What’s the Difference Between Medicare Supplement Plans G and N?
Medigap plans G and N are both supplemental insurance plans offered by private insurance companies to help cover Medicare’s out-of-pocket costs. Plan G is slightly more comprehensive than Plan N.
Medicare supplement plans, called Medigap plans, provide coverage for some of the out-of-pocket costs associated with Medicare. These costs may include:
deductibles
copays
coinsurance
You can enroll in a Medigap plan if you have Original Medicare (Medicare parts A and B).
Though private insurance companies sell Medigap plans, the federal government standardizes the coverage you receive with them. That means that all Medigap Plan G plans offer the same coverage, regardless of the company selling it.
However, a few states — Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin — standardize their plans differently, and not all plans are available in all locations.
Keep reading to learn the differences between Medicare supplement plans G and N, including coverage, costs, and more.
What do Medicare supplement plans cover?
Medigap plans cover costs associated with Original Medicare that you would otherwise pay out of pocket. A Medicare supplement plan can help lower your healthcare costs and make them more predictable.
Medigap plans do not cover services not covered under Original Medicare, such as dental, hearing, and vision care, like prescription eyeglasses. However, some Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans offer coverage for these services.
Learn more about the difference between Medicare supplement plans and Medicare Advantage plans.
What is Medicare Supplement Plan G?
Medigap Plan G provides comprehensive coverage compared to other supplement plan options.
This plan covers:
Part A coinsurance and deductible
any hospital costs you incur up to an additional 365 days after using up your Medicare benefits
Part A coinsurance or copayment for hospice care
coinsurance for a skilled nursing care facility
Part B coinsurance
first 3 pints of blood if you need a transfusion
Medicare Part B excess charges, if you visit a health facility that charges more than the Medicare-approved amount for a particular service
up to 80% of emergency medical care during travel outside the United States (based on plan limits)
While some plans have a yearly out-of-pocket limit after which the Medigap plan covers 100% of your costs, Plan G does not have an out-of-pocket limit.
Read more about what Medigap Plan G covers.
What is Medicare Supplement Plan N?
Medicare Plan N provides comprehensive coverage compared to other plans. However, you may have copays for some doctors’ office visits and emergency room visits.
This plan covers:
Part A coinsurance and deductible
any hospital costs you incur up to an additional 365 days after using up your Medicare benefits
Part A coinsurance or copayment for hospice care
coinsurance for a skilled nursing care facility
Part B coinsurance, minus copayments of up to $20 for doctors’ visits and $50 for emergency room visits, provided you are not admitted as an inpatient
first 3 pints of blood if you need a transfusion
up to 80% of emergency medical care during travel outside the United States (based on plan limits)
While the coverage is similar to Plan G, Plan N does not cover Medicare Part B excess charges.
Plan N pays 100% of the costs of services you receive under Medicare Part B, except for copayments for some doctors’ office visits and some emergency room visits.
Plan N also does not have a yearly out-of-pocket limit.
Learn more about what Medigap Plan N covers.
How do Medigap Plan G and Plan N compare in 2024?
Medigap Plan G and Medigap Plan N provide similar coverage with a few notable differences. These include:
Plan G covers Part B excess charges, while Plan N does not.
Plan G covers 100% of the costs of services you receive under Medicare Part B, while Plan N covers these costs except for copayments for some doctors’ office visits and emergency room visits.
The following table shows an out-of-pocket cost comparison for Plan G and Plan N in 2024:
Benefit | Plan G | Plan N |
|---|---|---|
$0 coinsurance or copayment | $0 coinsurance or copayment | |
$0 coinsurance | $0 coinsurance | |
$0 coinsurance | coinsurance after Part B deductible/up to $20 per office visit | |
$0 after Part B deductible | $0 after Part B deductible | |
$0 copays | $50 copays for emergency room visits that don’t require hospital admission | |
20% coinsurance | 20% coinsurance | |
0% of all excess charges | 100% of all excess charges |
How do the monthly costs of Medigap Plan G and Plan N compare?
Medigap plans charge monthly premiums that vary based on your ZIP code. Not all plans are available in all ZIP codes.
The costs provided here are averages and can give you an idea of what you can expect to spend on monthly premiums for Plan G and Plan N in 2024:
Location | Plan G costs | Plan N costs |
|---|---|---|
Los Angeles, CA | $148 to $1,189 | $114 to $912 |
Brooklyn, NY | $302 to $776 | $220 $483 |
Chicago, IL | $114 to $830 | $88 to $590 |
Albuquerque, NM | $101 to $726 | $76 to $551 |
You can shop for and compare Medigap Plan N plans for your location on Medicare’s website.
When to enroll in Medigap
It’s best to enroll in a Medicare supplement plan during your initial enrollment window, which typically begins when your Medicare Part B coverage starts and lasts 6 months.
If you enroll during this time, your application will not be subject to medical underwriting. This means that during the initial enrollment period, insurance companies cannot deny you Medigap coverage or raise your monthly prices based on any underlying medical conditions you may have.
This is not the case outside of your initial enrollment period.
You can enroll outside of your initial enrollment period or switch from one Medigap plan to another during open enrollment. However, you may have to pay a higher monthly premium for coverage.
Note that you cannot enroll in a Medicare supplement plan if you are enrolled in a Medicare Part C (Advantage) plan. These plans are only available to people enrolled in Original Medicare.
Takeaway
Medicare supplement plans G and N both help cover out-of-pocket costs associated with Original Medicare and can make your healthcare costs more predictable.
Plan G offers slightly more comprehensive coverage than Plan N, and you will likely pay a slightly higher premium. Plan G covers Medicare excess charges, which you may incur if a healthcare facility charges more than Medicare’s approved amount for a particular service. Plan N does not cover excess charges.
There are various Medicare supplement plans, all with different coverage. It’s best to shop around to find a plan that meets your needs and budget.
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