Which Medigap Plans Carry the $3,050 Deductible?
This higher deductible does not apply to standard Medigap policies. If you carry a standard Plan G or Plan F, your coverage rules remain unchanged.
The $3,050 deductible applies only to specific high-deductible Medicare Supplement plan designs. Three distinct plan options fall under this rule.
- High-Deductible Plan G: Available to all Medicare beneficiaries, including anyone newly eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020.
- High-Deductible Plan F: Available exclusively to beneficiaries who became eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020, under the rules of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act.
- High-Deductible Plan J: Grandfathered coverage for individuals who purchased this plan before sales permanently closed on June 1, 2010.
High-Deductible Plan G remains the most popular choice among these three options today. Most recent retirees selecting high-deductible coverage hold this specific policy.
Standard versions of Plan G continue to require no plan-level deductible beyond the standard Part B annual baseline. Knowing which policy you own prevents unexpected medical bills.
How High-Deductible Medigap Actually Works
A common misconception is that high-deductible Medigap functions like a commercial employer health plan. In reality, Original Medicare always pays its share first.
When you visit a doctor or receive care, Medicare Part A and Part B process your claims initially. Medicare pays its customary percentage directly to your healthcare provider.
Under Part B, Medicare typically pays 80% of approved outpatient charges once you meet the Part B baseline. You remain responsible for the remaining 20% coinsurance.
Under a high-deductible supplement, you pay those remaining out-of-pocket costs yourself. You continue paying them until your cumulative spending reaches $3,050 for the calendar year.
Crucially, every dollar you pay toward Medicare deductibles and coinsurance counts toward this $3,050 limit. That includes the standard Medicare Part B annual deductible, which was $283 in 2026.
It also includes any hospital payments you make toward the Medicare Part A inpatient deductible, which sat at $1,736 per benefit period in 2026. Once your combined out-of-pocket spending hits $3,050, your supplement pays 100% of covered expenses for the rest of the calendar year.
