High Deductible Plan G in California
High Deductible Medicare Supplement Plan G in California
High Deductible Plan G in California is the same Medigap Plan G coverage, with one change: you pay the first $3,050 in 2027 of your Medicare-covered costs yourself before the plan starts paying. In exchange, the monthly premium is much lower than standard Plan G, often the lowest of any Medigap letter.
This is a backstop design. In a healthy year, a high deductible Medigap plan costs you the small premium and little else. In a bad year, your costs are capped at the deductible, and after it the plan pays what Plan G pays, including the Part A deductible and Part B excess charges. The question is whether the premium savings justify carrying the deductible, and that depends on your health, your savings, and how you feel about a possible $3,050 year.
What you pay with High Deductible Plan G
| Annual Medigap deductible | You pay the first $3,050 in 2027 of Medicare-covered deductibles, coinsurance, and copays. The Part B deductible is part of this amount, not on top of it. |
|---|---|
| After the deductible | You pay $0 for covered care for the rest of the year. Coverage is then identical to standard Plan G. |
| Monthly premium | Paid to the insurance company, much lower than standard Plan G. See the California price ranges below. |
| Prescription drugs | Not included, as with every Medigap plan. Most people pair this plan with a standalone Part D drug plan. |
One way to frame the tradeoff: compared with standard Plan G, the extra amount at risk in a heavy-use year is the high deductible minus the Part B deductible you would pay anyway on Plan G ($3,050 in 2027, against a Part B deductible of $283 in 2026). Compare that figure with a full year of premium savings before deciding.
High Deductible Plan G does not include drug coverage, so most people pair it with a standalone Part D plan. See the 2027 California Part D plans, all 10 with premiums and deductibles.
What High Deductible Plan G covers
These are the standardized benefits from the federal Medigap chart, for this letter only. They are the same at every insurance company.
- Part A coinsurance and hospital costs (up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits are used): 100% (after the $3,050 deductible in 2027)
- Part B coinsurance or copayment: 100% (after the $3,050 deductible in 2027)
- Blood (first 3 pints): 100% (after the $3,050 deductible in 2027)
- Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment: 100% (after the $3,050 deductible in 2027)
- Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance: 100% (after the $3,050 deductible in 2027)
- Part A deductible: 100% (after the $3,050 deductible in 2027)
- Part B deductible: Not covered
- Part B excess charges: 100% (after the $3,050 deductible in 2027)
- Foreign travel emergency (up to plan limits): 80% (after the $3,050 deductible in 2027)
- Out-of-pocket limit: N/A
What High Deductible Plan G costs in California
Coverage is identical statewide; the price is not. Premiums are set by each carrier for each ZIP code and age. The range below is the general statewide picture from the state rate guide, across the California ZIPs we checked. For your exact price, ask us for a quote; we would rather quote you than publish a range we have not verified.
| Annual premium range at age 65, statewide | Per month, for comparison | Companies in the guide |
|---|---|---|
| $476 to $1,162 per year | About $40 to $97 per month | 8 |
Ranges across 8 California ZIPs checked in the California Department of Insurance 2026 Medicare Supplement Rate Guide, individual, non-tobacco, at age 65, checked October 2026. Guide survey rates, not quotes. Your own premium depends on the carrier, your exact age, ZIP code, and tobacco use, and carriers file new rates over time.
Who High Deductible Plan G fits
A good fit if
- You are in good health, use little care most years, and mainly want protection against a catastrophic year.
- You would rather hold the premium savings in your own account than pay them to an insurance company every month.
- You are comfortable paying the first $3,050 of a bad year from savings without stress.
Think twice if
- You have planned surgery or ongoing treatment that would hit the deductible early most years. Standard Plan G usually wins that math.
- A surprise $3,050 bill would be a hardship. Predictability matters more than the lowest premium.
- You are switching from standard Plan G and would be giving up first-dollar coverage. That downgrade is allowed under the California Birthday Rule, but moving back up later is not protected the same way.
Carriers that sell High Deductible Plan G in California
These are some of the carriers that sell Medicare Supplement plans in California. Because the benefits for this letter are standardized, the same High Deductible Plan G policy covers the same things at every carrier on this list; carriers differ on premium, household discounts, rate increase history, and service.
| Carrier |
|---|
| Aetna |
| Anthem Blue Cross |
| Blue Shield of California |
| HealthSpring (Cigna) |
| Humana |
| Mutual of Omaha |
| UnitedHealthcare (AARP) |
Compare the other plans
The same coverage from the first dollar after the Part B deductible.
Plan NLower premiums than Plan G without a high deductible, with small copays.
Plan G vs Plan NThe head to head comparison, with the California break-even math.
Back to the full comparison: Medicare Supplement plans in California.
Questions about High Deductible Plan G in California
How much is the High Deductible Plan G deductible in 2027?
The high-deductible amount is $3,050 in 2027, set by CMS. You pay that amount of Medicare-covered costs (deductibles, coinsurance, and copays combined) before the policy pays anything. The amount is adjusted over time; it was $2,950 in 2026.
How much does High Deductible Plan G cost in California?
Premiums are far lower than standard Plan G. Across 8 California ZIPs checked in the California Department of Insurance 2026 Medicare Supplement Rate Guide, High Deductible Plan G annual premiums at age 65 ranged from $476 to $1,162 for an individual, non-tobacco policy (about $40 to $97 per month, 8 companies in every ZIP table checked), against $1,946 to $4,517 for standard Plan G at the same age across the same ZIPs. Guide survey rates, not quotes. Exact prices depend on the carrier, your age, and your ZIP code.
Is High Deductible Plan G the same coverage as Plan G?
Yes, after the deductible. Once you have paid the $3,050 high deductible for the year (2027 amount), the policy covers the same standardized benefits as a standard Plan G, including the Part A deductible, Part B coinsurance, and Part B excess charges. Before the deductible, you pay the costs Medicare leaves behind.
Can I switch between Plan G and High Deductible Plan G without health questions?
In California, moving from standard Plan G down to High Deductible Plan G is a switch to lesser benefits, so the California Birthday Rule protects it: you can make that move in the 60 days starting on your birthday each year with no medical underwriting. Moving up, from High Deductible Plan G to standard Plan G, is a move to richer benefits and is not protected by the Birthday Rule, so it usually requires health questions outside other guaranteed issue windows.
Check High Deductible Plan G prices for your ZIP
Call or text, Mon to Thu 9 AM to 8 PM, Fri 9 AM to 3 PM, Sat 9 AM to 2 PM PT
Talk through High Deductible Plan G with Eric. We will price it for your exact age and ZIP, check your doctors the Medigap way (any provider who accepts Medicare), and compare it honestly against the other letters, at no cost to you.
Written by Eric Ullrich, licensed Medicare insurance agent, CA license #4551902, NPN 22200900. Last reviewed October 27, 2026. Medigap benefits on this page follow the federally standardized plan chart published by Medicare.gov. Sources: Medicare.gov, Compare Medigap plan benefits, California Department of Insurance, Medicare Supplement Rate Guide. Verify plan details with the carrier or at Medicare.gov before enrolling.