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If you’ve decided that Medicare Supplement (Medigap) is the right path for you, the next question is almost always the same one: Plan G or Plan N? These are the two most popular Medigap plans for people newly eligible for Medicare, and the honest answer is that the coverage gap between them is smaller than most people expect — it comes down to just a couple of line items. Here’s exactly where they differ, and how to figure out which one saves you more money.
The Quick Answer
- Plan G covers essentially everything Original Medicare doesn’t, except the annual Part B deductible ($283 in 2026). Once you’ve paid that deductible, your out-of-pocket costs for the rest of the year are close to $0. Premiums are higher.
- Plan N costs $20–$60 less per month on average, but you pay small copays — up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for ER visits that don’t result in admission — and you’re responsible for Part B excess charges if your doctor doesn’t accept Medicare assignment.
Both plans are standardized by federal law, meaning a Plan G policy from one company covers exactly the same benefits as a Plan G policy from another — the only real difference between carriers is price.
What Plan G Covers
Plan G is currently the most popular Medigap plan among people newly eligible for Medicare, covering roughly 39% of all Medigap enrollees nationally. Once you’ve met the Part B deductible, Plan G pays 100% of your remaining eligible costs, including:
- Part A hospital coinsurance and 365 extra hospital days after Medicare benefits are used up
- Part B coinsurance (the 20% Original Medicare doesn’t cover)
- The first three pints of blood
- Part A hospice care coinsurance
- Skilled nursing facility coinsurance
- Part A deductible
- Part B excess charges (the extra amount some doctors can legally charge above what Medicare approves)
- Foreign travel emergency care (up to plan limits)
The only cost you’re responsible for is the annual Part B deductible — $283 in 2026. After that, your maximum out-of-pocket exposure for the rest of the year is essentially zero, aside from your monthly premium.
What Plan N Covers
Plan N covers almost the same list — with two specific exceptions that account for nearly the entire cost difference between the two plans:
- Office visit and ER copays. Plan N requires you to pay up to $20 for some doctor office visits and up to $50 for ER visits that don’t result in an inpatient admission.
- Part B excess charges are not covered. If your doctor doesn’t accept Medicare assignment and charges above the Medicare-approved amount, you’re responsible for that difference under Plan N. In practice this is increasingly rare, since fewer doctors opt out of Medicare assignment each year, but it’s worth confirming with your specific providers.
Everything else — hospital coinsurance, skilled nursing coverage, blood, hospice coinsurance, foreign travel emergency care — is identical to Plan G.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Plan G | Plan N | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly premium | Higher | $20–$60 lower on average |
| Part B deductible | You pay it ($283 in 2026) | You pay it ($283 in 2026) |
| Office visit copay | None | Up to $20 |
| ER visit copay (not admitted) | None | Up to $50 |
| Part B excess charges | Covered | Not covered |
| Hospital coinsurance | Covered 100% | Covered 100% |
| Skilled nursing coinsurance | Covered 100% | Covered 100% |
| Foreign travel emergency | Covered (plan limits) | Covered (plan limits) |
| Cost predictability | Very high | Slightly less predictable |
Doing the Math: Which One Actually Saves You Money?
This is where the decision gets personal. A rough rule of thumb used by Medicare advisors: if the premium difference between Plan G and Plan N in your state is around $100/month ($1,200/year), Plan N tends to come out ahead unless you’re seeing a doctor roughly 20 or more times a year, or you regularly see providers who don’t accept Medicare assignment.
For someone who visits the doctor 2–4 times a year, Plan N’s copays might add up to $40–$80 annually — nowhere near enough to offset $600–$1,200 a year in premium savings. For someone with more frequent specialist visits, the math shifts, and Plan G’s predictability starts to look more valuable.
Plan N tends to be the better fit if:
- You’re generally healthy with occasional doctor visits
- Your providers accept Medicare assignment (worth confirming directly)
- You’d rather pay less monthly and accept a bit of unpredictability
Plan G tends to be the better fit if:
- You see doctors frequently or manage a chronic condition
- You want your costs to be as predictable as possible
- You’re not confident all your providers accept Medicare assignment
A Note on Premium Increases
Every Medigap policy can raise its premium over time, regardless of which plan letter you choose. In 2026, rate increase filings from several major carriers for Plan G ranged from just over 12% to more than 26% in a single quarter, according to industry rate-tracking data. The plan letter itself isn’t the biggest factor in future rate increases — the carrier, your state, and how that specific policy «block» of customers is performing matter more. It’s worth comparing quotes across multiple carriers for the same plan letter, since the price gap between companies is often larger than the gap between Plan G and Plan N with the same company.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I switch from Plan N to Plan G later, or vice versa? Yes, but outside your initial Medigap open enrollment window, insurers in most states can use medical underwriting, meaning your health history could affect your price or eligibility. Some states have stronger guaranteed-issue protections — check your state’s specific rules.
Do Plan G and Plan N cover prescription drugs? No. Neither plan includes prescription drug coverage. You’ll need a separate stand-alone Part D plan regardless of which Medigap plan you choose.
Is Plan G more expensive with every carrier? Plan G is standardized, but each carrier sets its own premium. It’s common to find one company’s Plan G priced similarly to — or even cheaper than — another company’s Plan N. Always compare specific quotes rather than assuming the plan letter alone determines the price.
Do my spouse and I need separate policies? Yes. Medigap policies are individual, not family plans. Each spouse needs their own policy and can choose the same plan letter or different ones based on individual needs.
What are Part B excess charges, really? They’re an additional amount — up to 15% above the Medicare-approved rate — that a doctor who doesn’t accept Medicare «assignment» is legally allowed to charge. Plan G covers this cost; Plan N does not. Most providers do accept assignment, but it’s worth confirming with any doctor you see regularly.
Bottom Line
Plan G and Plan N are far more alike than different — the entire decision usually comes down to whether you’d rather pay a bit more each month for near-total predictability (Plan G), or pay less monthly and accept small copays and rare excess-charge risk (Plan N). Run the math on your own expected doctor visits and premium quotes before deciding, and always compare multiple carriers for the same plan letter, since the price gap between companies is often bigger than the gap between the two plans themselves.
Before enrolling in either, compare quotes from multiple carriers in your ZIP code, or speak with a licensed insurance agent or your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for free, unbiased guidance.
Disclaimer: Premiums, copays, and figures mentioned in this article are based on 2026 estimates and general industry data, and vary by state, carrier, age, and tobacco status. Always confirm current details directly with Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or a licensed agent before making a decision.