Medigap Plan D is a standardized Medicare Supplement policy that works with Original Medicare. It covers many major out-of-pocket costs, including the Medicare Part A deductible, skilled nursing facility coinsurance, Part B coinsurance, and 80% of qualifying foreign travel emergency costs up to plan limits. It does not cover the Part B deductible or Part B excess charges.
Medigap Plan D is one of the standardized Medicare Supplement plans available in most states. It helps pay many costs left by Original Medicare, including Part A hospital coinsurance, Part B coinsurance or copayments, the first three pints of blood, hospice cost-sharing, skilled nursing facility coinsurance, and the Part A deductible. It also includes an 80% foreign travel emergency benefit up to plan limits.
Plan D does not cover the annual Medicare Part B deductible or Medicare Part B excess charges. It also does not include outpatient prescription drug coverage. A Medicare Part D drug plan is separate from Medigap Plan D.
In most states, every standardized Plan D policy provides the same basic Medicare Supplement benefits regardless of the insurance company that sells it. Premiums and company service can differ, but the standardized medical benefits are the same.
| Medigap Benefit | Plan D | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Part A coinsurance and hospital costs | ✓ 100% | Includes up to an additional 365 days after Medicare hospital benefits are used. |
| Part B coinsurance or copayment | ✓ 100% | Plan D pays the standardized Part B coinsurance or copayment benefit after the Part B deductible is met. |
| Blood benefit, first 3 pints | ✓ 100% | Covers the standardized first-three-pints blood benefit. |
| Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment | ✓ 100% | Helps pay Medicare-covered hospice cost-sharing. |
| Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance | ✓ 100% | Covers the standardized SNF coinsurance benefit when Medicare's SNF coverage requirements are met. |
| Part A deductible | ✓ 100% | Covers the $1,736 Part A deductible per benefit period in 2026. |
| Part B deductible | ✕ Not covered | You pay the $283 annual Part B deductible in 2026. |
| Part B excess charges | ✕ Not covered | You are responsible for allowable excess charges when they apply. |
| Foreign travel emergency | 80% | 80% of qualifying emergency care outside the U.S. after a $250 annual deductible, during the first 60 days of a trip, up to a $50,000 lifetime limit. |
| Annual out-of-pocket limit | N/A | Standardized Plan D does not have the annual Medigap out-of-pocket limit used by Plans K and L. |
Plan D fills several of the larger cost-sharing gaps left by Original Medicare.
Plan D covers the Medicare Part A deductible and the standardized Part A hospital coinsurance benefit. The 2026 Part A deductible is $1,736 per benefit period, and Medicare can have more than one benefit period in a year.
After you satisfy the annual Part B deductible, Plan D generally covers the standardized Part B coinsurance or copayment benefit for Medicare-covered services. This can reduce the typical 20% Part B coinsurance exposure for many services.
In 2026, Original Medicare's skilled nursing facility coinsurance is $217 per day for days 21 through 100 of a covered benefit period. Plan D covers the standardized SNF coinsurance benefit when Medicare's coverage requirements are met.
Plan D covers the standardized Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment benefit for Medicare-covered hospice services.
Plan D covers 100% of the standardized benefit for the first three pints of blood needed for a Medicare-covered service when applicable.
Plan D includes an 80% foreign travel emergency benefit after a $250 annual deductible when qualifying emergency care begins during the first 60 days of a trip. The standardized lifetime limit is $50,000.
Plan D is broad, but two Original Medicare cost-sharing gaps remain especially important.
Plan D does not pay the annual Medicare Part B deductible. In 2026, that deductible is $283. Once the deductible is met, Plan D can begin paying its standardized Part B coinsurance benefit for covered services.
Plan D does not cover Part B excess charges. These can occur when a provider does not accept Medicare assignment and is legally permitted to charge more than the Medicare-approved amount. Plans F and G are the standardized Medigap plans that cover Part B excess charges.
Plan D reduces many Original Medicare costs, but it does not eliminate every expense.
You pay a separate monthly premium to the private insurance company that sells your Plan D policy. Premiums can vary significantly by company, location, age-rating method, discounts, and other permitted pricing factors.
You must keep Medicare Part B and continue paying the Part B premium. The standard Part B premium is $202.90 per month in 2026, although some beneficiaries pay more because of income-related adjustments.
Plan D does not cover the $283 Part B deductible in 2026. You are responsible for that deductible before Medicare and Plan D cost-sharing rules apply to many Part B services.
Plan D and Plan G share many benefits, but the excess-charge difference can matter.
If the premium difference is meaningful, Plan D may deserve consideration. If avoiding exposure to Part B excess charges is a priority, Plan G provides that standardized benefit while Plan D does not. Actual premiums vary by carrier and location, so compare the coverage difference against the real premium difference rather than assuming one plan is automatically the better value.
The names sound almost identical, but they serve completely different purposes.
Plan D can fit people who want broad standardized Medigap benefits without paying for Part B excess-charge coverage.
Your Medigap enrollment timing can affect whether a carrier must accept your application and how your premium is determined.
It starts the first month you have Medicare Part B and are age 65 or older. During this period, you generally have strong federal protections when buying a Medigap policy. After this period, unless you have a guaranteed issue right or another applicable state protection, an insurance company may be able to use medical underwriting, charge more, or decline an application depending on the circumstances and state law.
Medigap Plan D is a standardized Medicare Supplement policy that works with Original Medicare. It covers many major Medicare cost-sharing gaps, including the Part A deductible, skilled nursing facility coinsurance, and Part B coinsurance.
Yes. Standardized Plan D covers 100% of the Medicare Part A deductible, which is $1,736 per benefit period in 2026.
No. Plan D does not cover the annual Medicare Part B deductible. The Part B deductible is $283 in 2026.
No. Part B excess charges are not included in standardized Plan D benefits. Plans F and G include standardized coverage for Part B excess charges.
Yes. Plan D covers 100% of the standardized skilled nursing facility care coinsurance benefit when Medicare's coverage requirements are met.
Yes, up to plan limits. Plan D pays 80% of qualifying medically necessary emergency care outside the United States after a $250 annual deductible, when the emergency begins during the first 60 days of the trip. The standardized lifetime limit is $50,000.
No. Medigap Plan D is Medicare Supplement insurance that works with Original Medicare. Medicare Part D is prescription drug coverage. The two are separate products.
No. Medigap policies sold after 2005 do not include outpatient prescription drug coverage. A separate Medicare Part D drug plan may be added to Original Medicare for prescription coverage.
Plan D and Plan G cover many of the same standardized benefits. A major difference is that Plan G covers Medicare Part B excess charges while Plan D does not.
These Medicare.gov resources support the standardized Plan D benefits, 2026 Medicare cost figures, foreign travel rules, prescription drug distinction, and Medigap enrollment guidance used on this page.
Compare Plan D with other standardized Medigap choices based on premiums, Part B excess-charge exposure, foreign travel benefits, carrier availability, and the amount of out-of-pocket risk you want to keep.
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, eligibility restrictions, and consumer protections can vary by state and insurance company.
