Medicare Supplement Plan G vs. Plan N: Which is Best for Me?

Now that Medigap Plan F isn’t available for new enrollees (people turning 65 after January 1, 2020), the two most popular Medigap plans are Plan G and Plan N. Both plans offer robust coverage, but there is a distinct tradeoff with how you pay for either plan. Plan G comes with a higher monthly premium with almost no out-of-pocket costs. With Plan N, you’d have a lower monthly premium but have small copays and potential excess charges. If you’re considering comparing Medicare Supplement Plans G and N, here are some factors to keep in mind.

Quick comparison chart Plan G vs. Plan N for 2026

Medigap Plan G: Comprehensive protection

Medicare Supplement Plan G is one of the most comprehensive Medigap plans available to new beneficiaries because it protects you from high out-of-pocket costs. If you like the idea of Plan G, but want something more budget friendly, there is also a High-Deductible Plan G option. This plan has lower premiums, but to save money, you would need to be in good health and not have many doctor’s visits or major health expenses during the year.

Included in Plan G coverage is:

• Part A deductible ($1,736 in 2026),
• The cost of a skilled nursing facility from days 21-100,
• 80% of medically necessary foreign travel emergencies in the first 60 days,
• 100% of Part B excess charges,
• Part A coinsurance for hospital stays from days 61-150,
• 100% of Medicare-eligible hospital expenses for an additional 365 days,
• Medicare copay or coinsurance for hospice services,
• The first three pints of blood per calendar year,
• Medicare Part B coinsurance.

The only thing Plan G doesn’t cover is your Part B deductible. Plan holders are responsible for paying the deductible each year ($283 in 2026) before coverage kicks in.

Note: Because Plan G is provided by private insurance companies, your annual premium can, and usually will, go up yearly. Carriers can increase rates more than once a year based on factors including your age, inflation, and high medical claims in your state.

Medigap Plan N: Premium savings with shared costs

The next most popular plan is Medigap Plan N. It covers almost everything Plan G does and often has lower premiums (you could expect premiums to be $20-$50 less per month). Plan N premiums also typically don’t increase like Plan G’s can. With Plan N, you’re responsible for Medicare excess charges, which aren’t very common, and the Part B annual deductible.

Like Medigap Plan G, Plan N also covers:

• Part A deductible,
• Part A coinsurance for hospital stays from days 61-150,
• 100% of Medicare-eligible hospital expenses for an additional 365 days,
• Skilled nursing care from days 21-100,
• Medicare copay for hospice services,
• The first three pints of blood per calendar year,
• 80% of medically necessary foreign travel emergencies in the first 60 days.

While Plan N covers Part B coinsurance, it requires a $20 copay for office visits and $50 per emergency room visit (that doesn’t result in hospital admission). Requiring these small copays is one way carriers can keep monthly premiums low.

Key differences: What to consider before choosing a plan

You can’t predict if you’re going to have a health emergency during a given year, but you can weigh the Medigap Plan G vs. Plan N differences to see which may be the better option for you.

Part B Excess Charges aren’t very common because most doctors do participate in Medicare, meaning they accept the amount of money Medicare has agreed to pay for a service and bill Medicare directly for your care. But if you visit a nonparticipating provider, that means they accept Medicare on a case-by-case basis. When they don’t accept Medicare’s fee they can charge up to 15% more for a service. Medicare still covers their 80%, but you owe your 20% coinsurance plus the 15% excess charge for care.

• If you have a doctor’s bill for $500 with a participating provider, Medicare pays 80% ($400) and you pay 20% ($100).
• If you have the same bill with a nonparticipating provider, Medicare still pays 80% ($400) and you would be charged 20% plus the 15% excess ($175).

But remember, Plan N excess charges are rare, and some states including Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New York, and Ohio prohibit them.

Copay versus premium math: One way to understand which plan may be better for you is to perform a cost comparison between the lower premiums and potential copays for the year.

You could save about $30 a month in premiums, or $360 a year, by choosing Plan N over Plan G. You would have to have 18 doctor visits or make seven trips to the emergency room to hit that amount of spending over a year’s time.

How to choose the right plan for your health and budget

We discussed Plan G vs. Plan N with United Medicare Advisor’s Customer Success team. And they broke down for us what to consider when choosing Medicare Supplement Plan G vs. Plan N for 2026.

Plan G may be right for you if:

• You can afford higher premiums and don’t mind if they increase during the year,
• You plan to have a lot of doctor’s visits in 2026 and don’t want to pay the copayments,
• You live a state that allows excess charges and you want to avoid them.

Plan N may be right for you if:

• You want to pay lower premiums,
• You don’t visit the doctor or anticipate any hospital stays,
• You can weather some unpredictability of costs or can manage small copays when you get sick.

FAQs about Medicare Plan G vs. Plan N

1. Can I see any doctor with Medigap Plan G or Plan N? 

For the most part. Both plans cover any doctor or specialist that accepts Medicare assignment.

2. Is Medigap Plan N being phased out or discontinued? 

Plan N isn’t being phased out. If you are enrolling for the first time in Medicare, Plan N will be available if there is one in your area. But, as of 2026, it won’t be available as an option if you are enrolling during a guaranteed issue period unless you live in the following states:

• California
• Connecticut
• Maine
• Massachusetts
• Minnesota
• New York
• Oregon
• Wisconsin

3. Can I switch from Plan G to Plan N later if my premiums go up? 

The best time to switch between Medigap plans is during your Open Enrollment Period – the six-month window that begins the month you turn 65. During that time, you have 30 days to try out your Medigap plan to make sure it fits your needs. If you want to switch any other time, you’ll probably have to go through medical underwriting. During underwriting, an insurance carrier will ask questions about your mental and physical health to see if they want to take you on as a beneficiary. They have the right to deny coverage or increase premiums outside of Open Enrollment. You can also check your state laws (some states allow people to switch plans without going through underwriting outside of Open Enrollment).

Still not sure which Medigap plan is right for you? If you want to understand what coverage best fits your healthcare needs and your budget, reach out to United Medicare Advisors. One of our licensed agents can walk you through which plan would be best for you.