Medigap Plan G vs. Medicare Advantage Plans in Texas

If you’re on Medicare in Texas, chances are you’ve been bombarded with Medicare Advantage ads - especially during open enrollment.

The promises sound tempting: $0 premiums, added extras, maybe even a gym membership.

But after helping hundreds of Texans sort through the fine print, we’ve seen a pattern - for many people, Medigap Plan G ends up being the safer, more dependable choice.

Why? It comes down to predictability, freedom of choice, and fewer surprises.

With Plan G, you can see any doctor in the U.S. who accepts Medicare, skip the referral hoops, and avoid the prior authorization headaches that come with many Advantage plans.

Medicare Advantage can work for some, but it’s not the right fit for everyone - and in Texas, your provider access and peace of mind can be very different depending on which route you choose.

In this guide, we’ll break down how Plan G compares to Medicare Advantage in real-world Texas scenarios so you can decide which one actually fits your health needs, travel habits, and budget.

How Does Medigap Plan G Work?

Medicare Supplement Plan G is designed to fill in the gaps left by Original Medicare (Parts A and B).

While Medicare covers most hospital and medical expenses, you’re still responsible for deductibles, coinsurance, and certain copays - and those can add up quickly.

Plan G steps in to cover nearly all of these out-of-pocket costs, leaving you with predictable, minimal expenses.

With Plan G:

• You can go to any doctor or hospital in the U.S. that accepts Medicare - no networks, no referrals, no prior authorizations.
  
• You’ll have the same freedom in Texas whether you live in Dallas, Austin, Houston, San Antonio, or a small rural community.
  
• It works seamlessly nationwide, so snowbirds, travelers, and those with out-of-state family can get care anywhere.
  

What Plan G Covers

Plan G is the most comprehensive Medigap option available for people new to Medicare (those not eligible for Plan F).

It pays for:

• Part A hospital deductible and costs (so hospital stays are fully covered)
  
• Part B coinsurance (so you’re not paying 20% for doctor visits, surgeries, or outpatient care)
  
• Part B excess charges (if a provider bills above Medicare’s approved rate)
  
• Skilled nursing facility coinsurance
  
• Hospice care coinsurance/copayments
  
• First 3 pints of blood
  
• Emergency medical care while traveling abroad (up to plan limits)
  

The only cost you’re responsible for after premiums is the annual Part B deductible ($257 in 2025), and once that’s met, Plan G takes over.

Why People Love Plan G

From what we’ve seen helping Texans choose Medicare coverage, Plan G consistently stands out for three reasons:

#1. Predictability – Once you pay the small Part B deductible each year, you’re essentially done. No surprise bills, no nickel-and-diming.

‍#2. Freedom to Choose Providers – Whether you’re in a big metro like Houston or a small Hill Country town, you can go to any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare - nationwide.

‍#3. Peace of Mind – Knowing you’re covered for hospital stays, outpatient care, skilled nursing, and even emergency care abroad means you can focus on your health, not your bills.

Plan G Enrollment Statistics

Nationally, more than half of all new Medigap enrollees choose Plan G, making it the most popular plan for people new to Medicare.

In Texas, Plan G enrollment has steadily increased year over year, particularly among those who previously tried Medicare Advantage but wanted more flexibility and fewer billing surprises.

Surveys show over 90% satisfaction rates among Medigap policyholders, with Plan G leading the pack for customer retention.

How Does Medicare Advantage Work?

Medicare Advantage (Part C) replaces Original Medicare (Parts A & B) with a private insurance plan.

Instead of the federal government paying your claims, your care is managed by an insurance company.

These plans often come with:

• Doctor and hospital networks - you must stay in-network for the lowest costs.
  
• Prior authorizations - you need approval before getting certain tests, treatments, or surgeries.
  
• Service area limits - benefits are tied to where you live.
  

It’s true that many Medicare Advantage plans advertise $0 premiums, but you’ll pay through copays, coinsurance, and deductibles as you use the plan.

“What most people don’t realize: when you enroll in an Advantage plan, you’re leaving Medicare behind and entering a managed care plan.”

A Balanced Look at Medicare Advantage

Medicare Advantage (Part C) can work well for some Texans, especially if you’re comfortable with a managed care structure and like the idea of bundled benefits.

With most Advantage plans, you’ll get:

• Hospital (Part A) and medical (Part B) coverage in one plan
  
• Prescription drug coverage (Part D) built in
  
• Extra benefits Original Medicare doesn’t cover - like dental, vision, hearing aids, over-the-counter allowances, transportation, and gym memberships
  
• Often $0 monthly premiums (though you still pay your Part B premium)
  

These extras can be appealing - especially for those on a tight budget who want more than just medical coverage.

But it’s important to weigh the tradeoffs: provider networks, prior authorizations, and yearly plan changes can limit your flexibility and predictability compared to Medigap.

Why We Don’t Recommend Medicare Advantage (In Most Cases)

Over the years working with Medicare clients across Texas - from Houston suburbs to rural Hill Country towns - we’ve seen the same problems repeat with Medicare Advantage plans.

While the low or $0 premium looks good on paper, the reality often feels very different once you start using the plan.

Restricted Access to Care

Advantage plans require you to use their network of doctors and hospitals.

If your preferred provider leaves the network mid-year, you could be forced to switch or pay much higher out-of-network costs.

In many Texas regions, particularly rural areas, that means fewer provider choices from the start.

Prior Authorizations That Delay or Deny Care

Before certain tests, surgeries, or even rehab services, the plan must approve the treatment.

We’ve seen clients face frustrating delays - and sometimes outright denials - for care that would have been covered immediately under Original Medicare with a Medigap plan.

Unpredictable Out-of-Pocket Costs

While Medicare Advantage plans have an annual out-of-pocket maximum ($9,350 in 2025), reaching that number is rare unless you have a major health event.

Hospital stays, specialist visits, and treatments like chemo can add up fast, creating financial stress in the middle of a health crisis.

Annual Plan Changes

Every January, your plan’s benefits, provider network, and drug formulary can change - meaning what works for you this year might not work next year.

We’ve helped many Texans scramble to find new coverage after their plan dropped their doctor or significantly changed benefits.

Member Satisfaction

While Medicare Advantage plans can look appealing on paper, actual member experiences often tell a different story.

Annual disenrollment rates remain high, which suggests that many enrollees find the plans don’t meet their expectations.

Common complaints we hear from Texas clients include:

• Denials of care - Services and treatments that would be covered under Original Medicare sometimes require prior authorization and can be denied.
  
• Surprise bills - Copays and cost-sharing can add up quickly, especially for hospital stays, specialist visits, or certain tests.
  
• Changing formularies and networks - Doctors, hospitals, and prescription coverage can shift each year, leaving members scrambling to adjust.
  

For many, these frustrations outweigh the initial appeal of lower premiums or bundled extras.

The bottom line: Medigap Plan G may cost more upfront each month, but it provides stable, predictable coverage with nationwide access - something Medicare Advantage often can’t match.

Medigap Plan G vs. Medicare Advantage in Texas: Coverage Comparison

If you’re weighing Medigap Plan G against a Medicare Advantage plan in Texas, the differences go far beyond just monthly premiums.

Both options can work for the right person - but they function very differently.

Plan G supplements Original Medicare, giving you nationwide access to care with predictable costs, while Medicare Advantage replaces Original Medicare with a private insurance plan that often comes with networks, authorizations, and yearly changes.

The chart below lays out how these two paths compare so you can decide which fits your health needs, travel habits, and budget.

Medigap Plan G vs. Medicare Advantage in Texas: Copay Comparison

While monthly premiums get most of the attention, the real cost difference often shows up when you actually use your coverage.

Medigap Plan G eliminates most out-of-pocket costs after the small Part B deductible, while Medicare Advantage plans can leave you paying copays for nearly every service.

The chart below breaks down common care scenarios so you can see how each option stacks up in Texas.

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Medigap Plan G = No Copays, No Surprises

This is why so many Texans we help end up choosing Plan G - especially after they’ve had one frustrating or expensive experience on a Medicare Advantage plan.

Once they see the difference in predictability and doctor choice, the appeal of Plan G becomes obvious.

Why Medigap Plan G Is My Top Pick in Texas

After years of working with Texans on Medicare, Plan G consistently stands out for its balance of protection, predictability, and flexibility.

Let's recap some reasons why Plan G is our #1 pick.

#1. No Prior Authorizations: You and your doctor make the decisions about your care - not an insurance company. If Medicare approves it, your Plan G pays it.

#2. Predictable Costs: Yes, the monthly premium is higher than most Medicare Advantage plans, but it’s your only real medical cost outside the small Part B deductible. That means no surprise copays or daily hospital bills.

#3. Network Freedom: Whether you’re a snowbird, frequent traveler, or living in a rural Texas town, you can see any doctor or hospital in the country that accepts Medicare - no referrals required.

#4. Long-Term Satisfaction: We’ve seen Medigap clients stay with the same plan for decades, happy with their coverage and free from the yearly plan changes that come with Medicare Advantage.

Plan G gives Texans something rare in health care: stability, nationwide access, and the peace of mind to focus on living life - not worrying about insurance.

Bottom Line

We’ve sat across the table from hundreds of Texans trying to make sense of their Medicare options.

We’ve seen the relief on someone’s face when they realize they can keep their doctor, travel to see family without worrying about coverage, and know exactly what their medical bills will be.

That’s what Plan G delivers.

Yes, you might pay a little more each month, but you’re buying peace of mind, stability, and the freedom to get care anywhere Medicare is accepted.

For most of our clients, that trade-off is worth every penny.

Medicare Advantage can work for some people, but too often we’ve seen it cause stress, surprise bills, and care delays.

If you want to avoid the yearly game of “what changed in my plan,” and instead have dependable coverage you can count on for the long haul, Medigap Plan G is the safer, smarter choice in Texas.

This isn’t just about picking a plan - it’s about protecting your health, your wallet, and your future.

And we’re here to make sure you choose the coverage that does all three.