2026 Medicare Plan G Prices Vary Widely Based on Where You Live

Plan G is the most popular Medicare Supplement plan sold today, and for good reason: it covers everything that the old Plan F covered except the Part B deductible ($283 in 2026). But the monthly premium you pay for Plan G depends heavily on where you live. A 65-year-old in Dallas might pay $122/month while someone with identical coverage in Manhattan pays $357 or more.

The table below breaks down Plan G premiums across ten major metro areas as of January 15, 2026, for 65-year-old non-tobacco users. The spread between the cheapest and most expensive cities is striking. If you are shopping for a plan, talking to a local Medicare insurance agent can help you sort through the options in your specific zip code.

Plan G Premiums Across 10 Major Metro Areas

All quotes below are for 65-year-old non-tobacco users as of January 15, 2026.

What the Data Shows

• New York is the most expensive market. The lowest Plan G quote in Manhattan ($357/month) is higher than the highest quote in Dallas ($296 for males). That single comparison shows how wide the geographic gap can be.
• Phoenix has the widest premium spread. Male premiums there range from $155 to $526 - a $371 gap between the cheapest and most expensive carrier. Shopping around in Phoenix is especially worth your time.
• Gender-based pricing varies by city. In Los Angeles and San Francisco, men and women pay the same rate. In Chicago and Philadelphia, women pay noticeably less.
• Texas cities rank among the cheapest. Both Dallas and Houston offer some of the lowest Plan G premiums in the country, with starting rates under $160 for men and under $141 for women.

Why Plan G Prices Differ So Much by Location

Plan G coverage is standardized by the federal government. Every Plan G policy covers the same benefits regardless of which insurance company sells it or which state you live in. So why do premiums differ by hundreds of dollars?

"A Plan G is a Plan G no matter where you live. They don't change from year-to-year," says Chris Prang, a licensed Medicare agent in Virginia. That standardization is what makes geographic price gaps so striking: the policy in your hands is identical to one sitting in a desk drawer 1,500 miles away, but the monthly bill can be triple.

• Regional healthcare costs. Insurers price premiums based partly on average healthcare spending in your area. Cities with higher hospital and doctor visit costs tend to have higher Medigap premiums.
• State insurance regulations. Each state sets its own rules for how Medigap plans can be priced and sold. Some states require guaranteed-issue rights beyond the federal minimum, which can affect how carriers set rates.
• Carrier competition. Markets with more insurers competing for business tend to push premiums lower. In some cities, a dozen or more carriers offer Plan G; in others, the options are limited.
• Rating method. Carriers use one of three pricing methods: community-rated (same price regardless of age), issue-age (locked at your enrollment age), or attained-age (increases as you get older). The mix of rating methods available in your area shapes the range of quotes you see.

Even within the same metro, the carrier you pick matters as much as the city. According to Jason Denniston, a licensed Medicare agent in Indiana, "what really matters is picking a carrier that's more likely to keep rate increases reasonable over time, even if they aren't the absolute cheapest upfront." A bargain premium today can turn into the most expensive plan on the block five years from now if the carrier has a history of aggressive rate hikes.

How to Find the Best Plan G Rate in Your Area

Because Plan G is standardized, the coverage is identical across every carrier that sells it. The only real differences are price and company reputation. That makes comparison shopping straightforward:

1. Get quotes from multiple carriers. Don't settle for the first quote. In cities like Phoenix, the gap between the cheapest and most expensive Plan G is over $370/month.
2. Enroll during your Medigap Open Enrollment Period. This six-month window starts when you turn 65 and are enrolled in Part B. During this period, insurers cannot deny you or charge more based on health history.
3. Understand your guaranteed issue rights. "Guaranteed Issue is a right that stops insurers from denying coverage or raising rates due to pre-existing conditions. It applies during your initial enrollment at 65, starting the first day of your birthday month and lasting six months, or within 63 days of losing qualifying coverage like an employer plan," says Brian Moore, a licensed Medicare agent in Ohio. "Missing these windows usually means facing medical underwriting." If you blow past your window, the cheapest quote in your zip code may not even be available to you.
4. Ask about the rating method. A community-rated plan may cost more upfront but can save you money over time compared to an attained-age plan that rises every year.
5. Check financial stability ratings. An AM Best "A" or better rating signals a carrier that can pay claims long-term. A rock-bottom premium from a financially shaky insurer is not a bargain.
6. Ask the agent for the carrier's rate history. "A good agent will evaluate the carrier's past history and can give you a report of the premium increases they have had, and the rate within the health industry that they carry. This is important when you first begin your insurance coverage," says Larry Dalton, a licensed Medicare agent in Oklahoma. Two carriers can both have an "A" rating from AM Best but very different track records on annual rate hikes.
7. Work with a licensed agent. An independent agent can pull quotes from multiple carriers at once and help you compare your options at no extra cost.

Plan G vs. Other Popular Medigap Plans

Plan G is the most popular Medigap plan for people new to Medicare, but it is not the only option. Here is how it compares:

• Plan G vs. Plan N: Plan N costs less per month but requires copays of up to $20 for some doctor visits and up to $50 for ER visits that don't result in admission. If you rarely visit the doctor, Plan N might save you money overall.
• Plan G vs. Plan F: Plan F covers the Part B deductible that Plan G doesn't, but it is only available to people who were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020. For everyone else, Plan G is the most comprehensive option available.
• Plan G vs. High-Deductible Plan G (HDG): HDG offers the same coverage as standard Plan G, but only after you meet a higher annual deductible ($2,950 in 2026). The trade-off is a much lower premium. "Supplement rates have gone up every year for the last three years," says Thomas Ashton, a licensed Medicare agent in Florida. "There is a solution to keep from paying the insurance companies thousands of dollars each year for services you are not using — a High-Deductible Plan G can lower your monthly premium 75 percent or more." HDG is worth a look in expensive markets like Manhattan or Phoenix where standard Plan G premiums are eye-watering.

What This Means for You

Where you live has an outsized effect on what you pay for Plan G. Two people with the same age, gender, and health status can face premiums that differ by hundreds of dollars per month depending on their zip code.

The good news is that because all Medigap plans of the same letter are standardized, you can shop purely on price and carrier reliability. Start by comparing the overall value of plans available in your area, and review the coverage details of each Medigap letter to confirm Plan G is the right fit. If you need help sorting through quotes, compare Medicare Supplement options here or connect with a local agent who can walk you through the numbers.