Original Medicare covers a lot — but it does not cover everything. A hospital stay leaves you with a $1,736 deductible, plus $434 a day in coinsurance after day 60. Doctor visits leave 20% coinsurance with no annual cap at all. Add it up, and one bad year can cost a retiree thousands of dollars out of pocket, on top of premiums.
That gap is exactly what Medicare Supplement Insurance — Medigap — exists to fill. Plan G, the most popular Medigap plan in America, covers nearly every gap Original Medicare leaves, except the Part B deductible. But the price of that same standardized coverage swings wildly: MoneyGeek's 2026 rate analysis found Plan G averaging about $180 a month for a 65-year-old nonsmoker nationally, yet $483 a month in New York and $169 in South Carolina — a $3,768-a-year difference for identical benefits. In this guide, we break down what Medigap actually costs in 2026, why your ZIP code matters more than your carrier, and how to pick the right plan without overpaying.
Medigap Costs in 2026: The Short Answer
According to MoneyGeek's 2026 Medigap rate analysis, for a 65-year-old nonsmoker:
| Measure | 2026 figure |
|---|
| National average Plan G premium | About $180/month (up from $159 in 2025) |
| Most expensive state (New York) | About $483/month |
| Least expensive state (South Carolina) | About $169/month |
| NY–SC annual gap, same coverage | About $3,768/year |
| Part B deductible (you pay this yourself under Plan G) | $283 in 2026 |
| Share of Medigap enrollees in Plan G | 43% (AHIP analysis) |
Source: MoneyGeek 2026 Medicare Supplement cost analysis (national averages for a 65-year-old nonsmoker); AHIP for Plan G enrollment share. Note that published state averages differ by source and methodology — an AHIP-based state table, for example, puts New York at about $423 and Florida at about $256 for Plan G, versus MoneyGeek's $483 and lower Florida figures. Treat any single state average as a range indicator, not a quote: your actual premium depends on your exact ZIP code, age, tobacco status, and carrier.
What Medigap Covers — and What Plan G Leaves Out
Medigap plans are standardized by federal law. Every Plan G policy, from every carrier, in every state, covers the same core benefits — the carrier changes the price, not the coverage. Plan G covers: the Part A hospital deductible and coinsurance, skilled nursing facility coinsurance, the Part B 20% coinsurance, Part A hospice coinsurance, the first three pints of blood, and foreign travel emergency care (up to plan limits). The one gap Plan G does not cover is the Part B deductible — $283 in 2026 — which you pay once a year before coverage kicks in.
Plan G's main rivals are cheaper for a reason. Plan N, typically $100–$180 a month for a 65-year-old, covers most of the same gaps but leaves you with the Part B deductible plus up to $20 copays for office visits and up to $50 for emergency room visits, and it does not cover Part B excess charges. High-deductible Plan G, typically $70–$130 a month, covers the same benefits as standard Plan G only after you meet a $2,800 annual deductible. Plan F, once the most popular plan, has been closed to new Medicare enrollees since 2020 — only people eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020 can buy it.
Why Your State Matters More Than Your Carrier
Three pricing methods decide how your premium behaves over time, and states regulate which ones carriers may use:
- Community-rated: everyone in an area pays the same premium regardless of age. Common in New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Washington — and a major reason those states show the highest average premiums: younger buyers subsidize older ones.
- Issue-age-rated: your premium is locked to the age you were when you bought the policy and does not rise as you age (it can still rise with inflation and claims costs).
- Attained-age-rated: the most common method — your premium rises each year as you get older, so the cheapest policy at 65 is not always the cheapest at 75.
That is why the same Plan G costs $483 in New York and $169 in South Carolina. New York's community rating forbids charging older enrollees more, which pushes everyone's average up; most other states use attained-age pricing, where a healthy 65-year-old starts low and pays more later. When comparing, ask every carrier which method it uses and request the rate at ages 70 and 75, not just today's rate — the long-run cost is what matters.
Plan G vs. Plan N vs. High-Deductible Plan G
| Plan | Typical 2026 premium (age 65) | What you still pay | Best for |
|---|
| Plan G | About $140–$250/month | Part B deductible ($283/year) only | Frequent doctor visits, predictable costs |
| Plan N | About $100–$180/month | Part B deductible + up to $20 office copays + up to $50 ER copays + excess charges | Healthy retirees who rarely see a doctor |
| High-deductible Plan G | About $70–$130/month | $2,800 annual deductible before benefits start | Healthy retirees comfortable with a big one-time bill |
The math that decides it: Plan N saves roughly $40–$70 a month versus Plan G — $480–$840 a year. If you see a doctor more than about twice a month, the copays eat the savings and Plan G wins. If you see a doctor a few times a year, Plan N wins by hundreds of dollars. High-deductible Plan G wins only if you can absorb a $2,800 year without stress — and remember, that deductible resets every January.
5 Ways to Pay Less for the Same Coverage
- Buy during your Medigap Open Enrollment Period. The six months starting the month you turn 65 and enroll in Part B are the only window when carriers cannot deny you or charge more for pre-existing conditions. Outside it, most states allow medical underwriting — and a health problem can double your rate or get you declined.
- Compare at least 5 carriers — benefits are identical. Because Plan G is federally standardized, a $133 Plan G and a $220 Plan G in the same ZIP code are the same coverage. The only differences are price, the carrier's rate-increase history, and customer service.
- Check household and non-tobacco discounts. Many carriers offer 5–12% household discounts when both spouses buy, and non-tobacco rates run substantially lower than tobacco rates.
- Re-shop every 2–3 years. Carriers close blocks of business to new sales and raise rates on the closed block. A policy that was cheapest at 65 often is not at 70 — but switching outside your open enrollment window usually requires passing underwriting, so shop while you are healthy.
- Watch the rating method, not just today's premium. An attained-age policy that starts at $150 at 65 can pass $250 by 75. An issue-age or community-rated policy starts higher but rises more slowly. Ask for the 10-year cost picture, not the first-year teaser.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Medigap Plan G cost in 2026?
About $180 a month on average for a 65-year-old nonsmoker nationally (MoneyGeek 2026 analysis), but state averages range from about $169 in South Carolina to about $483 in New York. Your actual premium depends on your ZIP code, age, tobacco use, and carrier.
Is Plan G worth it over Plan N?
Plan G is worth it if you visit doctors frequently or want fully predictable costs — you pay only the $283 Part B deductible each year. Plan N saves $40–$70 a month but adds copays and excess-charge exposure, so it wins for healthy retirees with few visits.
Can I switch Medigap plans later?
Yes, but outside your six-month open enrollment window most states allow carriers to use medical underwriting — they can charge more or decline you for health reasons. A handful of states (including New York and Connecticut) guarantee the right to switch year-round; most do not.
Does Medigap cover prescription drugs?
No. Medigap plans sold after 2006 do not include drug coverage. You need a separate Medicare Part D plan for prescriptions, or a Medicare Advantage plan that bundles drug coverage instead of Medigap.
What is the difference between Medigap and Medicare Advantage?
Medigap supplements Original Medicare: you keep any doctor who accepts Medicare, nationwide, with predictable costs. Medicare Advantage replaces Original Medicare with a private plan, usually with lower premiums but networks, prior authorizations, and annual out-of-pocket caps. You cannot hold both at the same time.
The Bottom Line
Medigap Plan G in 2026 costs about $180 a month on average at 65 — but averages hide the real story. The same federally standardized coverage costs $483 in New York and $169 in South Carolina, and the cheapest carrier in your ZIP code may not be the cheapest in ten years. Buy during your open enrollment window, compare at least five carriers on price and rate history (not benefits, which are identical), and pick the plan that matches your actual doctor-visit pattern — Plan G for predictability, Plan N for savings if you are healthy, high-deductible G only if a $2,800 year would not hurt. The coverage is standardized; the savings come from shopping.
Sources: MoneyGeek, "Medicare Supplement Cost (2026 Plan Year)" (national and state Plan G averages for a 65-year-old nonsmoker; Part B deductible $283 in 2026); AHIP analysis via MedicareAdvantage.com (43% of Medigap beneficiaries in Plan G; state premium table); Medicare.gov Medigap basics and costs pages (standardized benefits, open enrollment rules); CMS, "2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles" (Part A deductible $1,736, hospital coinsurance $434/day days 61–90, SNF coinsurance $217/day days 21–100, Part B deductible $283, standard Part B premium $202.90). State averages vary by source and methodology — figures above are ranges for comparison, not quotes. Your premium depends on ZIP code, age, tobacco status, and carrier.
Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and is not financial, legal, or insurance advice. Medicare rules and premiums vary by state and carrier, and your actual costs depend on your enrollment timing and health history. Compare quotes and consult a licensed insurance professional or your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) before enrolling.
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