And if you’re comparing Plan G and Plan N because Medicare Open Enrollment is approaching, there’s something especially important to understand:

Medicare Open Enrollment is not an annual Medigap Open Enrollment Period.

The October 15–December 7 Medicare Open Enrollment Period primarily relates to Medicare Advantage and Medicare prescription drug coverage. Your federal Medigap Open Enrollment Period is generally a one-time six-month period beginning when you’re 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare Part B.

That distinction can be extremely important if you’re considering changing Medicare Supplement coverage.

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Plan G vs. Plan N: Quick Comparison

For most new Medigap shoppers comparing these two plans, the decision comes down to this:

Plan G

Higher coverage → potentially higher premium → fewer routine out-of-pocket surprises

Plan N

Potentially lower premium → additional cost-sharing → more responsibility when you use certain services

Here’s the basic comparison:

Feature	Plan G	Plan N
Part A coinsurance & additional hospital costs	Covered	Covered
Part A deductible	Covered	Covered
Skilled nursing facility coinsurance	Covered	Covered
Part B coinsurance	Covered	Covered, except applicable Plan N copays
Part B deductible	Not covered	Not covered
Some office visit copays	No Plan N-style copay	Up to $20
Certain ER visit copays	No Plan N-style copay	Up to $50
Part B excess charges	Covered	Not covered
Foreign travel emergency	80%, up to plan limits	80%, up to plan limits
Separate monthly Medigap premium	Yes	Yes

Both are standardized Medicare Supplement plans.

But those few differences can change which one makes more financial sense for you.

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What Does Plan G Cover?

Plan G is one of the most comprehensive standardized Medigap options available to people newly eligible for Medicare.

Once you satisfy the annual Medicare Part B deductible, standard Plan G generally covers the remaining Medicare-approved Part A and Part B cost-sharing included within its standardized benefits.

Plan G covers:

• Part A coinsurance and hospital costs for up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits are exhausted
• Part B coinsurance or copayments
• First three pints of blood
• Part A hospice coinsurance or copayments
• Skilled nursing facility coinsurance
• Medicare Part A deductible
• Medicare Part B excess charges
• 80% of qualifying foreign-travel emergency expenses, subject to plan limits

What doesn’t Plan G cover?

Most importantly:

The Medicare Part B deductible.

If you’re newly eligible for Medicare, you generally pay that deductible yourself before Plan G begins covering the applicable Part B cost-sharing included in the plan.

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What Does Plan N Cover?

Plan N shares many of Plan G’s major benefits.

It covers:

• Part A coinsurance and additional hospital costs
• Part A deductible
• Skilled nursing facility coinsurance
• Hospice coinsurance or copayments
• First three pints of blood
• Part B coinsurance, subject to Plan N’s copayment structure
• 80% of qualifying foreign-travel emergency expenses, subject to plan limits

But there are several important differences.

With Plan N, you may pay:

Up to $20 for some office visits

and

Up to $50 for certain emergency-room visits that don’t result in inpatient admission.

Plan N also does not cover Medicare Part B excess charges.

Those differences are the tradeoff you accept in exchange for what may be a lower premium.

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The Real Plan G vs. Plan N Question

Don’t ask only:

“Which plan has the lower premium?”

And don’t ask only:

“Which plan covers more?”

Instead ask:

“How much am I saving in premium by choosing Plan N, and what am I accepting in exchange?”

That’s the calculation that matters.

Consider this hypothetical example.

Example: Plan G vs. Plan N

Example Only	Plan G	Plan N
Monthly premium	$175	$135
Annual premium	$2,100	$1,620
Difference	—	$480 less/year
Office copays	No Plan N-style copays	Up to $20 for some visits
Certain ER copays	No Plan N-style copay	Up to $50
Part B excess charges	Covered	Not covered

In this hypothetical situation, Plan N saves the person $480 per year in premiums.

Now we have a useful question:

Is accepting Plan N’s additional cost-sharing worth saving $480 per year?

For someone who rarely visits physicians, the answer could be different than for someone seeing several specialists regularly.

But even utilization isn’t the whole story.

You also need to consider Part B excess-charge exposure and your preference for predictable expenses.

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Think About Plan G as Paying for Predictability

One way to understand Plan G is:

You’re generally paying more upfront through the premium to reduce certain out-of-pocket uncertainty later.

For someone who values predictability, that can be attractive.

Imagine someone who sees:

• A primary care doctor
• Cardiologist
• Endocrinologist
• Orthopedic specialist
• Dermatologist

throughout the year.

They may prefer the simplicity of Plan G’s more comprehensive standardized cost-sharing coverage.

That doesn’t necessarily make Plan G cheaper overall.

It makes its cost structure different.

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Think About Plan N as Sharing More of the Risk

Plan N works differently.

You may potentially save money every month through a lower premium, depending on available rates.

In exchange, you’re agreeing to handle certain costs yourself.

That can work particularly well for someone who:

• Receives a meaningful premium savings
• Doesn’t mind occasional copays
• Understands Part B excess charges
• Wants strong Medigap coverage without necessarily paying for Plan G’s additional protection

But the premium difference matters.

If Plan N is only slightly cheaper than Plan G, the tradeoff may look less attractive.

If the difference is substantial, Plan N deserves a closer look.

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What Are Medicare Part B Excess Charges?

This is probably the Plan G vs. Plan N difference that creates the most confusion.

Some healthcare providers who don’t accept Medicare assignment may be permitted to charge more than the Medicare-approved amount for certain services, subject to Medicare rules and applicable state law.

That additional amount is called an excess charge.

Plan G covers Part B excess charges.

Plan N does not.

But don’t automatically conclude:

“Plan N is dangerous because doctors can charge me whatever they want.”

That’s inaccurate.

Medicare limits excess charges, and whether you realistically encounter them depends partly on the providers you use and applicable rules.

The practical question for a Plan N shopper is:

Do the providers I use accept Medicare assignment?

That deserves consideration before choosing Plan N.

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Plan N Copays: How Much Could You Pay?

Medicare’s standardized Plan N rules allow:

Up to $20

for some office visits.

And:

Up to $50

for emergency-room visits that don’t result in inpatient admission.

Notice the wording:

“Up to.”

That doesn’t mean every medical encounter automatically produces a $20 copay.

Likewise, the $50 ER copay applies to qualifying emergency-room visits that don’t result in inpatient admission.

This is why simply multiplying every physician visit by $20 isn’t necessarily an accurate Plan N cost estimate.

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Plan G vs. Plan N: A Better Decision Framework

Instead of asking which plan the internet says is “best,” score the plans based on what matters to you.

Question	Lean Toward Plan G	Lean Toward Plan N
Want maximum predictability?	✓
Comfortable with some copays?		✓
Plan N premium savings are substantial?		✓
Want Part B excess-charge protection?	✓
Prefer fewer cost-sharing variables?	✓
Comfortable checking Medicare assignment?		✓
Premium savings are very small?	✓
Lower monthly premium is a priority?		✓

This isn’t a recommendation.

It’s a framework for identifying which questions deserve more weight in your decision.

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Don’t Compare Plan G and Plan N Without Comparing Insurance Companies

There’s another layer to this decision.

Once you decide which plan letter you prefer, you still need to choose an insurance company.

Medigap policies are standardized.

That means:

Company A Plan G

and

Company B Plan G

provide the same standardized Plan G basic benefits.

But the premiums can differ.

Likewise:

Company A Plan N

and

Company B Plan N

provide the same standardized Plan N basic benefits.

So your comparison might look like this:

Carrier	Plan	Example Premium
Company A	G	$170
Company B	G	$148
Company C	G	$190
Company A	N	$138
Company B	N	$122
Company C	N	$151

Example only. Not actual quotes.

Now you’re making two decisions:

Decision #1

Plan G or Plan N?

Decision #2

Which insurer offering that standardized plan makes sense for me?

Both matter.

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Medicare Supplement Premiums Aren’t the Same Everywhere

Don’t rely heavily on an online article saying:

“Plan G costs $___.”

Your premium can depend on factors including:

• Where you live
• Age
• Tobacco status
• Sex where permitted
• Carrier
• Available discounts
• Rating method
• Enrollment timing
• Medical underwriting where applicable

Medicare confirms that Medigap premiums vary based on the policy, location and other factors.

So the only premium comparison that really matters is:

What are Plan G and Plan N actually available for in your situation?

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Very Important: Medicare Open Enrollment Does NOT Give Everyone a New Medigap Enrollment Window

This deserves its own section because we’re approaching the fall Medicare Open Enrollment season.

You will hear:

“Medicare Open Enrollment starts October 15!”

That’s true.

But don’t interpret that as:

“Everyone can switch Medicare Supplement companies without medical underwriting from October 15 through December 7.”

That is not the federal Medigap rule.

Medicare’s annual Open Enrollment Period primarily allows people to make certain Medicare Advantage and prescription drug coverage changes.

Your federal Medigap Open Enrollment Period is different.

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When Is Your Medigap Open Enrollment Period?

Under federal law, your Medigap Open Enrollment Period generally lasts:

6 months

beginning the first month that:

You’re 65 or older

AND

You’re enrolled in Medicare Part B.

During this period, insurers generally can’t use medical underwriting to deny you a Medigap policy because of health problems.

And this is particularly important:

Your federal Medigap Open Enrollment Period is generally a one-time enrollment period.

It doesn’t restart every October.

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What Happens After Medigap Open Enrollment?

This is where changing Medigap coverage can become more complicated.

After your Medigap Open Enrollment Period ends, you may not have the same federal protections.

Depending on your circumstances, state law and whether you have a guaranteed-issue right, an insurance company may be able to use medical underwriting.

That could affect:

• Whether you’re accepted
• Which coverage is available
• What you pay

This is why someone who already has Plan G shouldn’t simply cancel it in October because they see an advertisement for a cheaper Plan N.

Never cancel existing Medigap coverage until you understand your ability to obtain the replacement coverage and the effective dates involved.

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What Are Guaranteed-Issue Rights?

There are certain circumstances where federal law gives you protections allowing you to purchase specific Medigap policies without medical underwriting.

These are called guaranteed-issue rights.

They can arise in situations involving certain losses or changes of coverage.

State laws can also provide additional protections beyond federal requirements.

That means someone asking:

“Can I switch from Plan G to Plan N?”

may need more than a yes-or-no answer.

We need to know:

• Where you live
• What coverage you currently have
• Why you’re changing
• When your existing coverage ends
• Whether you’re in Medigap Open Enrollment
• Whether you have guaranteed-issue rights
• Whether your state provides additional protections

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New to Medicare? This Is When Plan G vs. Plan N Matters Most

If you’re turning 65 and entering your Medigap Open Enrollment Period, you have an especially important decision opportunity.

Instead of starting with the carrier, start with your desired coverage structure.

Ask:

1. How much does Plan G cost me?

Get actual quotes.

2. How much does Plan N cost me?

Compare the same carriers where possible.

3. What’s the annual premium difference?

Multiply the monthly difference by 12.

4. How often do I use outpatient medical care?

Think about your real healthcare habits.

5. How comfortable am I with copays?

Some people don’t care.

Others strongly prefer predictable costs.

6. Do my providers accept Medicare assignment?

Especially relevant when considering Plan N.

7. How much do I value simplicity?

That matters too.

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Plan G vs. Plan N Example: Meet Robert and Linda

Consider two hypothetical new Medicare beneficiaries.

Robert

Robert sees several specialists throughout the year.

He values predictable medical expenses and doesn’t want to think much about copays or Part B excess charges.

His Plan G quote is only moderately higher than Plan N.

Robert may reasonably lean toward Plan G.

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Linda

Linda is healthy and primarily sees her doctor for routine appointments.

Her Plan N quote is significantly lower than Plan G.

She’s comfortable with potential office and ER copays and understands the Part B excess-charge issue.

Linda may reasonably lean toward Plan N.

Neither person made the “correct Medicare choice.”

They made a choice based on their priorities and actual quotes.

That’s how Medicare Supplement comparisons should work.

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What Plan G and Plan N DON’T Cover

Don’t overlook this part.

Neither standard Plan G nor Plan N generally provides coverage for things such as:

• Routine dental care
• Routine vision care
• Hearing aids
• Long-term custodial care
• Private-duty nursing

And modern Medigap policies don’t include Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage.

If you choose Original Medicare + Medigap, you’ll generally want to separately evaluate Part D prescription coverage if you want drug coverage.

So your Medicare setup could look like:

Original Medicare Part A + Part B

plus

Plan G or Plan N

plus

Separate Part D coverage

That’s very different from an all-in-one Medicare Advantage plan structure.

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Plan G vs. Plan N Before 2027: What Should You Do?

Use this checklist.

If you’re NEW to Medigap:

✓ Confirm when your Medigap Open Enrollment Period begins or began

✓ Get actual Plan G quotes

✓ Get actual Plan N quotes

✓ Calculate the annual premium difference

✓ Consider your expected doctor usage

✓ Understand Plan N copays

✓ Check Part B excess-charge considerations

✓ Compare carriers offering each plan

✓ Review Part D separately

✓ Make the decision based on the whole picture

If you ALREADY have Medigap:

✓ Don’t assume October 15 creates a new guaranteed Medigap enrollment window

✓ Determine whether underwriting could apply

✓ Check whether you have guaranteed-issue rights

✓ Check applicable state protections

✓ Obtain approval for replacement coverage before cancelling existing coverage

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So, Is Plan G or Plan N Better?

Here’s the simplest answer:

Plan G generally provides more complete standardized coverage. Plan N generally asks you to accept more cost-sharing in exchange for the possibility of a lower premium.

If the premium difference is substantial, Plan N can deserve serious consideration.

If the difference is small and you strongly value predictable costs, Plan G may be attractive.

But there isn’t a universal winner.

The decision should come down to:

Your premium difference

Your healthcare usage

Your providers

Your tolerance for copays

Your preference for predictable expenses

Your enrollment rights

And finally:

Which insurers are actually offering competitive Plan G and Plan N premiums to you.

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Get Help Comparing Plan G and Plan N

Plan G vs. Plan N looks simple on a standardized benefits chart.

The real decision can be more nuanced.

Medicare Plan Assistance can help you compare available Plan G and Plan N options and understand how Medigap enrollment rules apply to your situation.

We’ll help you look at:

• Available premiums
• Plan G vs. Plan N benefits
• Your enrollment timing
• Potential underwriting considerations
• Carrier options
• Part D considerations
• Your overall Medicare strategy

Call Medicare Plan Assistance at (561) 808-9410.

Tell us:

“I’m comparing Plan G and Plan N.”

We’ll know exactly where to start.

Local help. Clear answers. Better decisions.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Plan G better than Plan N?

Plan G provides more comprehensive standardized coverage because it covers Part B excess charges and doesn’t have Plan N’s applicable office and emergency-room copays. Plan N may have a lower premium, so the better option depends on your actual rates, healthcare usage and preferences.

What copays does Plan N have?

Plan N can require a copayment of up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for certain emergency-room visits that don’t result in inpatient admission.

Does Plan N cover Medicare Part B excess charges?

No. Standard Plan N doesn’t cover Medicare Part B excess charges. Plan G does.

Does Plan G cover the Medicare Part B deductible?

No. For people newly eligible for Medicare, standard Plan G doesn’t cover the Medicare Part B deductible.

Is Plan N always cheaper than Plan G?

Not necessarily. Medigap premiums vary by insurer, location and other rating factors. You should compare actual Plan G and Plan N quotes available to you.

Can I switch from Plan G to Plan N during Medicare Open Enrollment?

The October 15–December 7 Medicare Open Enrollment Period isn’t a universal annual Medigap enrollment period. Depending on your situation, medical underwriting may apply when changing Medigap policies unless you have applicable enrollment or guaranteed-issue protections.

When is Medigap Open Enrollment?

Your federal Medigap Open Enrollment Period generally lasts six months beginning the first month you’re 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare Part B. It is generally a one-time enrollment period and doesn’t repeat every year.

Do Plan G and Plan N include prescription drug coverage?

No. Medigap policies sold after 2005 don’t include Part D prescription drug coverage. You can separately evaluate a Medicare Part D plan for prescription coverage.

Can Medicare Plan Assistance help me compare Plan G and Plan N?

Yes. Medicare Plan Assistance can help you compare available Plan G and Plan N policies, premiums and relevant enrollment considerations. Call (561) 808-9410.