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If you are comparing Medicare Supplement insurance, Plan G and Plan N will probably be two of the first options you encounter.
Plan G generally costs more each month but provides more predictable medical expenses. Plan N often has a lower premium, but you may pay copayments for certain doctor and emergency room visits and you are responsible for Medicare Part B excess charges.
Neither Plan G nor Plan N pays the annual Medicare Part B deductible.
The real question is: Is the additional premium for Plan G worth paying to reduce the additional cost-sharing and uncertainty you accept with Plan N?
PLAN G
Higher premium • greater predictability
PLAN N
Lower premium potential • limited copays
EXCESS CHARGES
Plan G covers • Plan N does not
REAL TEST
Plan G can make more sense when predictability matters most. Plan N can make more sense when its premium is meaningfully lower and you are comfortable with limited additional cost-sharing.
You value predictable expenses, see physicians frequently, don’t want office or ER copays, or want protection against Part B excess charges.
Its premium is meaningfully lower, you are comfortable with limited cost-sharing, and your providers accept Medicare assignment.
Plan G premium × 12 versus Plan N premium × 12 + potential Plan N copays + potential Part B excess charges.
| Benefit | Plan G | Plan N |
|---|---|---|
| Part A coinsurance/additional hospital costs | Covered | Covered |
| Part B coinsurance | Covered | Covered, subject to certain copays |
| Part A hospice coinsurance/copayment | Covered | Covered |
| Skilled nursing facility coinsurance | Covered | Covered |
| Part A deductible | Covered | Covered |
| Part B deductible | Not covered | Not covered |
| Part B excess charges | Covered | Not covered |
| Certain office copays | None after applicable deductible | Up to $20 |
| Certain ER copays | None after applicable deductible | Up to $50 if no inpatient admission |
| Foreign travel emergency | 80%, subject to limits | 80%, subject to limits |
Massachusetts, Minnesota and Wisconsin standardize Medigap differently.
Mutual of Omaha’s current Medicare consumer offering is heavily centered on Medicare Supplement rather than Medicare Advantage.
Plan N may require up to $20 for certain office visits.
Plan N may require up to $50 if the visit does not lead to inpatient admission.
Plan G covers eligible excess charges. Plan N does not. Some non-participating providers can charge up to 15% above Medicare’s approved amount when permitted.
When a provider accepts assignment, the provider agrees to accept the Medicare-approved amount as payment in full for Medicare-covered services.
Plan G covers eligible Medicare Part B excess charges.
Plan N does not. That does not mean you automatically pay 15% more every time. If your providers accept assignment, excess charges generally aren’t the issue.
The better question before choosing Plan N
Do the physicians and specialists I expect to use accept Medicare assignment?
Client example: Plan G = $175/month. Plan N = $140/month.
What if the premium difference is only $10/month?
Annual savings fall to only $120. A few copays could erase most or all of the savings.
Premium difference is relatively small
Frequent doctor visits
Multiple specialists
You want excess-charge protection
You prefer fewer cost-sharing surprises
Premium savings are substantial
Few physician visits
Your providers accept assignment
You are comfortable with occasional copays
You prefer lower fixed monthly premiums
Compare pricing method, discounts, rate history where useful, administration, underwriting and long-term affordability—not only the plan letter.
Compare another Medigap cost structure.
Compare two Medigap carriers.
Compare carrier economics and underwriting.
Continue through the Medigap comparison library.
“If my health gets worse, I'll just change to Plan G.”
Depending on your situation, changing later may not be that simple.
Your primary federal Medigap Open Enrollment Period generally lasts six months beginning when you are age 65 or older and enrolled in Part B.
Unless you have guaranteed-issue or state-specific protection, medical underwriting may apply.
Understand timing before plan selection.
Start with the broader enrollment decisions.
Review Medigap enrollment rights and switching implications.
Compare the broader coverage systems.
You can generally use doctors and hospitals throughout the U.S. that take Medicare.
Both can work well for domestic travel; Plan G’s excess-charge protection may matter more if you see many different providers.
Neither modern Plan G nor Plan N includes outpatient prescription drug coverage. A separate Part D plan may be needed.
Who sells G and N?
Your Plan G and Plan N rates
Carrier-specific savings
Open Enrollment / GI / underwriting
Visits + predictability
Tell us a few details and a licensed Medicare agent can help you compare available Plan G and Plan N options, premiums, carriers, and potential out-of-pocket costs.
Plan G covers Medicare Part B excess charges and does not have Plan N’s office and emergency room copayment structure. Plan N may require up to a $20 copayment for certain office visits and up to $50 for certain emergency room visits that don’t result in inpatient admission.
Plan G provides more predictable cost-sharing, while Plan N frequently offers lower premiums. Which is better depends on the premium difference, healthcare usage, provider preferences, budget and enrollment situation.
Plan N may charge up to $20 for certain office visits.
Plan N may charge up to $50 for an emergency room visit that doesn’t result in inpatient admission.
No. Plan N does not cover Medicare Part B excess charges.
Possibly, but outside Medigap Open Enrollment or another guaranteed-issue situation, medical underwriting may apply depending on state and circumstances.
Neither modern Plan G nor Plan N includes outpatient prescription drug coverage. A separate Medicare Part D plan can generally be considered.
Both work alongside Original Medicare and generally allow care from doctors and hospitals throughout the United States that accept Medicare.
The standardized Medicare benefits of Plan G are generally the same regardless of carrier. Premiums and other company-related factors can differ.
The standardized Medicare benefits are generally the same from one insurer’s standard Plan N to another’s, although premiums and company-related factors can vary.
Plan G = higher premium, greater predictability.
Plan N = potentially lower premium, more cost-sharing responsibility.
Compare actual premiums where you live, check whether your physicians accept Medicare assignment, understand your Medigap enrollment rights, and evaluate the carrier—not only the plan letter.
Helping make Medicare easier to understand.
Independent Medicare Guidance
Medicare Plan Assistance is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. Availability, premiums, underwriting requirements and enrollment rules vary by state, carrier and individual circumstances.