Hospital
Part A Coinsurance and Hospital Costs
Plan B covers Part A hospital coinsurance and provides up to 365 additional hospital days after Medicare benefits are used.
Medigap Plan B is a standardized Medicare Supplement policy that works with Original Medicare. It covers the same four core benefits as Plan A and adds one important benefit: 100% coverage of the Medicare Part A deductible. It does not cover skilled nursing facility coinsurance, the Part B deductible, Part B excess charges, or foreign travel emergency care.
Medigap Plan B covers 100% of five standardized benefits: Part A coinsurance and hospital costs for up to 365 additional days after Medicare benefits are used, Part B coinsurance or copayments, the first three pints of blood, Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayments, and the Medicare Part A deductible.
Plan B does not cover skilled nursing facility coinsurance, the Part B deductible, Part B excess charges, or the standardized foreign travel emergency benefit. Plan B should also not be confused with Medicare Part B, which is the medical insurance portion of Original Medicare.
In most states, Medigap benefits are standardized by plan letter. A Plan B policy from one insurance company provides the same standardized Plan B medical benefits as Plan B from another company, although premiums and company pricing can differ.
| Medigap Benefit | Plan B | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Part A coinsurance and hospital costs, including up to 365 additional days | ✓ 100% | Covered |
| Part B coinsurance or copayment | ✓ 100% | Covered after the Part B deductible is met |
| Blood, first 3 pints | ✓ 100% | Covered |
| Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment | ✓ 100% | Covered |
| Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance | ✕ Not covered | You remain responsible for this cost |
| Part A deductible | ✓ 100% | Plan B covers the $1,736 deductible per benefit period in 2026 |
| Part B deductible | ✕ Not covered | $283 in 2026 |
| Part B excess charges | ✕ Not covered | You may owe excess charges where permitted |
| Foreign travel emergency, up to plan limits | ✕ Not covered | No standardized foreign travel emergency benefit |
| Annual Medigap out-of-pocket limit | N/A | Plan B does not have the K/L-style annual out-of-pocket limit |
Plan B combines the four core Medigap benefits with full coverage of the Medicare Part A deductible.
Plan B covers Part A hospital coinsurance and provides up to 365 additional hospital days after Medicare benefits are used.
After you meet the Part B deductible, Plan B covers the standardized Part B coinsurance or copayment benefit, commonly 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for many Part B services.
Plan B covers 100% of the Part A inpatient hospital deductible. In 2026, that deductible is $1,736 for each benefit period.
Plan B covers the first three pints of blood used for a covered medical procedure when that blood is not otherwise replaced.
Plan B covers the Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayments that can apply to certain covered hospice services.
Plan B strengthens inpatient protection by paying the Part A deductible, but several standardized Medigap benefits remain uncovered.
Plan B does not cover the skilled nursing facility coinsurance that applies during certain Medicare-covered stays.
Plan B does not cover the annual Medicare Part B deductible. In 2026, that deductible is $283.
Plan B does not cover Part B excess charges if you receive care from a provider who is permitted to charge more than the Medicare-approved amount.
Plan B does not include the standardized foreign travel emergency benefit available in certain other Medigap plans.
Modern Medigap policies do not include Medicare prescription drug coverage. A separate Part D plan can provide drug coverage.
Standard Medigap Plan B does not add routine dental, routine vision, hearing-aid, or long-term custodial care coverage.
Plan B removes the Part A deductible from your direct exposure, but it does not eliminate every Original Medicare cost.
Plan B sits just above Plan A in the standardized benefit structure because it adds coverage of the Part A deductible.
The Part A deductible can apply more than once in a year because it is tied to Medicare benefit periods. Plan B's coverage of that deductible can therefore be meaningful, but you should still compare the premium against plans that add skilled nursing, excess-charge, or foreign-travel benefits. The best comparison is the combination of premium, covered benefits, and the out-of-pocket exposure you keep.
The similar names are easy to mix up, but they describe completely different types of coverage.
Plan B may appeal to someone who wants the core Medigap benefits plus protection from the Medicare Part A deductible.
Your timing can affect your access to a Medigap policy, your available choices, and whether medical underwriting can be used.
It starts the first month you have Medicare Part B and are age 65 or older. During this period, you can buy any Medigap policy sold in your state and an insurance company cannot deny you because of pre-existing health problems. After this period, your options may be more limited, you may pay more, or an insurer may be allowed to use medical underwriting unless you have a guaranteed issue right or additional state protection.
Medigap Plan B is a standardized Medicare Supplement policy that works with Original Medicare. It covers the four core Medigap benefits plus 100% of the Medicare Part A deductible.
Yes. Standardized Plan B covers 100% of the Medicare Part A deductible. In 2026, the Part A deductible is $1,736 for each benefit period.
No. Plan B does not cover the annual Part B deductible, which is $283 in 2026.
Yes. After the Part B deductible is met, Plan B covers the standardized Part B coinsurance or copayment benefit. For many Part B services, the beneficiary share under Original Medicare is typically 20% of the Medicare-approved amount.
No. Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance is not included in standardized Plan B benefits.
No. If a Part B excess charge applies, Plan B does not pay that charge.
No. Plan B does not include the standardized foreign travel emergency benefit available in certain other Medigap plans.
No. Medicare Part B is federal medical insurance within Original Medicare. Medigap Plan B is private supplemental insurance designed to help pay certain out-of-pocket costs left by Original Medicare.
No. Medigap policies sold after 2005 do not include prescription drug coverage. You can enroll in a separate Medicare Part D plan if you want Medicare prescription drug coverage.
These Medicare.gov resources support the standardized Plan B benefit information, 2026 cost figures, and Medigap enrollment guidance used on this page.
Medicare Supplement premiums and available carriers vary by location. Compare Plan B alongside other standardized options based on the benefits you want, your budget, and the amount of out-of-pocket exposure you are comfortable keeping.
Request Medicare Supplement InformationSenior Healthcare Planning is an independent insurance agency that provides education, guidance, and enrollment assistance for Medicare-related insurance products, including Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement, and Prescription Drug Plans. Senior Healthcare Planning is not connected with or endorsed by the United States government or the federal Medicare program. Medigap plan availability, premiums, underwriting rules, and consumer protections can vary by state and insurance company.