Medigap Plan B
Plan B is Plan A plus exactly one benefit: it pays the Part A hospital deductible — $1,736 per benefit period in 2026 — in full. Everything else matches Plan A, gaps included: no skilled nursing facility coinsurance, no Part B deductible, no excess charges, no foreign travel benefit. And it isn't Medicare Part B — the matching letter is a coincidence.
What does Plan B cover?
- Part A coinsurance and hospital costs (up to 365 extra days after Medicare benefits are used) — Covered 100%
- Part B coinsurance or copayment — Covered 100%
- Blood (first 3 pints) — Covered 100%
- Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment — Covered 100%
- Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance — Not covered
- Part A deductible — Covered 100%
- Part B deductible — Not covered
- Part B excess charges — Not covered
- Foreign travel emergency (up to plan limits) — Not covered
Who is Plan B a good fit for?
- People whose main worry is hospital bills: Plan B covers the Part A deductible and all the coinsurance beyond it, with up to 365 extra covered hospital days.
- People stepping up from Plan A for one specific reason — closing the hospital deductible — without paying for benefits they've decided to self-fund.
What are the trade-offs of Plan B?
- Skilled nursing facility coinsurance still isn't covered — the same post-hospital rehab gap Plan A has.
- The annual Part B deductible ($283 in 2026) and any Part B excess charges are yours.
- Most people comparing seriously also quote G or N — the letters that add skilled nursing and travel coverage — because whether the fuller letters are worth their premium difference is arithmetic for your own quotes, not a rule of thumb.
Key facts
- Part A deductible
- Covered 100% (2026)
- Part B deductible
- Not covered (2026)
- Part B excess charges
- Not covered (2026)
- Sold by
- Private insurers, standardized by federal law — same benefits at every company
Frequently asked questions
Does Plan B cover the Part B deductible?
No. You pay the annual Part B deductible yourself — $283 in 2026 — and Plan B picks up its share of covered services after that.
Does Plan B cover skilled nursing facility coinsurance?
No. From day 21 of a covered skilled nursing stay, the daily coinsurance is yours. Most other Medigap letters cover it, so it is worth checking before you choose.
Does Plan B cover Part B excess charges?
No. If a doctor does not accept Medicare assignment, the excess charge — up to 15% above the Medicare-approved amount — is yours. Not every state allows those charges.
Does Plan B cover care outside the United States?
No. Plan B includes no foreign travel emergency benefit, and Original Medicare almost never pays for care outside the United States.
Is Plan B the same at every insurance company?
Yes. Medigap benefits are standardized by law, so Plan B is the same package of benefits whoever sells it. Price, service and rate history are what differ — three states (Massachusetts, Minnesota, Wisconsin) standardize their plans differently.
Sources
- Medicare.gov — Medigap (Medicare Supplement Insurance) (accessed September 8, 2026)
- CMS — Choosing a Medigap Policy (product 02110), benefit chart (accessed September 8, 2026)
- CMS — 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles (accessed September 8, 2026)
Further reading
- TRICARE for Life and Medicare 2026: Apopka, FL Veterans' Coverage Guide
- Medicare Trial Rights in 2026: Your 12-Month Guaranteed Way Back to Medigap
- TRICARE for Life & Medicare 2026: Orlando Area Veterans Guide
- All Medigap plans and the full benefit chart
- The six-month Medigap open enrollment window
- Two-minute plan match quiz
- Medicare articles
- Find a licensed Medicare advisor by state
Updated September 8, 2026. Dollar figures are 2026 plan-year amounts transcribed from CMS publications and last verified by IM65 against the source for each: Parts A & B premiums, deductibles and IRMAA (August 11, 2026).