Medigap Plan G vs Plan N: how they differ

Two plans that cover most of the same costs

Plans G and N are two of the standardized Medigap plans that help pay costs Original Medicare leaves behind. Keep in mind that a Medigap policy only covers one person, so a married couple who both want coverage each buy their own.

A lot of what the two plans pay is the same. Every Medigap plan pays the Part A coinsurance and hospital costs up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits run out. And Medigap plans sold after 2005 don't include prescription drug coverage, so with either plan you would get drug coverage from a separate Part D plan.

Difference 1: copays at the doctor and the ER

Plan G has no office visit or ER copays. Plan N pays 100% of the costs of Part B coinsurance, but you pay up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for an emergency room visit that doesn't lead to an inpatient admission. If you go to the ER and are admitted to the hospital, that $50 copay doesn't apply.

Difference 2: Part B excess charges

Some doctors don't take the Medicare-approved amount as full payment. Part B excess charges are extra fees billed by a doctor, provider or supplier that doesn't accept Medicare assignment, and the extra can reach 15% above what Medicare approves for the service.

Only Plan F and Plan G cover Part B excess charges. With Plan N, you pay any excess charge yourself. You can avoid Part B excess charges by getting care from Medicare-approved providers who accept assignment. Eight states don't allow Part B excess charges at all, so the gap matters more in some places than others.

Why Plan F isn't on the list

Plan F used to be the most complete Medigap plan, but new enrollees cannot buy Plans C, F or F High Deductible after January 1, 2020. If you were eligible for Medicare before that date, you may still be able to buy Plan F. For everyone else, Plan G is the closest choice. Plan G also comes in a high-deductible version in some states: with it, you pay up to $2,950 in 2026 for Medicare-covered costs before the policy pays anything.

How to choose between them

Plan N usually costs less each month, and Plan G leaves you fewer surprise bills. Plan N can make sense if you see the doctor a few times a year and your doctors accept Medicare assignment. Plan G can make sense if you see doctors often, use specialists who may not accept assignment, or simply want the most predictable costs.

Timing matters too. When you sign up for Part B, you get a 6-month open enrollment for a Medigap policy, a window when an insurance company has to sell you the plan you choose. Once you have a standardized Medigap policy, it is renewed every year, even if you have health problems. Our guides to what Medigap covers and Medicare Advantage vs Medigap explain the bigger picture.

Common questions

Last reviewed October 2026. Medicare rules, dates and dollar amounts can change each year; Medicare.gov has the official details.