Medicare Plan G Reviews: Best Medicare Supplement Plans in 2021

• by Christian Worstell
• March 25, 2021
• Reviewed by John Krahnert

Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan G is one of the most popular Medigap plans.

Here is our review of Medicare Plan G that you can use to help you make an informed decision about your Medicare coverage.

You can also read some customer reviews to learn more about finding the best Medicare plan for your needs.

Plan G reviews for Medicare Supplement Insurance companies

When reviewing whether Medicare Plan G is the best plan for you, you may want to consider some aspects of the insurance carrier or insurance companies offering the plan.

Unlike some other types of Medicare plans, the types of Medicare Supplement plans sold in most states include benefits that are standardized by the federal government.

That means the benefits offered by each type of plan are the same no matter where it is sold. The main reason you choose Medicare Plan G offered by one carrier versus another could come down to the price for which it’s sold. 

We give Plan G from each of the following Medicare Supplement carriers an “A+” rating based on the company’s reputation and financial strength:

• Aetna
• Humana
• Mutual of Omaha
• Cigna
• Blue Cross Blue Shield
• ManhattanLife
• Medico
• WellCare
• Central States Indemnity Company of Omaha (CSI)
• Gerber Life Insurance Company
• Liberty National Life Insurance Company
• Medical Mutual

Please note that not all of the companies listed above may offer Medigap Plan G in your area. Learn more about Medigap plans by visiting MedicareSupplement.com, and find the best 2021 Medicare Supplement Insurance company and plan for your individual needs

Is Medicare Plan G better than Plan F in 2021?

Medicare Plan G is one of the standardized Medigap plans that covers more out-of-pocket Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) costs than other Medigap plans.

Of the nine benefit areas included under Medicare Supplement Insurance, Plan G offers 100% coverage in seven areas and 80% coverage for foreign travel emergency care (which is the maximum allowed for this benefit area). 

The only benefit area that Plan G does not cover is the Medicare Part B annual deductible. 

Medicare Supplement Plan F is the only Medigap plan that offers more coverage than Plan G. However, Plan F is no longer available to new Medicare beneficiaries who became eligible for Medicare after January 1, 2020.

If you became eligible for Medicare before Jan. 1, 2020, you may be able to enroll in Plan F if it’s available where you live. You can also keep your Medicare Plan F if you were already enrolled in that plan.

This change in Medigap availability leaves Plan G as the most comprehensive Medicare Supplement Insurance plan in 2021 in terms of coverage. 

And any health care provider who accepts Medicare will also accept Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan G.

Medicare Plan G benefits review: Plan G offers comprehensive coverage and is the most complete Medigap plan available to new Medicare beneficiaries. We give Medicare Plan G an “A+” rating in terms of benefits.

Pros and cons of Medicare Plan G

Let’s review some of the pros and cons of Medicare Supplement Plan G. 

Is Medicare Plan G worth it?

In 2018, the average Medicare Supplement Plan G premium was $122 per month. This was one of the lowest average monthly premiums of any standardized Medigap plan.¹ 

As previously mentioned, the only benefit area that is not covered by Plan G is the Medicare Part B deductible. However, the Part B deductible is only $203 per year in 2021.

When you consider all of the out-of-pocket Medicare costs that are covered by Plan G, you may begin to appreciate the plan’s value.

• The Medicare Part A deductible for 2021 is $1,484 per benefit period, and you could potentially face multiple benefit periods within the same calendar year.
  
  
• You are typically required to pay 20 percent of the Medicare-approved amount for outpatient services and items you receive (after you meet your Part B deductible for the year).

Out-of-pocket Medicare costs like these can add up quickly. Medicare Plan G can help give you greater cost certainty and protection from high out-of-pocket costs. 

Medicare Plan G value review: Medicare Plan G provides tremendous value as one of the more affordable Medigap plans offering among the most comprehensive coverage. We rate the value of Medicare Plan G as an “A+.” 

How popular is Medicare Plan G?

17 percent of all Medigap enrollees are enrolled in Plan G. Only Plan F had a higher number of enrollees.²

Medicare Plan G’s popularity is continuing to grow. Plan G experienced an enrollment growth of 39 percent from 2017 to 2018, which was by far the highest among any Medigap plan.

Plan G enrollment nearly tripled from 2015 to 2018.

66 percent of companies that sell Medicare Supplement Insurance offer Plan G.²

Medicare Plan G is available in all 50 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Medicare Supplement plan customer reviews 

Don’t just take our word for it! Watch the video below to hear some Medicare Supplement plan customer reviews, from MedicareSupplement.com.

How to shop for Medicare Plan G

Learn more about Medigap Plan G by visiting MedicareSupplement.com, and find the best 2021 Medicare Supplement Insurance company and plan for your individual needs.

¹ TZ Insurance Solutions LLC internal sales data, 2019. This data is based on the Medicare Supplement Insurance policies TZ Insurance Solutions LLC has sold. It is not a comprehensive national average of all available Medicare Supplement Insurance plan premiums.

² AHIP. (June, 2020). State of Medigap: Trends in Enrollment and Demographics. Retrieved from https://www.ahip.org/wp-content/uploads/AHIP_State_of_Medigap-2020.pdf.

About the author

Christian Worstell is a licensed insurance agent and a Senior Staff Writer for MedicareAdvantage.com. He is passionate about helping people navigate the complexities of Medicare and understand their coverage options.

His work has been featured in outlets such as Vox, MSN, and The Washington Post, and he is a frequent contributor to health care and finance blogs.

Christian is a graduate of Shippensburg University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. He currently lives in Raleigh, NC.

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