Plan D vs Plan G: One Line of Difference
Plan D and Plan G differ by exactly one benefit: Part B excess charges. D does not cover them; G does. Everything else — hospital coinsurance, SNF, blood, hospice, the 20% Part B share — is identical. In the handful of states where excess charges are banned by law, the distinction collapses entirely.
| Dimension | Plan D | Plan G |
|---|---|---|
| Part B coinsurance (20%) | 100% covered | 100% covered |
| Part B excess charges (up to 15% over allowed) | You pay them | 100% covered |
| Part A deductible / coinsurance / SNF | Fully covered | Fully covered |
| Part B deductible | You pay ($257) | You pay ($257) |
| Premium vs G | Usually slightly cheaper | Baseline |
| Relevance where excess charges are banned | Functionally identical to G | Functionally identical to D |
How much excess-charge risk is actually worth
Excess charges appear when a non-participating provider bills up to 15% above Medicare’s approved amount. Roughly 1–2% of providers do this nationally, concentrated in a few metros and specialties (some oncology, orthopedics, dermatology). A $3,000 approved procedure with a 15% excess leaves a $450 bill that G absorbs and D does not. If your doctors accept Medicare assignment — the overwhelming norm — excess charges never occur and D is free money.
The practical buying rule
Price D and G from the same carrier in your ZIP: if the gap is under roughly $15/month, G’s insurance against a hostile provider is worth it. If D runs meaningfully cheaper and you have verified your providers take assignment, D is a rational saving. In states that ban excess charges (Massachusetts, Minnesota, Rhode Island, Vermont, Connecticut, Pennsylvania for most purposes), the choice is purely about which premium is lower.
FAQ
What is a Part B excess charge?
Up to 15% above Medicare’s approved amount that only non-participating providers may bill. G covers it; D and N do not.
How do I check if my doctor charges excess?
Ask the office directly whether they ‘accept Medicare assignment’ — participating providers cannot bill excess charges at all.
Is Plan D discontinued?
No — D remains open to new enrollees. It is simply unpopular next to G, so few carriers promote it.
Related reading: Plan G full file · All Medigap plans · Cost math library · Medicare FAQs