Plain-language guide

Medigap Plan G vs Plan N

Medigap plans are sold by insurance companies, but the benefits inside each lettered plan are set by law. That means, in all but three states, a Plan G is a Plan G no matter whose name is on it. Two of the letters, G and N, are what most people end up weighing. Here's how they differ, without anyone steering you.

This compares the standardized letters G and N as categories, the way you'd compare Part A and Part B. It doesn't name any company, and it doesn't tell you which to pick. That's your call, and free help is at the bottom of the page.

What's the same

Both Plan G and Plan N are Medigap (also called Medicare Supplement) plans. They sit alongside Original Medicare and help pay the shares that Original Medicare leaves to you. Because the letters are standardized, the core benefits of a Plan G are identical from company to company, and the same is true for Plan N. What changes between companies is the price and the service, not the benefit set. One exception: Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin standardize Medigap in their own way, so if you live in one of those states, use the Medigap pages at Medicare.gov for your state's format. Source: Medicare.gov, 2026.

Neither one covers the Part B deductible, which is $283 in 2026. You pay that yourself before either plan's help on Part B services begins. Source: CMS, 2026 Medicare Parts A & B.

Where they differ

The difference comes down to how you pay: more up front and less at the doctor, or a little less up front and small charges as you go.

  • Plan G covers your share of most Part B services in full once you've met that Part B deductible. In a typical year you generally won't see a copay at the doctor with Plan G.
  • Plan N works the same way with two exceptions: you pay a small copay for some office and emergency-room visits, and Plan N does not cover Part B "excess charges." An excess charge can happen when a provider doesn't accept Medicare's approved amount as full payment. Plan G covers those; Plan N leaves them to you.

Because Plan N asks you to cover those small pieces, its monthly premium is often lower than a Plan G from the same company. Whether that trade works in your favor depends on how often you see doctors and whether the providers you use take Medicare's approved amount.

How to compare them for yourself

  1. Look at the monthly premiums for the same letter across a few companies. Same letter means the same core benefits, so a lower price for the same letter is a real difference, not a lesser plan.
  2. Estimate your typical year of visits. If you see doctors often, Plan N's per-visit copays add up; if you rarely do, they may not matter much.
  3. Ask whether your providers accept Medicare's approved amount, which tells you how likely Plan N's excess-charge gap is to ever apply to you.

The official Medicare website lets you look up Medigap plans in your area, and a free SHIP counselor can walk through the letters with you without selling anything. Both are listed below. This guide explains the categories; the choice is yours.

Free, official help with your own decision

This guide explains how things work. For decisions about your own coverage, use the official sources. They're free and they don't sell anything.

  • Medicare.gov The official government site to compare plans and check coverage yourself.
  • SHIP: free local counseling Your State Health Insurance Assistance Program: free, unbiased Medicare help.