Medicare Supplement Comparison · Plan G vs. Plan N · 2026

Medicare Plan G vs. Plan N: Which Trade-Off Fits You?

Both plans cover many of the same Medicare costs and let you use providers nationwide who accept Medicare. The biggest differences are Plan N's potential premium savings, certain office and ER copays, and Part B excess charges. See how the trade-offs compare before you choose.

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Find out if Plan N’s monthly savings will actually stay in your pocket, or if a few doctor visits will hand that money right back.

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At a Glance

Plan G vs. Plan N at a Glance

Feature Plan G Plan N
General strategy More predictable Medicare cost sharing Potentially lower premium with certain cost sharing
Part B deductible You pay it You pay it
Office visit copay No Plan N-style office copay Up to $20 for certain office visits
ER visit, not admitted No Plan N-style ER copay Up to $50 for certain visits that don't result in an inpatient admission
Part B excess charges Covered Not covered
Provider network None None
Premium tendency Often higher, varies by carrier/applicant/location Often lower, varies by carrier/applicant/location

The real question isn't simply which plan covers more. It's whether Plan N's potential premium savings are worth its office/ER copays and lack of Part B excess-charge coverage for your situation.

Explore Plan G → Explore Plan N →

Original Lehigh Partners Research

Would $524 of Potential Premium Difference Be Worth the Plan N Copays?

In Lehigh Partners' August 2026 research across nine shared sample ZIP codes — using the same sample applicant profile for both plans — the difference between the sampled lowest displayed Plan G and Plan N premiums averaged $43.72 per month, or $524.64 per year. This is not a national average or a savings guarantee. Actual premiums depend on the applicant, location, company, discounts and other permitted rating factors.

$43.72/mo Average monthly difference, sampled lowest rates
$524.64/yr Same difference, annualized
Sampled lowest displayed premiums, Plan G vs. Plan N, by shared sample ZIP code
Location Plan G sample Plan N sample Monthly difference
Austin, TX$113.32/mo$79.70/mo$33.62/mo
Detroit, MI$113.48/mo$89.47/mo$24.01/mo
Lafayette, LA$118.38/mo$84.54/mo$33.84/mo
Bethlehem, PA$124.57/mo$84.69/mo$39.88/mo
Sedona, AZ$133.19/mo$88.79/mo$44.40/mo
Bozeman, MT$142.15/mo$87.35/mo$54.80/mo
Scottsdale, AZ$146.51/mo$87.35/mo$59.16/mo
Newport Coast, CA$190.83/mo$146.20/mo$44.63/mo
The Villages, FL$200.58/mo$141.44/mo$59.14/mo
Average across 9 sample ZIP codes——$43.72/mo

Methodology: Sample rates were researched August 2026 using a female applicant, age 65, non-tobacco, with a requested December 1, 2026 effective date, in the same nine ZIP codes for both Plan G and Plan N. Figures shown are the lowest displayed monthly premiums in each sampled ZIP code and are provided for comparison purposes only. They are not a quote for any specific person. Rates, eligibility, discounts, policy fees, and available companies may vary. See the full Plan G rate research and Plan N rate research for additional sample ZIP codes and detail.

Would the premium difference be worth Plan N's additional cost sharing for you?

2-Minute Plan G vs. Plan N Decision Guide

Plan G or Plan N? See Which Direction Fits Your Priorities

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Your best first comparison

    This decision guide is an educational preference aid. It does not recommend enrollment in a specific insurance policy and does not evaluate every factor that may affect Medicare Supplement eligibility, premiums, underwriting, or suitability. Actual premiums and availability vary by insurance company, location, applicant and other permitted rating factors. Plan N includes certain cost sharing and does not cover Medicare Part B excess charges. Plan G does not cover the Medicare Part B deductible.

    The Full Picture

    Plan G vs. Plan N: The Differences That Actually Matter

    Plan G vs. Plan N office visit copays

    Plan G has no Plan N-style office visit copay — Medicare-covered office visits are handled through the plan's standard cost sharing. Plan N may charge a copay of up to $20 for certain office visits. Not every visit is billed the same way, so the actual copay can vary by visit type.

    Plan G vs. Plan N emergency room copays

    Plan G has no Plan N-style ER copay. Plan N may charge a copay of up to $50 for certain emergency room visits that don't result in an inpatient admission — the copay generally doesn't apply if you're admitted. Not every ER visit carries the same copay.

    Medicare Part B deductible

    Neither Plan G nor Plan N covers the annual Medicare Part B deductible — $283 in 2026. Both plans require you to pay this amount out of pocket each year before the plan's Part B coverage applies.

    Part B excess charges

    Plan G covers Medicare Part B excess charges. Plan N does not. Excess charges can occur when a provider doesn't accept Medicare assignment, in states that permit them — some states restrict or prohibit excess charges entirely, which reduces this exposure regardless of which plan you choose.

    Provider access

    Neither Plan G nor Plan N uses a private plan provider network. Both work alongside Original Medicare, so you can generally see any doctor or hospital nationwide that accepts Medicare.

    Prescription coverage

    Neither Plan G nor Plan N includes outpatient prescription drug coverage. A separate Medicare Part D plan is generally needed for prescriptions.

    Foreign travel emergency coverage

    Both plans include the standardized Medigap foreign travel emergency benefit, which helps with certain emergency care outside the U.S. up to the plan's limits. This benefit is not a substitute for comprehensive international health insurance.

    Standardized benefits vs. premiums

    In most states, Plan G benefits are standardized across every company that sells Plan G, and Plan N benefits are standardized across every company that sells Plan N — but the premium each company charges for that standardized coverage is not standardized. Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin standardize Medigap plans differently than the rest of the country.

    Two Directions

    Ready to Go Deeper on One Plan?

    Predictability

    Want fewer Medicare cost-sharing bills to think about?

    Plan G may appeal to someone who is comfortable paying a potentially higher monthly premium in exchange for more predictable Medicare cost sharing, no Plan N-style office/ER copays, and coverage for Medicare Part B excess charges.

    Explore Plan G →

    Value

    Want to see whether a lower premium is worth certain copays?

    Plan N may appeal to someone willing to accept certain office/ER copays and no Part B excess-charge coverage when the premium difference is meaningful enough to justify those trade-offs.

    Explore Plan N →

    Already Have Plan G or Plan N?

    If your Medicare Supplement premium has increased, the answer may not simply be changing plan letters. Another company may offer the same standardized plan letter at a different premium. We can compare available rates and explain whether staying put, changing companies, or considering another plan letter is worth exploring.

    Call to Review My Current Medigap Rate Schedule to Compare My Current Rate

    Changing Medicare Supplement companies may require medical underwriting unless an applicable guaranteed-issue right or state-specific protection applies. Do not cancel existing coverage until replacement coverage has been approved. See our Medicare Supplement premium-increase guide →

    Common Questions

    Questions people ask about Plan G vs. Plan N

    Reviewed by David Scallion · Licensed Medicare agent since 2003 · Last reviewed August 2026

    Neither plan is universally better — they involve different trade-offs. Plan G typically has a higher premium but covers more cost sharing, including Part B excess charges and office/ER copays, so out-of-pocket costs are more predictable. Plan N typically has a lower premium but requires certain copays and doesn't cover excess charges. Which one fits better depends on how often you use care and how you'd rather pay for it.
    Plan N's premium is often lower because the plan itself covers less: it requires certain office and ER copays and doesn't cover Medicare Part B excess charges, both of which Plan G covers. Insurance companies generally price Plan N lower to reflect that reduced coverage, though actual premiums still vary by company, age, location and other factors.
    It varies by company, applicant and location. In Lehigh Partners' August 2026 research across nine shared sample ZIP codes, the difference between the sampled lowest displayed Plan G and Plan N premiums averaged $43.72 per month, or $524.64 per year. This is not a national average or a savings guarantee — it reflects only the specific sample applicant and ZIP codes researched.
    Plan G covers Medicare Part B excess charges and has no Plan N-style copay for office visits or non-admitted ER visits. Plan N does not cover Part B excess charges and may require a copay of up to $20 for certain office visits and up to $50 for certain ER visits that don't result in an inpatient admission.
    Yes. Plan N may require a copay of up to $20 for certain office visits and up to $50 for certain emergency room visits that don't result in an inpatient admission. Not every visit is billed the same way, so actual copays can vary.
    Yes. Neither Plan G nor Plan N covers the annual Medicare Part B deductible — $283 in 2026. Both plans require the consumer to pay this amount before the plan's Part B coverage applies.
    No. Plan N does not cover Part B excess charges. You can generally avoid them by using providers who accept Medicare assignment. Plan G does cover excess charges. Some states restrict or prohibit excess charges entirely, which can reduce this exposure regardless of plan.
    Generally, yes. Neither Plan G nor Plan N uses a private plan provider network. Both work alongside Original Medicare, so you can generally see any doctor or hospital nationwide that accepts Medicare.
    Yes, you can apply to switch at any time. Outside your Medigap Open Enrollment Period or a guaranteed issue right, the insurance company may require medical underwriting and can decline your application or charge more based on your health.
    People who see doctors or specialists often sometimes lean toward Plan G, since its lack of office/ER copays means fewer individual bills to track even though the monthly premium is typically higher. This isn't automatic, though — the right answer depends on the specific premium difference available to you.
    No. Neither Plan G nor Plan N includes outpatient prescription drug coverage or routine dental, vision, or hearing benefits. A separate Medicare Part D plan is usually needed for prescription coverage.
    No. High-Deductible Plan G is a separate version of Plan G available in some states. It usually carries a lower monthly premium, but you pay Medicare-covered deductibles, copayments and coinsurance out of pocket until your spending reaches the annual deductible before the plan begins paying its covered benefits.

    Don't Choose G or N Until You See the Actual Difference

    The benefits are standardized. The premiums aren't. We'll compare available Plan G and Plan N rates in your ZIP code and help you understand whether the premium difference is worth the cost-sharing difference for your situation.

    Call to Compare Plan G & Plan N Schedule to See Which Fits

    No direct cost for the Medicare review · No pressure · No obligation to enroll

    Lehigh Partners Senior Benefits is an independent, licensed insurance agency. Plan availability, benefits, premiums, underwriting, and enrollment rules vary by carrier, state, and individual circumstances. This page is educational and does not guarantee acceptance, savings, or pricing. The decision guide on this page is an educational preference aid, not an insurance recommendation. Calling the number on this page will connect you with a licensed insurance agent. Lehigh Partners Senior Benefits is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. We do not offer every Medigap plan available in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for information on all available options.