Medigap Plan G vs Plan N: Which Should You Choose?
June 25, 2026
Plan G vs. Plan N: The Short Answer
If you are comparing Medigap (Medicare supplement) plans in 2026, Plan G and Plan N are the two most popular choices for people enrolling in Medicare today. Both cover most of what Original Medicare leaves unpaid, but they differ in two key ways: Plan G covers Part B excess charges and has no office-visit copays; Plan N skips excess-charge protection and adds small copays in exchange for a lower monthly premium.
Neither plan covers the annual Medicare Part B deductible. Once you understand those two differences, the rest of the decision is a math problem based on your health, your doctors, and your budget. This guide walks you through both plans side by side so you can decide which one fits your situation best.
Key Numbers at a Glance
What Medigap Plan G Covers
Plan G is the most thorough standardized Medigap plan available to most people enrolling in Medicare today. After you pay the annual Part B deductible, Plan G pays every remaining Medicare-approved out-of-pocket cost. According to Medicare.gov, standardized Plan G benefits include:
- Medicare Part A hospital deductible (per benefit period)
- Part A coinsurance and hospital costs up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits end
- Medicare Part B coinsurance or copayments — with no office-visit copay
- Part B excess charges — when a provider bills more than Medicare's approved amount
- Skilled nursing facility coinsurance (days 21–100)
- Foreign travel emergency care (80% up to plan limits, after a small deductible)
- Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayments
The main appeal of Plan G is predictability. Once you have paid the Part B deductible for the year, your cost-sharing is done. There are no surprise bills from office visits, specialist care, or hospital stays. If you use healthcare regularly or want to avoid tracking bills, that certainty is worth the higher premium for many people. Our senior plan guide covers how Medigap plans fit into your overall coverage picture.
What Medigap Plan N Covers
Plan N covers the same core benefits as Plan G with two important differences. It does not cover Part B excess charges, and it requires small copays for certain visits. Here is what Plan N includes and excludes:
- Part A deductible: Covered
- Part A coinsurance (hospital): Covered
- Part B coinsurance: Covered, subject to copays
- Part B excess charges: Not covered
- Skilled nursing facility coinsurance (days 21–100): Covered
- Foreign travel emergency (80%): Covered
Under Plan N, you pay up to $20 per office visit and up to $50 per emergency room visit. The ER copay is waived if you are admitted as an inpatient. These copays apply after you have met the Part B deductible for the year.
The trade-off is a meaningfully lower monthly premium. If your doctors all accept Medicare assignment and you visit the doctor occasionally, those small copays may add up to less than the premium difference between Plan G and Plan N. For context on how Medigap fits alongside other options, see our guide to compare senior plan options.
Plan G vs. Plan N: Side-by-Side
| Feature | RecommendedPlan G | Plan N |
|---|---|---|
| Part B deductible | Not covered | Not covered |
| Part A deductible | ✓ Covered | ✓ Covered |
| Part A hospital coinsurance | ✓ Covered | ✓ Covered |
| Part B coinsurance | ✓ Covered, no copay | ✓ Covered, up to $20 copay |
| Part B excess charges | ✓ Covered | ✗ Not covered |
| Skilled nursing coinsurance (days 21–100) | ✓ Covered | ✓ Covered |
| Emergency room visit | ✓ No copay | Up to $50 copay (waived if admitted) |
| Foreign travel emergency | ✓ 80% covered | ✓ 80% covered |
| Monthly premium | Higher | Lower |
Which Plan Is Right for You?
The answer depends on three factors: how often you see doctors, whether your providers accept Medicare assignment, and how much premium savings matter to your budget.
Consider Plan G if you:
- See specialists regularly or manage chronic conditions that require frequent visits
- Want a single predictable cost — one deductible per year, then nothing more
- See any provider who does not accept Medicare assignment, such as some specialists or concierge physicians, and want protection from bills up to 15% above Medicare's rate
- Prefer to simplify billing and avoid tracking small copays across many visits each year
Consider Plan N if you:
- Are in relatively good health and visit the doctor only a few times a year
- Use doctors and facilities that all accept Medicare assignment — you can verify this at Medicare.gov's provider lookup tool
- Want to lower your monthly premium and can absorb occasional $20 or $50 copays
- Are comfortable doing a quick check to confirm assignment status before seeing a new provider
A simple math check: If Plan G costs $45 more per month than Plan N from the same insurer, that is $540 more per year in premiums. To come out ahead with Plan G, your Plan N copays plus any excess charges would need to top $540 — roughly 27 office visits at the $20 cap. Many Plan N enrollees never reach that threshold. But if you see multiple specialists or use providers who bill excess charges, Plan G's added coverage can pay for itself quickly.
How to Choose Between Plan G and Plan N
List your current doctors and specialists
For each provider, confirm whether they accept Medicare assignment by calling their billing department or using the provider search at Medicare.gov. Non-participating providers can charge up to 15% above Medicare's approved rate — only Plan G protects you from this cost.
Estimate your expected annual doctor visits
Count routine checkups, specialist visits, and ongoing condition management appointments. Multiply by $20 to get a rough Plan N copay estimate. Add $50 for any likely emergency room visits that do not result in admission.
Request quotes for both plans from the same insurers
Contact at least three or four insurers and ask for Plan G and Plan N quotes at the same time. Because Medigap benefits are standardized by federal law, coverage is identical across insurers — only the premium and the company's service history differ.
Compare total annual costs
Add estimated copays and potential excess charges to Plan N's annual premium. Compare that total to Plan G's annual premium. Factor in your comfort with variable out-of-pocket costs versus a fixed monthly expense.
Ask about the insurer's rate history
Find out how premiums have increased over the past three to five years. A plan that starts cheap but raises rates aggressively may cost more in the long run. Your state's free SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) counselors at shiphelp.org can help you interpret this information at no cost.
Understanding Part B Excess Charges
A Part B excess charge occurs when a Medicare provider does not accept Medicare assignment — meaning they do not agree to accept Medicare's approved payment as full payment for a service. Non-participating providers can legally charge up to 15% more than the Medicare-approved amount.
For example, if Medicare's approved amount for a procedure is $400, a non-participating provider could bill up to $460. Under Plan N, you would owe that extra $60. Under Plan G, it is covered in full.
The good news: the vast majority of Medicare providers accept assignment. According to data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), over 90% of Medicare-participating physicians accept assignment. If you stick with assignment-accepting providers — easy to verify before each new visit — excess charges are a non-issue under Plan N. If you travel frequently, see out-of-network specialists, or live in a state where non-participating billing is more common, Plan G's excess charge coverage may be worth the premium difference.
Note on three states: Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin use their own standardized Medigap plan structures that do not follow the national lettered system. Residents of those states should consult their state insurance department for equivalent plan comparisons.
Key Differences in Plain Language
Excess Charge Protection
Plan G covers bills from providers who charge above Medicare's approved rate. Plan N does not, making it essential to verify assignment status with each new provider.
Office Visit Copays
Plan G has no copays for covered office visits after the deductible. Plan N charges up to $20 per visit — manageable for occasional care, but it adds up with frequent use.
Monthly Premium Savings
Plan N typically costs $30–$60 less per month than Plan G from the same insurer. The savings vary by age, location, gender, and insurer pricing method.
Part A Hospital Coverage
Both plans cover the Part A deductible and hospital coinsurance, protecting you from large inpatient bills regardless of which you choose.
Foreign Travel Emergency
Both plans cover 80% of medically necessary emergency care outside the U.S. after a small plan deductible, up to the plan's lifetime limit.
Standardized by Law
Federal law standardizes Medigap plan benefits. A Plan G or Plan N from any insurer covers the exact same services — only premium and company service quality differ.
Were You Eligible for Medicare Before 2020?
Plan F — which covered the Part B deductible in addition to all Plan G benefits — closed to new enrollees on January 1, 2020. If you were already enrolled in Medicare or eligible before that date, you may still qualify. Plan F premiums tend to be higher because the enrollee pool is aging and no new, younger members can join. Our guide on Medicare Supplement Plan F covers who still qualifies and how to decide whether it beats Plan G for your situation.
How Premiums Are Set — and Why They Change Over Time
Medigap insurers use one of three pricing methods, and the method affects how much your premium grows as you age:
- Community-rated: Everyone in the plan pays the same premium regardless of age. Premiums may rise over time due to inflation but not because you are getting older.
- Issue-age-rated: Your premium is based on the age you were when you enrolled. It does not increase simply because you age, though insurers can still adjust rates for other reasons.
- Attained-age-rated: Premiums increase as you get older. These plans are often cheapest at enrollment but become more expensive in later years — and this is the most common pricing method in use today.
When comparing Plan G and Plan N quotes, ask each insurer which method they use. A Plan N with attained-age pricing could end up costing more than a Plan G with community-rated pricing by the time you reach your 80s. Your state's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) provides free, unbiased counseling to help you compare quotes and pricing structures — find a local counselor at shiphelp.org.
If you are currently in a Medicare Advantage plan and considering a move to Medigap, timing matters. In most states, switching outside your guaranteed-issue window requires passing medical underwriting — which can result in higher premiums or denial of coverage. Our guide on how to switch Medicare Advantage to Medigap explains the timing rules and how to protect your options.
Get Free Coverage Guidance
Not sure whether Plan G or Plan N fits your doctors and budget? Use our free guidance form for plain-language help with no sales pressure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Plan G covers Part B excess charges and has no office-visit copays after your deductible is met. Plan N does not cover excess charges and charges up to $20 per office visit and up to $50 per emergency room visit. In exchange for those cost-sharing differences, Plan N typically carries a lower monthly premium — usually $30 to $60 less than Plan G from the same insurer.
No. Plan N does not cover Part B excess charges. If your provider does not accept Medicare assignment and bills above Medicare's approved rate, you pay that extra amount out of pocket under Plan N. Plan G covers excess charges in full. To avoid this risk with Plan N, confirm that your providers accept Medicare assignment before your visit. You can check assignment status at Medicare.gov or by calling the provider's billing office.
Possibly, but it may require medical underwriting. Outside of your initial Medigap open enrollment window — which runs for six months starting the month you are both 65 and enrolled in Part B — insurers in most states can review your health history and decline coverage or charge higher premiums. A few states offer additional consumer protections. Check your state's rules with your state insurance department or a free SHIP counselor before canceling your current plan.
Plan N is typically $30 to $60 less per month than Plan G from the same insurer, though this range varies based on your age, location, gender, tobacco use, and the insurer's pricing model. The only reliable way to know the exact difference is to request quotes for both plans from the same insurer at the same time and compare them directly.
A Part B excess charge occurs when a Medicare provider does not accept Medicare assignment — meaning they charge more than Medicare's approved payment rate. By law, non-participating providers can charge up to 15% above the Medicare-approved amount. According to CMS, over 90% of Medicare-participating providers accept assignment, so this risk is manageable if you verify assignment status before seeing a new provider. Plan G covers these charges; Plan N does not.
Yes, Plan N covers emergency room visits under Medicare Part B, but with a copay of up to $50 per visit. That copay is waived if you are admitted to the hospital as an inpatient. Plan G covers ER visits with no copay after the Part B deductible is met.
Plan G is generally the better fit for people with chronic conditions who see multiple specialists or require frequent visits. The predictable cost structure — one deductible per year, then no further out-of-pocket — simplifies budgeting and eliminates concerns about excess charges. Plan N can work if all your providers accept assignment and your annual copay total stays below the premium difference, but frequent visits accumulate copay costs quickly.
Yes. Both Plan G and Plan N cover Medicare Part A skilled nursing facility coinsurance for days 21 through 100 of a covered stay. Medicare pays in full for days 1 through 20; the coinsurance for days 21 through 100 is covered by both plans. Neither plan covers long-term custodial care, which Original Medicare does not cover at all.
Both plans work with any provider who accepts Original Medicare — which includes the large majority of doctors, specialists, and hospitals across the United States. There are no network restrictions with Medigap. The distinction to watch is Medicare assignment: Plan N exposes you to excess charges from non-participating providers, while Plan G covers them. Check a provider's assignment status at Medicare.gov or call the billing office directly before your first visit.