Medicare Supplement Plan B: Coverage, Cost and Eligibility
What Medigap Plan B covers beyond Plan A, what it leaves unpaid and who can buy it
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Medicare Supplement Plan B, also called Medigap Plan B, covers everything in Plan A plus the Medicare Part A hospital deductible. It pays Part A hospital coinsurance with 365 extra hospital days, Part B coinsurance, the first three pints of blood, Part A hospice coinsurance and the Part A deductible for each benefit period. It does not pay skilled nursing facility coinsurance, the Part B deductible, Part B excess charges or foreign travel emergencies. Most people compare it with Plan N or Plan G.
Reviewed by Charles “Chuck” Lunsford, Life & Health insurance agent licensed in Florida since 1994 and in Alabama (NPN 553216).
Plan B at a Glance
| Feature | Medicare Supplement Plan B |
|---|---|
| Part A hospital deductible | Covered at 100%, every benefit period. $1,736 per benefit period in 2026 |
| Part A hospital coinsurance and 365 extra hospital days | Covered at 100% |
| Part B coinsurance or copayment | Covered at 100% once the Part B deductible is met |
| First three pints of blood | Covered at 100% |
| Part A hospice coinsurance or copayment | Covered at 100% |
| Skilled nursing facility coinsurance | Not covered. $217 per day for days 21 to 100 in 2026 |
| Part B deductible | Not covered. $283 per year in 2026 |
| Part B excess charges | Not covered |
| Foreign travel emergency care | Not covered |
| Plan copays for office or emergency room visits | None |
| Annual out-of-pocket limit | None |
| Restriction based on when you became eligible for Medicare | None |
Dollar amounts on this page are the 2026 Medicare figures published by CMS. They change each year.
Plan B removes both charges Original Medicare applies to a hospital admission: the deductible and the daily coinsurance. What it leaves open is the annual Part B deductible, skilled nursing coinsurance after day 20, excess charges and care outside the country.
Like every Medigap policy, Plan B works alongside Original Medicare and is sold by private insurance companies. Benefits are standardized, so Plan B from one carrier covers the same things as Plan B from another.
What Does Medicare Supplement Plan B Cover?
Plan B covers five benefits, each at 100%: the four basic benefits included in every lettered Medigap plan, plus the Part A hospital deductible.
| Benefit | What Original Medicare leaves you owing | What Plan B pays |
|---|---|---|
| Part A hospital deductible | $1,736 for each benefit period in 2026 | The full deductible, every benefit period |
| Part A hospital coinsurance | A daily charge for hospital days 61 to 90 ($434 in 2026) and for lifetime reserve days ($868 in 2026) | The full daily coinsurance, plus Medicare-eligible hospital costs for up to 365 additional days over your lifetime once Medicare hospital benefits are used up |
| Part B coinsurance or copayment | Generally 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for doctor visits, outpatient care and durable medical equipment | The full coinsurance or copayment after you meet the Part B deductible |
| Blood | The first three pints in a calendar year | All three pints |
| Part A hospice care | Copayments for outpatient drugs and coinsurance for inpatient respite care | The full hospice coinsurance or copayment |
The Part A deductible is the benefit that separates Plan B from Plan A. It resets with each benefit period, so a person admitted twice in a year, more than 60 days apart, would owe it twice under Original Medicare or Plan A. Plan B pays it both times.
Once the annual Part B deductible is met, Plan B leaves nothing to pay for Medicare-covered Part B services when the provider accepts Medicare assignment.
What Doesn’t Plan B Cover?
Plan B does not cover four standardized Medigap benefits: skilled nursing facility coinsurance, the Part B deductible, Part B excess charges and foreign travel emergency care.
Skilled Nursing Facility Coinsurance
This is the largest gap in Plan B. Medicare pays in full for the first 20 days of a covered skilled nursing facility stay. Days 21 to 100 carry a daily coinsurance, and Plan B does not pay it. Plans C, D, F, G, M and N cover that coinsurance in full, and Plans K and L cover part of it.
Medicare generally covers skilled nursing care only after a qualifying hospital stay. In practice, Plan B pays for the hospital admission but not for a rehabilitation stay that may follow it.
The Part B Deductible
Despite its name, Plan B does not pay the Medicare Part B deductible. The letter identifies the Medigap plan, not the part of Medicare it pays for. No Medigap plan sold to people who became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020 covers the Part B deductible.
Excess Charges and Foreign Travel
Part B excess charges can apply when a provider does not accept Medicare assignment. That provider may bill up to 15% above the Medicare-approved amount, and Plan B does not pay the difference.
Plan B has no foreign travel emergency benefit. Original Medicare generally does not pay for care outside the United States, so emergency treatment abroad would usually be your full responsibility.
Like all Medigap plans, Plan B does not cover prescription drugs, dental care, vision care, hearing aids or long-term custodial care. Drug coverage comes from a separate Medicare Part D plan.
What Could You Pay With Plan B?
With Plan B you pay the monthly premium and the annual Part B deductible. You also pay any skilled nursing coinsurance, excess charges or foreign emergency costs you incur. The plan has no annual out-of-pocket limit.
| Cost you keep | When it applies | 2026 amount |
|---|---|---|
| Part B deductible | Once per calendar year | $283 |
| Skilled nursing facility coinsurance | Days 21 to 100 of a covered stay in each benefit period | $217 per day, which is $17,360 for all 80 days |
| Part B excess charges | Only when a provider does not accept Medicare assignment | Up to 15% above the Medicare-approved amount |
| Emergency care outside the United States | Travel abroad | Usually the full bill |
Medicare Part A hospital charges add nothing to what a Plan B policyholder pays, however many benefit periods occur in a year. The open-ended exposure is skilled nursing care, which Plan B does not cap. Plans K and L are the only Medigap plans with an annual out-of-pocket limit.
Free 2026 Medicare Guides
Want to read up before we talk? Download the official Medicare & You 2026 handbook and the government’s Choosing a Medigap Policy guide. Both are free PDFs, with no sign-up needed.
What Does Plan B Cost?
There is no single price for Plan B. Plan B benefits are identical from carrier to carrier, but each insurance company sets its own premium.
Premiums can vary by:
- The insurance company
- Your age when you buy the policy
- Your ZIP code
- Tobacco use
- Gender, with some carriers
- Household or other discounts a carrier offers
- Your enrollment situation: open enrollment, a guaranteed-issue right or medical underwriting
Two points are specific to Plan B.
Fewer carriers may offer it. Federal rules require every insurer that sells Medigap policies to offer Plan A, but Plan B is optional. Plan B may be sold by fewer insurers than Plan A, so the number of quotes you can compare in your ZIP code may be smaller.
Compare its premium with Plan N. Plan N also pays the Part A deductible, and it adds skilled nursing coinsurance and foreign travel coverage. In exchange, Plan N charges copays of up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for emergency room visits that do not lead to an inpatient admission. If a carrier prices Plan N close to or below Plan B, Plan N covers more for a similar premium.
This page does not list Plan B premium ranges. A range without a date, ZIP code, age and carrier list is not a useful comparison. A quote for your own age and ZIP code is.
Who Might Consider Plan B?
Plan B may be worth considering if you want hospital deductibles and coinsurance paid in full and you are prepared to cover skilled nursing costs yourself.
It may appeal to someone who:
- Wants no Part A cost sharing for hospital admissions, including repeat admissions in the same year
- Prefers not to pay the office and emergency room copays that Plan N charges
- Has savings or other resources for a possible skilled nursing stay
- Sees providers who accept Medicare assignment
- Does not need emergency coverage outside the United States
Plan N or Plan G may be worth comparing if a skilled nursing stay concerns you or if you travel abroad. Plan G also covers Part B excess charges.
Timing is one more factor. Moving from Plan B to a plan with more benefits later is not guaranteed. Outside open enrollment or a guaranteed-issue situation, a carrier can review your health history before approving the change.
How Plan B Compares With Plan N and Plan G
Plan N and Plan G both include the Part A deductible that Plan B covers. They differ from Plan B mainly on skilled nursing care, travel and copays.
| Benefit | Plan B | Plan N | Plan G |
|---|---|---|---|
| Four basic benefits | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Part A hospital deductible | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Skilled nursing facility coinsurance | No | Yes | Yes |
| Foreign travel emergency care | No | 80%, up to plan limits | 80%, up to plan limits |
| Part B excess charges | No | No | Yes |
| Office and emergency room copays | None | Up to $20 per office visit and up to $50 per ER visit without admission | None |
| Part B deductible | No | No | No |
Plan B vs. Plan N. Plan N fills the skilled nursing gap and adds travel coverage, at the cost of copays. The decision often comes down to how the premiums compare and how often you expect to see a doctor. Read more about Medicare Supplement Plan N.
Plan B vs. Plan G. Plan G covers everything Plan B does plus skilled nursing coinsurance, excess charges and foreign travel, leaving only the Part B deductible. The tradeoff is premium. Details are on the Medicare Supplement Plan G page.
Plan B differs from Plan A by one benefit, the Part A deductible. See Medicare Supplement Plan A for that comparison, or compare all Medicare Supplement plans.
Enrollment, Availability and Underwriting
Whether a carrier can ask health questions on a Plan B application depends on when and why you apply.
Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment. This six-month period begins the first month you are 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare Part B. During it, a carrier that sells Plan B cannot use your health history to decline your application or charge you more.
Under age 65. Rules for people under 65 vary by state. Some states require carriers to offer Medicare Supplement coverage to people who qualify for Medicare through disability or end-stage renal disease, often with an open enrollment period. Ask what applies where you live.
Guaranteed-issue situations. Certain events, such as losing employer group coverage or a Medicare Advantage plan leaving your area, can create a right to buy specific Medigap plans without underwriting for a limited time. Plan B is one of the plans available in those situations, when a carrier in your area sells it. The application window generally closes 63 days after the earlier coverage ends.
Applications outside those periods. A carrier may use medical underwriting. It can accept the application, decline it or offer a different premium based on your health history.
Availability. Because insurers are not required to sell Plan B, confirm which carriers offer it in your ZIP code before you plan around it.
Medicare Supplement Plan B FAQs
Is Medicare Supplement Plan B the same as Medicare Part B?
No. Medicare Part B is the medical insurance portion of Original Medicare that covers doctor visits and outpatient care. Medicare Supplement Plan B is a private Medigap policy that helps pay costs Part A and Part B leave behind. You must have both Part A and Part B to buy it.
Does Plan B cover the Part B deductible?
No. Despite its name, Plan B does not pay the Part B deductible. Only Plans C and F cover it, and they are limited to people who became eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020.
What is the difference between Plan A and Plan B?
One benefit. Plan B pays the Part A hospital deductible in full for each benefit period, and Plan A pays none of it. Their other benefits are identical.
Does Plan B pay the Part A deductible more than once a year?
Yes. Plan B pays the deductible for every benefit period. A new benefit period begins after 60 days in a row without inpatient hospital or skilled nursing care, so two separate admissions can mean two deductibles, and Plan B pays both.
Does Plan B cover a skilled nursing facility stay?
Not the coinsurance. Medicare covers days 1 to 20 of a qualifying stay in full. Plan B does not pay the daily coinsurance for days 21 to 100.
Should I choose Plan B or Plan N?
It depends on the premiums carriers quote you and how often you see a doctor. Plan N adds skilled nursing coinsurance and foreign travel coverage but charges copays of up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for emergency room visits that do not lead to an admission.
Can I buy Plan B if I became eligible for Medicare after January 1, 2020?
Yes. The 2020 restriction applies only to plans that pay the Part B deductible, which are Plan C, Plan F and High-Deductible Plan F. Plan B is open to anyone enrolled in Part A and Part B, subject to enrollment timing, carrier availability and any underwriting.
Does every insurance company sell Plan B?
No. Federal rules require insurers that sell Medigap policies to offer Plan A, but Plan B is optional. Availability depends on the carrier and your ZIP code.
Can I switch from Plan B to Plan G later?
You can apply at any time, but approval is not automatic. Outside your open enrollment period or a guaranteed-issue situation, the carrier may review your health history and can decline the application.
Compare Plan B for Your ZIP Code
A Plan B decision usually comes down to how its premium compares with Plan N and Plan G from the carriers that sell all three in your ZIP code. We can run that comparison for your age and location.
Prefer to keep reading first? Compare all Medicare Supplement plans.
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Content Review
Content reviewed by Charles “Chuck” Lunsford, Licensed Life & Health Agent, Florida License A169316 and Alabama, NPN 553216