If you’re in overall good health, you have some savings, and you want to keep your monthly costs very low, the Medigap High Deductible Plan G might be just what the doctor ordered.
Especially if you don’t want narrow care provider networks. Medigap plans, unlike Medicare Advantage plans, don’t restrict you to getting non-emergency care only from approved doctors. Instead, Medigap plans, including Medigap Plan G, let you use your plan with any doctor willing to take Medicare patients, anywhere in the country.
That’s a powerful benefit in the event you need care.
This article will compare and contrast two of the very best, most established national insurance carriers that sell Medigap High Deductible Plan G policies: Aetna and UnitedHealthcare.
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What is the Medigap High-Deductible Plan G?
The Medigap High-Deductible Plan G is a lower-cost variant of the standard Medigap Plan G.
The only major difference is that–you guessed it––it has a higher deductible!
Medigap Plan G – The Most Comprehensive Medicare Supplement Plan Available
Medigap Plan G is the most popular Medigap plan available to new beneficiaries.
It provides the most comprehensive coverage of all such plans, leaving you with minimal out-of-pocket costs. Specifically, the standard Medicare Plan G pays all out-of-pocket costs under Original Medicare (Medicare Parts A and B), with the exception of your Part B deductible.
All your other out-of-pocket costs, such as your Part A hospital copays and the normal 20% coinsurance for doctors’ fees and outpatient services, are 100% covered under Plan G, once you meet your deductible.
The deductible for the standard version of Plan G is $270 per year, as of 2025.
The high-deductible version of Medigap Plan G is nearly identical. That is, it provides the same standard set of benefits as all other Medigap Plan G policies. Except it has a deductible of $2,870.
That’s how much you’ll have to pay out of pocket under the High Deductible Plan G,, in the event you need care, before your Medigap High-Deductible plan will begin to pay benefits.
Important note: Medigap plans do not include prescription drug coverage. If you want coverage against prescription drug costs (and we definitely recommend it!) you should purchase a separate Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, along with your Medigap policy.
Medigap Plan G Standard Benefits
Here’s a breakdown of what all Medicare Plan G policies cover, regardless of carrier:
- Part A deductible
- Medicare Part A hospital daily copays
- Medicare Part B coinsurance and copayments
- First three pints of blood each year
- Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment costs
- Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance costs
- 80% of foreign travel emergency costs (up to $50,000 lifetime)
How Much Does the High-Deductible Plan G Save?
While the higher deductible can be a hurdle to overcome if you need care, many people are still attracted to the much lower premiums available under the High Deductible Plan G.
Using UnitedHealthcare’s Plan G policies as an example, premiums for the standard Plan G start at just over $200 per month, as of 2025. But opt for the high-deductible version of plan G, and your premiums could start at just over $47 per month.
These numbers are for a 65-year-old female non-smoker in a low-cost area. Your premiums could vary based on your age, sex, tobacco use status, and location.
Comparing Aetna and UnitedHealthcare: Two of the Best
Both Aetna and UnitedHealthcare offer High-Deductible Plan G, as well as standard Plan G policies.
UnitedHealthcare’s Medicare supplement insurance offerings are quite widely known because they have a co-branding arrangement with the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). But both of these carriers are solid, capable, and well-regarded carriers.
Regardless of which carrier you choose, all Medicare Supplement Plan G policies, including high-deductible Plan G policies, include the same set of standard benefits that all carriers must offer, including foreign travel benefits.
*Note: The standard plans are different in Minnesota, Massachusetts, and Wisconsin. If you’re a resident of one of these states, contact a MediGap Advisors Personal Benefits Manager for a free personalized consultation.
Pricing Comparison
Both Aetna and UnitedHealthcare use a combination of attained-age pricing, issue-age pricing, or community-rated pricing, depending on the state and the specific plan offered. Here’s how these pricing methods impact premiums and rate increases:
Aetna
- Primary Pricing Method: Aetna frequently uses attained-age pricing for Medigap Plan G.
This means your premiums are based on your current age and will increase as you grow older. While starting premiums are often lower under this method than with some other carriers, you can expect them to increase yearly to account for age-related risk.
- Rate Adjustments: Premium increases are calculated based on age progression, medical inflation, and the claims experience of the entire pool.
Historically, Aetna’s rate adjustments remain moderate, often between 3-5% annually.
- State Variations: In some states, Aetna may offer issue-age pricing, where premiums are based on your age at the time of enrollment and do not increase with age. However, they can potentially rise due to inflation or the actual cost of claims from others enrolled in the plan.
UnitedHealthcare
- Primary Pricing Method: UnitedHealthcare also predominantly uses attained-age pricing, resulting in lower premiums initially with gradual increases as you age.
- Rate Adjustments: Premium increases are influenced by factors like age, medical inflation, and group claims experience.
Historically, UnitedHealthcare’s annual increases tend to range from 4-6%, slightly higher than Aetna in some states.
- Additional Stability: In certain states, UnitedHealthcare offers community-rated pricing, where everyone in the plan pays the same premium regardless of age.
This method stabilizes premiums for beneficiaries who enroll later in life.
Customer Service Reputation
Aetna
- Claim Processing: Efficient claims handling is frequently praised by members. Most claims are processed within 7-10 business days, ensuring timely reimbursements.
UnitedHealthcare
- Claims Processing: High marks for accuracy and speed in processing claims, often completing them within 5-7 business days.
Key Difference: UnitedHealthcare has a slightly stronger reputation for customer service, particularly in its nationwide consistency. Aetna also performs well but results can vary depending on your state.
Underwriting Information and Methods
Aetna
- Underwriting Process: Aetna’s underwriting is straightforward, with clear medical questions during the application process. Applicants with well-controlled diabetes, high blood pressure, or minor past surgeries often face lenient underwriting.
- Leniency: Known for leniency on conditions like controlled hypertension or high cholesterol. Aetna is also more accommodating for applicants with a history of non-invasive cancer that has been in remission for over two years.
- Strictness: Relatively strict on conditions like congestive heart failure or recent heart attacks, where applicants may face declinations.
- Open Enrollment: No underwriting required if enrolling during your Medigap Open Enrollment Period, ensuring guaranteed acceptance.
UnitedHealthcare
- Underwriting Process: Similar to Aetna, with a detailed but standard set of medical questions. Applicants with controlled conditions like mild asthma or resolved orthopedic issues often qualify easily.
- Leniency: Slightly stricter than Aetna on conditions like diabetes requiring insulin or a history of stroke, where applicants may face higher scrutiny.
- Strictness: More cautious with applicants who have chronic kidney disease or ongoing cancer treatments.
- Open Enrollment: No underwriting required during the Open Enrollment Period or guaranteed issue situations, providing a stress-free application process.
Key Difference: Aetna’s underwriting is slightly more lenient, making it a better option for applicants with manageable chronic conditions. UnitedHealthcare’s stricter approach may provide more predictable claims experience for the insurer, reflected in slightly lower premiums.
READ MORE: The Medicare Advisors Medigap Plan G Guide
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We’ll help you compare plans, evaluate costs, and select the right option for your needs. Schedule your free consultation now and find the perfect Medigap plan.
But don’t put it off! When it comes to Medicare and Medigap enrollments, there are important deadlines you don’t want to miss!
For Further Reading:
Mike Montes is a Personal Benefits Manager at MediGap Advisors. Mike has a passion for bringing clarity to those confused about Medicare. He is an authority on Medicare, Medicare supplement plans, Medicare Advantage plans, and Part D prescription drug plans. Read more about Mike on his Bio page.