2026 Medicare Plan G Prices in Illinois Compared to Other Places

Plan G is the most popular Medicare Supplement plan sold today, and for good reason: it covers everything that the old Plan F covered except the Part B deductible ($257 in 2026). But the monthly premium you pay for Plan G depends heavily on where you live. Even within Illinois, premiums can vary by zip code. And Illinois rates can look very different from what someone in another state pays for the exact same coverage.

The table below breaks down Plan G premiums across ten major metro areas as of January 15, 2026, for 65-year-old non-tobacco users. Whether your Illinois zip code falls near one of these cities or not, the data shows how geography drives pricing. If you are shopping for a plan, talking to a local Medicare insurance agent can help you sort through the options in your specific Illinois zip code.

Plan G Premiums Across 10 Major Metro Areas

All quotes below are for 65-year-old non-tobacco users as of January 15, 2026.

What the Data Shows

• New York is the most expensive market. The lowest Plan G quote in Manhattan ($357/month) is higher than the highest quote in Dallas ($296 for males). For Illinois residents, this context helps put local rates in perspective.
• Phoenix has the widest premium spread. Male premiums there range from $155 to $526 - a $371 gap between the cheapest and most expensive carrier. Shopping around matters everywhere, including Illinois.
• Gender-based pricing varies by city. In Los Angeles and San Francisco, men and women pay the same rate. In Chicago and Philadelphia, women pay noticeably less. Illinois carriers may or may not use gender as a rating factor depending on state regulations.
• Texas cities rank among the cheapest. Both Dallas and Houston offer some of the lowest Plan G premiums in the country, with starting rates under $160 for men and under $141 for women.

Why Plan G Prices Differ So Much by Location

Plan G coverage is standardized by the federal government. Every Plan G policy covers the same benefits regardless of which insurance company sells it or which state you live in - whether that's Illinois or anywhere else. So why do premiums differ by hundreds of dollars?

"A Plan G is a Plan G no matter where you live. They don't change from year-to-year," says Chris Prang, a licensed Medicare agent in Virginia. That standardization is what makes geographic price gaps so striking: the Plan G policy available to Illinois residents is identical to one sold 1,500 miles away, but the monthly bill can be triple.

• Regional healthcare costs. Insurers price premiums based partly on average healthcare spending in your area. Cities and states with higher hospital and doctor visit costs tend to have higher Medigap premiums.
• State insurance regulations. Illinois and every other state sets its own rules for how Medigap plans can be priced and sold. Some states require guaranteed-issue rights beyond the federal minimum, which affects how carriers set rates.
• Carrier competition. The number of Medigap carriers competing in your Illinois zip code directly affects pricing. More competition generally means lower premiums.
• Rating method. Carriers use one of three pricing methods: community-rated (same price regardless of age), issue-age (locked at your enrollment age), or attained-age (increases as you get older). The methods available to Illinois residents depend on state law.

Even within Illinois, the carrier you pick matters as much as your zip code. According to Jason Denniston, a licensed Medicare agent in Indiana, "what really matters is picking a carrier that's more likely to keep rate increases reasonable over time, even if they aren't the absolute cheapest upfront." A bargain premium today can turn into the most expensive plan on the block five years from now if the carrier has a history of aggressive rate hikes.

How Illinois Residents Can Find the Best Plan G Rate

Because Plan G is standardized, the coverage is identical across every carrier that sells it in Illinois. The only real differences are price and company reputation. That makes comparison shopping straightforward:

1. Get quotes from multiple Illinois carriers. Don't settle for the first quote. As the data above shows, premiums can vary by hundreds of dollars even within the same city.
2. Enroll during your Medigap Open Enrollment Period. This six-month window starts when you turn 65 and are enrolled in Part B. During this period, Illinois insurers cannot deny you or charge more based on health history.
3. Understand your guaranteed issue rights. "Guaranteed Issue is a right that stops insurers from denying coverage or raising rates due to pre-existing conditions. It applies during your initial enrollment at 65, starting the first day of your birthday month and lasting six months, or within 63 days of losing qualifying coverage like an employer plan," says Brian Moore, a licensed Medicare agent in Ohio. "Missing these windows usually means facing medical underwriting." If a Illinois resident blows past their window, the cheapest quote in their zip code may not even be available to them.
4. Ask about the rating method. A community-rated plan may cost more upfront but can save you money over time compared to an attained-age plan that rises every year.
5. Check financial stability ratings. An AM Best "A" or better rating signals a carrier that can pay claims long-term. A rock-bottom premium from a financially shaky insurer is not a bargain.
6. Ask the agent for the carrier's rate history. "A good agent will evaluate the carrier's past history and can give you a report of the premium increases they have had, and the rate within the health industry that they carry. This is important when you first begin your insurance coverage," says Larry Dalton, a licensed Medicare agent in Oklahoma. Two Illinois carriers can both have an "A" rating from AM Best but very different track records on annual rate hikes.
7. Work with a licensed Illinois agent. An independent agent can pull quotes from multiple carriers at once and help you compare your options at no extra cost.

Plan G vs. Other Popular Medigap Plans

Plan G is the most popular Medigap plan for people new to Medicare in Illinois and nationwide, but it is not the only option. Here is how it compares:

• Plan G vs. Plan N: Plan N costs less per month but requires copays of up to $20 for some doctor visits and up to $50 for ER visits that don't result in admission. If you rarely visit the doctor, Plan N might save you money overall.
• Plan G vs. Plan F: Plan F covers the Part B deductible that Plan G doesn't, but it is only available to people who were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020. For everyone else, Plan G is the most comprehensive option available.
• Plan G vs. High-Deductible Plan G (HDG): HDG offers the same coverage as standard Plan G, but only after you meet a higher annual deductible ($2,870 in 2025). The trade-off is a much lower premium. "Supplement rates have gone up every year for the last three years," says Thomas Ashton, a licensed Medicare agent in Florida. "There is a solution to keep from paying the insurance companies thousands of dollars each year for services you are not using — a High-Deductible Plan G can lower your monthly premium 75 percent or more." HDG is worth a look for Illinois residents in expensive markets where standard Plan G premiums are eye-watering.

What This Means for Illinois Residents

Where you live has an outsized effect on what you pay for Plan G. Two people with the same age, gender, and health status can face premiums that differ by hundreds of dollars per month depending on their zip code - and Illinois is no exception.

The good news is that because all Medigap plans of the same letter are standardized, you can shop purely on price and carrier reliability. Start by comparing the overall value of plans available in Illinois, and review the Medigap FAQ if you have questions about how Medicare coverage works alongside supplement plans. If you need help sorting through quotes, compare Medicare Supplement options here or connect with a local Illinois agent who specializes in helping Original Medicare beneficiaries find the right coverage without costly mistakes.