Plan G monthly premiums often fall near $164 nationwide, but vary by state (~$140–$236), age, tobacco use, and pricing method.
Monthly Cost For Medicare Plan G: What People Pay
Plan G is a standardized Medigap policy that helps with Part A and Part B cost sharing. The benefit set is the same within a letter across insurers; the price isn’t. Recent national data show an average monthly premium near $164 for people already enrolled in this letter, with state averages ranging from about $140 at the low end to roughly $236 in the highest state averages. Those figures reflect 2023 enrollment and give a helpful starting point while you gather current quotes.
Why the range? Insurers file rates by state and use different pricing methods. Your age, ZIP code, tobacco status, and discounts all move the number. Some states regulate pricing more tightly than others, and a few use community-rating rules that flatten age differences.
| Benchmark | Dollar Amount | Source / Year |
|---|---|---|
| National average premium among Plan G enrollees | $164 per month | KFF analysis (2023) |
| Lower state average among Plan G enrollees | ~$140 per month | KFF analysis (2023) |
| Higher state average among Plan G enrollees | $236 per month | KFF analysis (2023) |
What Drives Your Quote
Three levers set most quotes:
- Pricing method: Community-rated, issue-age, and attained-age rating create very different curves over time.
- Personal profile: Age band, sex, and tobacco status shape base pricing; household discounts can reduce it.
- Location and insurer: Each state approves filings separately, so the same letter can cost far less in one market than another.
If you are within your six-month Medigap open enrollment when Part B starts at age 65, carriers can’t use medical underwriting. Outside that window, many states allow underwriting, which can raise the quote or lead to a decline. Four states offer broader guaranteed-issue rights during the year, which helps shoppers who want to move into a supplement later.
How Pricing Methods Change What You Pay
Medigap carriers use one of three pricing approaches.
Community-Rated
Everyone in the rating area pays the same base rate, regardless of age. Rates can still rise due to inflation, claims experience, or other filing factors, but they don’t step up simply because you turned a year older.
Issue-Age Rated
Your premium is based on the age you were when you bought the policy. A person who buys at 65 pays less than someone who buys at 72, and the gap persists. Future changes tend to reflect company-wide adjustments rather than your birthday.
Attained-Age Rated
The entry price can look low at 65, then tick up as you age. Over a long horizon, that curve may overtake a community-rated or issue-age rate, which is why it’s smart to view the next ten years of projected filings when you compare offers.
Standard Plan G Vs High-Deductible Option
Both versions share the same covered benefits. The high-deductible version trades a lower monthly bill for a larger upfront spend before benefits kick in. In 2025 the deductible is $2,870. People who rarely use outpatient care may like the budget relief in exchange for that larger threshold. Heavy users tend to do better with the standard version.
Plan G also doesn’t cover the Part B deductible itself, and it pays after Original Medicare. You’ll still need a separate Part D drug plan if you want prescription coverage with Original Medicare.
Where To Place Two Smart Links
When you’re ready to compare quotes, start with two official pages: the Medigap costs page for how pricing works and the Compare plan benefits page for the high-deductible threshold and standardized benefits chart. Both pages come straight from Medicare.
Real-World Pricing Snapshots
Numbers on Plan G swing with market rules and carrier strategy. Here are grounded reference points pulled from reputable public data to frame expectations while you run your own quotes:
- National benchmark: Average monthly premium near $164 among people already enrolled in the letter (2023 dataset).
- State spread: State averages clustered near ~$140 at the low end and $236 at the high end among current policyholders (2023 dataset).
- City example: A 65-year-old nonsmoker in Atlanta could see quotes ranging from roughly $44 to $88 a month for the same lettered benefits, depending on carrier and pricing method (2025 snapshot).
Those figures don’t predict your exact bill. They illustrate how wide the market can run and why shopping across multiple carriers matters.
How To Lower Your Premium Without Losing Coverage
Shop Across Multiple Insurers
Same letter, same benefits; price and service vary. Pull at least three quotes. Look past the first-year teaser and review the carrier’s recent filing history in your state.
Ask About Discounts
Many carriers offer household, autopay, or EFT discounts. Some also price lower for people who don’t use tobacco. These add up over a full year.
Choose The Right Pricing Method
Community-rated states can help long-term affordability. If your state uses attained-age, compare projected increases and see whether an issue-age offer is available from a different insurer in your ZIP code.
Time Your Application
If you’re new to Part B at 65, use your six-month Medigap open enrollment window, when carriers cannot apply medical underwriting. If you’re outside that window, check your state’s guaranteed-issue rights after certain events, like moving or losing other coverage.
| Item | Figure | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual high-deductible amount (2025) | $2,870 | Same benefits after this threshold is met |
| Monthly premium tendency | Lower than standard | Varies by state, age, and carrier |
| Best fit | Low expected use | Pairs well if you rarely access outpatient care |
Value Checks Before You Enroll
Map Your Yearly Spend
Add the monthly premium times 12, your Part D premium, and any likely copays or coinsurance you’d face without a supplement. Compare that total with the same math under the high-deductible version. This quick worksheet exposes the better fit for your usage.
Look Past Year One
Ask the carrier or your broker for the last three years of rate filings in your state for the letter you want. A modest entry price can look less friendly if filings jumped later. Stability often beats a rock-bottom opener.
Check Doctor And Hospital Preferences
Original Medicare lets you use any provider that accepts Medicare. If you have hard preferences for certain specialists or hospitals, a supplement keeps that flexibility. That access is part of the value, even if a Medicare Advantage plan looks cheaper at first glance.
Quick Steps To Price Your Area
- Gather your basics: age, ZIP, tobacco status, and desired policy start date.
- Run quotes from at least three carriers in your state for the lettered policy.
- Compare pricing methods (community, issue-age, attained-age) and projected increases.
- Decide between standard and high-deductible versions using the deductible figure above.
- Confirm any discounts and how they apply over time.
- Pick the offer that balances cost, stability, and service.
- Save your quotes as PDFs for record.
What Plan G Covers In Plain Terms
The lettered benefits are standardized. That means a Plan G from Insurer A covers the same medical items as a Plan G from Insurer B in your state. In short, you get help with Part A hospital coinsurance and the full Part A deductible, Part B coinsurance, blood (first 3 pints), hospice coinsurance, skilled nursing facility coinsurance, and protection from Part B excess charges in states where those apply. There’s also limited foreign travel emergency coverage. The remaining gap is the Part B deductible, which this letter does not pay. That’s the trade-off compared with now-closed Plan F for new buyers.
Common Shopping Mistakes To Avoid
Chasing The Lowest Sticker Only
A rock-bottom opener can mask steep year-two and year-three increases. Weigh carrier stability and recent filings in your state alongside the entry price.
Skipping The High-Deductible Check
People who rarely use outpatient care can save real money with the high-deductible version in a light-use year. Run the math using the current deductible and your expected visits before you decide.
Missing Your Best Enrollment Window
Your six-month Medigap open enrollment tied to Part B at 65 is generous. Outside that period, many states allow medical underwriting, which can raise the quote or lead to a decline unless you qualify for a special guaranteed-issue event.
Forgetting The Drug Plan
Supplements don’t include Part D. Add a stand-alone drug plan if you want prescription coverage with Original Medicare, and compare that Part D premium in your yearly budget.
Rate Changes And Eligibility Basics
Rates can shift each year due to claims experience, inflation, and state filings. With attained-age pricing, the bill also steps up as birthdays pass. Community-rated and issue-age pricing do not age-step, but they still move with filings. Asking about the carrier’s recent pattern gives you a clearer picture of what year two and year three may look like.
Eligibility is broad at 65 with Part B active: you get a six-month window to buy any letter sold in your state with no medical underwriting. Outside that period, many states let carriers underwrite unless you hit a qualifying event that grants guaranteed-issue rights. People under 65 with Medicare can face different rules that vary by state.
Bottom Line: What To Budget For Plan G
A practical planning range for this supplement starts with the recent average near $164 a month among people already enrolled in the letter, with state averages clustering from about $140 to roughly $236. Actual quotes depend on rating rules, your profile, and carrier strategy. Run multiple quotes, confirm the high-deductible threshold if you’re price-sensitive, and lock in during your open enrollment window when you can.