Medigap Plan G vs. Plan N: What Each Covers and Costs

Plan G and Plan N cover the same core costs, but Plan N asks you to share more. With Plan N you pay copays for some office and emergency room visits, and Part B excess charges. Plan N premiums are often lower than Plan G's, though prices vary by insurer and location.

Key takeaways

• Both plans pay the 2026 Part A deductible of $1,736 per benefit period.
• Neither plan pays the 2026 Part B deductible of $283.
• Plan G pays Part B excess charges. Plan N does not.
• Plan N has copays for some doctor visits and for emergency room visits that do not lead to admission.
• Premiums for each plan vary by insurer, ZIP code and other factors.

What are Medigap Plans G and N?

Medigap is private insurance that helps pay costs Original Medicare leaves. It is also called Medicare Supplement Insurance. It works only with Original Medicare, not with Medicare Advantage.

Medigap plans are standardized and named by letters. That means every Plan G has the same benefits, no matter which company sells it. The same is true for Plan N. Massachusetts, Minnesota and Wisconsin use their own standard plans instead.

You can buy a Medigap policy only if you have both Part A and Part B. Each policy covers one person, so spouses each need their own.

Because benefits are the same, the main differences between companies are price and service. Neither plan includes drug coverage, so most people add a Part D plan. See Medicare Part D: Your Prescription Drug Coverage Choices.

What does each plan cover?

The table shows two real differences: copays and excess charges. On everything else, the two plans pay the same.

Both plans also pay for hospice coinsurance and the first 3 pints of blood. Both add up to 365 extra days of hospital care after Medicare's days run out.

What copays does Plan N have?

With Plan N, you may pay a copay at some doctor and specialist visits. You may also pay a copay for an emergency room visit. If you are admitted to the hospital from the ER, that ER copay is waived.

The copay amounts are set by federal standards and are the same in every Plan N. The insurer lists them in its plan summary. Plan G has no such copays once you meet the Part B deductible.

If you see doctors often, these copays add up over a year. If you rarely see a doctor, they may matter less to you.

The copays apply to office and ER visits, not to every service. Lab tests, X-rays and preventive care, such as your yearly wellness visit, do not carry a Plan N copay.

What are Part B excess charges?

Some doctors do not accept assignment, which means they do not take Medicare's approved amount as full payment. These doctors can bill you more, up to a limit Medicare sets. That extra amount is called an excess charge.

Plan G pays excess charges. Plan N does not, so you would pay them yourself. Excess charges apply only to Part B services, such as doctor visits, outpatient care and medical equipment. Part A hospital stays do not have excess charges.

Many doctors accept assignment, so excess charges do not come up for everyone. You can ask each doctor's office, or check Care Compare on Medicare.gov. Some states do not allow excess charges at all, including Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont.

What will you pay for each plan?

You pay a monthly premium to the insurer for either plan. Plan N premiums are often lower than Plan G premiums for the same person. Exact prices differ by insurer, ZIP code, age and other factors.

Insurers set prices in one of three ways: by your age when you buy, by your current age, or the same for everyone. This affects how your premium can change. Learn more in Why Did My Medigap Premium Increase?

You also keep paying your Part B premium. The 2026 standard Part B premium is $202.90 a month, and the Part B deductible is $283. Both are set each year. See Understanding Your 2026 Medicare Costs for the full list.

How do you choose between them?

Start with how you use care. Count your doctor visits and ER visits from last year. Then ask whether your doctors accept assignment.

Plan G may suit you if you see doctors often, use specialists who do not accept assignment, or want fewer bills. Plan N may suit you if you see doctors less often and your doctors accept assignment.

Next, get quotes for both plans from several insurers in your ZIP code. Compare the yearly premium difference with the copays and excess charges you would expect with Plan N.

Some insurers also sell a high-deductible Plan G. It has the same benefits as Plan G after you pay a yearly deductible, and its premium is often lower.

When can you buy without health questions?

Your Medigap Open Enrollment Period lasts 6 months. It starts the month you are 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. During it, an insurer must sell you any Medigap policy it offers, and it cannot charge more because of your health.

After that window, insurers in many states can ask health questions. They may charge more or say no. So the plan you pick at the start matters, since switching later may be harder.

Some situations give you a guaranteed-issue right to buy certain Medigap plans later. One example is when a Medicare Advantage plan leaves your area and you switch to Original Medicare. In that case, the federal right covers Plans A, B, D and G, but not Plan N. Some states add more choices.

Have questions? Call 1-877-443-3251 to talk it through with a licensed insurance agent. You never pay the agent; the plans they represent do, and the decision stays yours.

We do not offer every plan available in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options. Medicare has neither reviewed nor endorsed this information.