Plan G and Plan N are the two most popular Medigap (Medicare Supplement) plans available to people newly eligible for Medicare. Both are excellent choices — they differ in monthly premium and how much you pay at the doctor's office.
Plan G — "Cover everything":
- Higher monthly premium (typically $130–$300+ depending on age, gender, ZIP, and carrier)
- Covers 100% of the gaps in Original Medicare except the small Part B annual deductible ($283 in 2026)
- After you pay the $283 Part B deductible once per year, you pay $0 for any Medicare-covered service
- No copays at the doctor's office, no coinsurance for hospital stays after Part A deductible (which Plan G covers), no charges for diagnostic tests, lab work, durable medical equipment
- Includes 80% foreign travel emergency coverage up to $50,000 lifetime (after $250 annual deductible)
Plan N — "Lower premium with copays":
- Lower monthly premium (typically $100–$220, often $30–$60 less than Plan G in the same market)
- Covers most gaps but you pay:
- Up to $20 copay per office visit
- Up to $50 copay per ER visit (waived if admitted)
- The Part B deductible ($283 in 2026)
- Any "Part B excess charges" if your provider doesn't accept Medicare assignment (you can avoid this by using providers who accept assignment — most do)
- Same network freedom as Plan G — any provider that accepts Medicare
- Same hospital coverage as Plan G after Part A deductible
The math: when does Plan N save you money?
If the premium difference is $40/month, that's $480/year less for Plan N. To eat up that savings in copays, you'd need to make 24+ office visits a year ($20 × 24 = $480). Most members average 4–8 visits annually.
Strategy by use pattern:
- Healthy, low utilization (1–6 visits/year): Plan N is usually cheaper overall
- Frequent specialist visits, multiple chronic conditions: Plan G's predictability often wins
- Hate office-visit copays even if math says otherwise: Plan G is the "set it and forget it" choice
- In your 70s+ with rising utilization expected: Plan G locks in protection without per-visit costs
Carrier matters more than you'd think. Same Plan G from Mutual of Omaha vs. United American vs. Cigna can differ by $50+/month for identical coverage. Always shop multiple carriers, and re-shop every few years — premiums increase with age and "new business" rates can be lower than your renewal rate.
Plan F note: Plan F covers everything including the Part B deductible but is no longer available to people who became Medicare-eligible after January 1, 2020. If you're already on Plan F, you can keep it; if you're new to Medicare, Plan G is the closest equivalent.
What to do next: Call (866) 534-1886. We compare every Medigap carrier in your state for both Plan G and Plan N, do the breakeven math against your expected utilization, and check whether you can save by switching from your current Medigap to a different carrier with a lower rate. Free.