Introduction
Original Medicare leaves gaps. Deductibles, coinsurance and copays add up fast, and nothing caps what you owe for Part B services. Medigap Plan G and Plan N are two popular ways to fill those gaps.
The trade-off is simple. Plan G usually gives you more predictable out-of-pocket costs. Plan N usually carries a lower monthly premium, in exchange for some copays and no coverage of Part B excess charges.
This guide compares coverage, premiums, cost-sharing, provider rules and enrollment timing. It also shows how to weigh each plan against your own healthcare use and budget.
Key Takeaways
- Both plans cover Part A cost-sharing, skilled nursing and hospice coinsurance, and foreign travel emergencies.
- Plan G covers Part B excess charges; Plan N does not and adds some copays.
- Plan N's lower premium only wins if your copays and billing exposure stay small.
- Your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period is the safest time to switch or buy.
- Neither plan covers prescription drugs, routine dental, vision or hearing.
Plan G vs Plan N: Quick Comparison
Monthly premium
Plan G premiums generally run higher because Plan N shifts some costs to you. KFF's 2025 premium analysis found average monthly premiums of $194 for Plan G and $184 for Plan N among current policyholders. Those are national averages, not quotes for new applicants, so your local gap may be wider or narrower.
The same plan letter also prices differently by carrier and rating method:
- Community-rated: generally the same premium regardless of age
- Issue-age-rated: based on your age when you buy
- Attained-age-rated: rises as you get older
Part B cost-sharing
Both plans leave you paying the Part B deductible, which is $283 for 2026. After that, the plans diverge:
- Plan G: Pays covered Part B coinsurance
- Plan N: Pays Part B coinsurance except copays of up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for ER visits that don't end in admission
Those Plan N copays are not a flat $20 on every visit.
Part B excess charges
An excess charge is the amount a legally permitted provider bills above the Medicare-approved amount. For providers who don't accept assignment, the federal cap is generally 15% above the approved amount. Plan G covers these charges. Plan N doesn't.
Some states restrict or ban excess charges. New York, for example, generally limits them to 5%, while Massachusetts, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Vermont prohibit most balance billing. Check your own state's rules.
Shared benefits and provider access
Both plans cover:
- Part A hospital coinsurance and up to 365 extra hospital days
- The Part A deductible
- Hospice and skilled nursing facility coinsurance
- The first three pints of blood
- Foreign travel emergency care at 80% after a $250 deductible, with a $50,000 lifetime limit
Medigap works with Original Medicare, not a private network. Confirm your providers accept Medicare, and ask whether they accept assignment.
What neither plan covers
Both plans supplement Original Medicare and generally exclude:
- Outpatient prescription drugs
- Routine dental, glasses, and hearing aids
Medigap is also separate from Medicare Advantage, which replaces how you receive Medicare and brings its own networks and authorization rules. You can't hold both at once.
What Are Medicare Plan G and Plan N?
What is Medigap?
Medigap, or Medicare Supplement insurance, is private coverage that helps pay deductibles, coinsurance and copays left by Original Medicare Parts A and B. You generally need both Parts A and B to buy it.
Federal rules standardize basic benefits by plan letter. Massachusetts, Minnesota and Wisconsin standardize differently. Elsewhere, one carrier's Plan G has the same benefits as another's, so compare price, rating method and service.
What is Medicare Plan G?
Plan G suits people who want broad protection and steadier costs. Once you pay the Part B deductible, it covers nearly everything Original Medicare leaves behind, including Part B coinsurance and excess charges. It doesn't cover everything, though. Drugs, routine dental, vision and hearing remain outside it.
What is Medicare Plan N?
Plan N offers nearly the same core benefits at a lower premium. That lower premium comes with office and ER copays, and no excess-charge coverage. You need to be comfortable checking how your providers bill.
Common ground, and what's left out
Both plans cover the same hospital, hospice, skilled nursing, blood and foreign travel emergency benefits. Both require continued Parts A and B enrollment.
Neither includes drug coverage, so you'd add a separate Part D plan. And "supplement" doesn't mean comprehensive. Ask for the insurer's outline of coverage before you enroll.
Plan G vs Plan N: What Is Better?
Start with total annual cost
A lower premium doesn't guarantee a lower yearly bill. Use this formula:
Monthly premium × 12 + expected copays + possible excess charges = annual cost
Say Plan G costs $160 a month and Plan N costs $135. The $25 difference saves $300 a year.
If you'd pay ten $20 office copays and one $50 ER copay, that's $250, so Plan N still comes out slightly ahead. Add a single large excess charge, and the savings could vanish.
These figures are illustrative only. Plug in real quotes.
Choose Plan G for predictability
Plan G fits if you:
- Expect frequent doctor visits or specialist care
- Want few bills at the point of care
- Prefer protection from excess charges
- Value simple budgeting over squeezing the premium
Choose Plan N for a lower premium
Plan N fits if you:
- Visit doctors and the ER infrequently
- Want a smaller fixed monthly bill
- Can comfortably absorb copays when care is needed
Plan N isn't only for the healthy. The decision should reflect your expected care, financial cushion and willingness to verify assignment.
Check your doctors and Medicare assignment
Ask each provider whether they accept Medicare assignment, or use the Care Compare tool on Medicare.gov. A provider who doesn't accept assignment can bill more than the approved amount. Plan N enrollees would owe the difference, while Plan G covers it.
Timing and switching
Your Medigap Open Enrollment Period lasts six months, starting the first day of the month you're 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. During it, insurers can't use medical underwriting.
Switch later and you may face health questions, higher premiums or denial, unless a guaranteed issue right applies. Those rights, such as losing coverage through no fault of your own, generally require applying within 63 days. They don't give you a general right to buy Plan N whenever Plan G is protected.
Virginia adds a protection. Since July 1, 2025, existing policyholders get a 60-day window starting on their birthday to replace a policy with the same benefits, such as G to G, without underwriting. Don't cancel existing coverage until your new policy is approved.
Compare carriers and long-term value
Get quotes from several carriers and ask how premiums change over time. Household discounts and added services can matter, but they don't replace standardized benefits.
Muneris Benefits' licensed agents can help you compare Medicare Supplement options, weigh cost trade-offs and review enrollment considerations. The agency represents all major carriers in Virginia. Plans and premiums vary by state and personal circumstances.
Real-World Examples
These scenarios use hypothetical figures to show the logic.
Infrequent care: Plan N may win
A retiree sees her doctor twice a year and rarely visits the ER. Her Plan N premium is $25 a month lower, saving $300. Two $20 copays cost $40. She nets roughly $260 ahead, provided her providers accept assignment.
Frequent care: Plan G may win
A man with a chronic condition has about 15 office visits a year. At $20 each, copays reach $300, wiping out the $300 premium savings. Add one ER copay, and Plan G comes out ahead, with simpler budgeting too.
When billing changes the math
Suppose a Plan N enrollee sees a specialist who doesn't accept assignment. If Medicare approves $200, the provider can generally bill up to $230 for that service, and the enrollee owes the extra $30. Plan G would cover it.
How often does this happen? MedPAC's March 2026 report found 98% of billing clinicians participated in 2023, and 99.7% of fee-schedule claims in 2024 paid at standard rates.
Those are clinician and claim figures, not your personal risk. Verify your own providers.
Your next step
Calculate your own break-even point, confirm provider status, and compare current quotes. Muneris Benefits can provide personalized Medicare guidance and carrier comparisons.
- Roanoke office: (540) 563-1005
- Narrows office: (540) 726-8008
Medicare.gov also lists all available options.
Conclusion
Plan G generally fits best if you want predictable costs and broader protection. Plan N may suit you if you prioritize a lower premium and accept limited cost-sharing.
The better fit depends on your care patterns and budget. Before you enroll, compare:
- Total annual costs (premiums plus expected out-of-pocket)
- Provider assignment rules
- Enrollment rights and timing
- Current carrier pricing
- Coverage exclusions
Muneris Benefits can help you line those factors up against your doctors, prescriptions, and budget so you choose with clearer numbers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Medigap?
Medigap is private Medicare Supplement insurance that helps pay certain Original Medicare cost-sharing amounts. It isn't Medicare Advantage or prescription drug coverage.
What is the difference between Medicare Plan G and Plan N?
Plan G covers Part B cost-sharing and excess charges after the deductible. Plan N has lower premiums but adds office and ER copays and doesn't cover excess charges.
Which is cheaper, Medicare Plan G or Plan N?
Plan N generally has the lower monthly premium. Your total yearly cost depends on healthcare use, copays, provider billing, location, carrier and rating method.
How much does Medicare Plan G cost per month?
No single national premium exists. KFF's 2025 average among current policyholders was $194; your quote depends on location, age, tobacco use, carrier and rating method.
Why is Medicare Plan N cheaper than Plan G?
Plan N shifts some costs to you through certain copays and uncovered excess charges. That lets carriers price the monthly premium lower.
Should I switch from Medicare Plan G to Plan N?
Compare the premium savings with expected copays, provider assignment and health needs. Outside protected periods, medical underwriting may apply, so confirm your eligibility before canceling anything.
