolls in Plan G will have many of Medicare’s services fully covered, extending Original Medicare’s coverage.
Is Medicare Plan F the Best Medicare Supplement?
Initially, Plan F was the most popular Medicare Supplement Plan. However, since Plan F has been phased out for those becoming Medicare eligible after 2020, Plan G has begun to gain popularity as one of the best Medicare Supplement Plans.
That being said, both Plan F and G offer comprehensive coverage, so what’s different? If you noticed, the coverage list for Medicare Plan F vs Plan G is nearly identical, except for Part B deductible coverage. Plan F covers an enrollee’s Part B deductible, which in 2025 is $257. Plan G has essentially the same coverage but doesn’t cover the Part B deductible, so enrollees will have to pay more of their hospital or doctor bills before Plan G coverage kicks in.
In 2015, Congress’s reauthorization of Medicare changed the law regarding Medicare Supplement plans. One provision stopped carriers from offering plans that cover the Part B deductible. So, another significant difference between Plan F and Plan G is that anyone who didn’t qualify for Medicare until after Jan. 1, 2020, can’t enroll in Plan F, period.
Other than the Part B deductible and the enrollment restriction, F and G are similar, meaning anyone newly eligible for Medicare with their heart set on Plan F likely can’t enroll in it, but Plan G is a close second.
HDHP – A Variation of Plan F and Plan G
Depending on your county, you may also qualify for a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) version of Medicare Supplement Plan F or Plan G. Like any health insurance plan with a high deductible, you (the enrollee) are responsible for all covered costs up to the deductible limit. Once that deductible is met, the insurance company pays covered benefits for the remainder of the year.
For 2026, the high deductible for HDHP Plan F and HDHP Plan G is $2,950. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) adjusts this deductible annually based on inflation using changes in the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index. Because of this, the deductible amount can change from year to year, so it should be reviewed regularly.
Like the standard versions of Plans F and G, HDHP Plan F and HDHP Plan G offer nearly identical coverage. One key difference is that HDHP Plan F may cover the Medicare Part B deductible, while HDHP Plan G does not. Eligibility rules also apply, as HDHP Plan F is available only to individuals who were eligible for Medicare prior to January 1, 2020.
Is Plan F or Plan G right for me?
Original Medicare doesn’t pay for an annual physical, so you’ll likely have some costs to pay out of pocket, regardless of what Medicare Supplement plan you enroll in. It’s probably unrealistic to expect you’ll only pay premiums and spend nothing else on medical care and health services.
Yet, by extending Original Medicare’s core coverage for hospital services, diagnostics, and treatments, Plan F and Plan G might be as close as you will come. But, since Plan F is limited to Medicare-eligible before Jan. 1, 2020, most new Medicare enrollees likely don’t qualify for Plan F.
Ultimately, if you qualify for both Plan F and Plan G, deciding between the two comes down to your personal preferences and the costs of the plans available in your county of residence. Plan F has slightly more coverage thanks to that Part B deductible, and perhaps premiums in your county are priced accordingly.
Deciding between two good options can be difficult, but you should only have to make this choice once. Although some states allow you to switch Medicare Supplement policies under certain circumstances, you likely don’t want the unpredictability of changing costs and coverage, not to mention the trials of comparing plans yearly.
Enroll in a Supplemental Plan With Medicare School
If you’re ready to decide on the Medicare Supplement plan that is right for you, let us help. Don’t waste your golden years on the phone, haggling over medical bills and fighting with an insurance company to get primary care in your community. Talk to one of our professionals today and get coverage that works for you.