High-deductible Plan G in 2026: the $2,950 deductible and who it suits

How the high-deductible version of Plan G works, its 2026 deductible, and when the premium savings outweigh the extra risk.

High-deductible Plan G has exactly the same benefits as regular Plan G, but only after you pay a yearly deductible. For 2026 that deductible is $2,950. In exchange, premiums are often a third or less of a standard Plan G.

How the deductible counts

Costs that a regular Plan G would pay count toward the $2,950: the Part A hospital deductible, hospital and skilled nursing coinsurance, and your 20% of Part B services. The Part B deductible ($283) also counts. Once you have paid $2,950 in a calendar year, the plan pays like regular Plan G for the rest of that year.

The trade-off in one chart

In a quiet year, high-deductible G costs far less. In a year with a hospital stay, you pay up to the deductible plus the low premium, which can still come out close to or below the cost of standard Plan G. The worst case for this example is $3,610, compared with $2,263 for Plan G every year.

Who it suits

• People with savings who can absorb a $2,950 bill without stress.
• Healthy people who rarely use more than routine care.
• Anyone who wants catastrophic protection rather than first-dollar coverage.

Who should avoid it

• People on fixed incomes for whom a surprise bill would be a hardship.
• People with ongoing treatment that will hit the deductible every year anyway.

Compared with Plans K and L

Plans K and L also lower premiums by sharing costs, but cap your spending at $8,000 and $4,000 and do not cover Part B excess charges. High-deductible G caps your Medigap-covered costs at $2,950 and covers excess charges after the deductible. See the K and L breakdown.

Availability

Not every insurer sells high-deductible G in every state, and some agents do not mention it because it pays lower commissions. Ask for it by name.

Questions people ask

What is the 2026 high-deductible Plan G deductible?

$2,950.

Does the Part B deductible count toward it?

Yes, it counts toward the high-deductible amount.

Are benefits different from regular Plan G?

No. After the deductible, the benefits are identical.

Is there a high-deductible Plan F?

Yes, but only for people eligible for Medicare before 2020.

Independent educational site. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government, the federal Medicare program, or any insurance company. Figures are 2026 amounts published by CMS unless noted; check Medicare.gov for your situation.