Medicare Supplement Plan G vs. Plan N.
Plan G and Plan N are two of the most-purchased Medigap plans for new Medicare enrollees. They cover most of the same things — but differ in three meaningful ways.
What both plans cover
- Part A coinsurance and hospital costs
- Part B coinsurance (with one exception in Plan N — see below)
- Skilled nursing facility coinsurance
- Part A deductible
- Hospice care coinsurance
- First three pints of blood
- Foreign travel emergency care (80%, plan limits apply)
Where they differ
| Plan G | Plan N | |
|---|---|---|
| Part B excess charges | Covered | Not covered |
| Office visit copay | None | Up to $20 |
| Emergency room copay (non-admit) | None | Up to $50 |
| Part B deductible | Not covered | Not covered |
What “Part B excess charges” means (and when it matters)
A small minority of providers don’t accept Medicare’s approved amount as full payment (“non-participating providers”). These providers can charge up to 15% above the Medicare-approved rate — this excess. Plan G covers this excess; Plan N does not. The frequency of non-participating providers varies significantly by state and specialty.
Who Plan G fits
Beneficiaries who want predictable costs after the Part B deductible and don’t want to worry about excess charges or office-visit copays.
Who Plan N fits
Beneficiaries who are comfortable with small office-visit and ER copays in exchange for a typically lower monthly premium, and who live in an area where non-participating providers are rare.
How a licensed agent helps
A licensed El-Mag agent compares Plan G and Plan N premiums for your zip code and helps weigh the per-month savings of Plan N against the additional copays you might incur.
Compare Plan G and Plan N.