Reviewed by Russell Noga, Licensed Medicare Insurance Broker (all 50 states) — Last updated October 31, 2026
Medicare Supplement Plan B pays everything Plan A pays plus the Part A hospital deductible ($1,736 per benefit period in 2026), so a hospital stay costs you nothing out of pocket for the hospital itself. You still pay the Part B deductible, skilled nursing coinsurance from day 21, Part B excess charges and foreign travel care, and Plan B does not pay your Medicare Part B premium.
2027 by the Numbers
$1,736
2026 Part A deductible per benefit period that Plan B pays and Plan A does not (CMS)
$434/day
2026 hospital coinsurance for days 61-90, paid 100% by Plan B (CMS)
$217/day
2026 skilled nursing coinsurance for days 21-100 that Plan B leaves to you (CMS)
Plan B sits one step above the most basic Medicare Supplement plan. It adds one benefit to Plan A, the hospital deductible, worth up to $1,736 each time a new benefit period starts. Its name also causes confusion, because Medicare itself has a Part B.
Below we clear up that mix-up, run our own break-even math against Medicare Supplement Plan A, and price a rough year under Plans A, B, G and N. For every letter side by side, see our Medicare Supplement plans comparison chart.
