Medigap Plan G vs. Plan N: What’s Actually Different

Plan G and Plan N are the two most commonly sold Medigap plans for people newly eligible for Medicare, and the comparison between them comes up constantly for a good reason: the coverage gap between them is small, but the price gap often isn’t.

What Plan G covers

Plan G covers nearly everything Original Medicare doesn’t — Part A coinsurance and hospital costs, Part B coinsurance, blood, skilled nursing coinsurance, hospice coinsurance, and Part A deductible, foreign travel emergency care, and Part B excess charges. The only thing it leaves you paying is the annual Part B deductible, which is a fixed, modest amount set each year.

What Plan N covers

Plan N covers the same broad list, with three differences. You pay the Part B deductible yourself, same as with Plan G. You pay small copays — typically up to $20 for an office visit and up to $50 for an ER visit that doesn’t result in admission. And Plan N does not cover Part B excess charges, which matters only if your doctor is one of the minority who charge above the Medicare-approved amount.

The real-world difference

For most people, the difference between the two plans comes down to a handful of small copays a year versus a lower monthly premium. Plan N typically costs noticeably less per month than Plan G. If you don’t visit the doctor often, that monthly savings can outweigh the occasional copay. If you see specialists frequently, Plan G’s predictability may work out cheaper over a full year.

The one thing worth checking before you decide

Ask whether your doctors accept Medicare “assignment” — meaning they agree to Medicare’s approved payment amount. Most do. If yours doesn’t, Part B excess charges become a real cost, and that pushes the comparison back toward Plan G, since Plan N doesn’t cover that gap.

This page is general educational information, not insurance advice specific to your situation. See our full disclosure.