If you like the idea of a Medicare Supplement plan but want a lower monthly premium, Plan N is worth a close look. It covers most of the same gaps as the popular Plan G — you just agree to pick up a few small costs along the way.
What Plan N is
Medigap (Medicare Supplement) plans pair with Original Medicare and fill in the gaps it leaves behind. They’re standardized by letter, so a Plan N from one company covers the same things as a Plan N from another — the main difference is price and service. There are no networks, so you can see any provider in the country who accepts Medicare.
Plan N is one of the most popular Medigap plans, right alongside Plan G. It covers the big-ticket gaps — things like your Part A hospital coinsurance and the 20% coinsurance you’d otherwise owe on Part B services. In exchange for a lower premium than Plan G, you agree to handle a few smaller costs yourself.
What you pay with Plan N
Here’s where Plan N differs from a plan that covers almost everything. With Plan N, you’re responsible for three things:
- The Part B deductible. You pay the $283 annual Part B deductible yourself before the plan’s coverage kicks in. (Plan G works the same way here — neither plan covers this deductible.)
- Small copays. You may owe a copay of up to $20 for many office visits and up to $50 for an emergency room visit that doesn’t result in being admitted.
- Part B excess charges. If a provider doesn’t accept Medicare’s approved amount as payment in full, they can bill up to 15% more. That extra is called an excess charge, and Plan N doesn’t cover it.
After those items, Plan N covers the rest of the major gaps. For most people who don’t see the doctor constantly, the copays stay modest and the excess charges rarely come up, because the large majority of providers accept Medicare’s approved amount (called “accepting assignment”).
Plan N vs. Plan G
Plan G and Plan N are close cousins. Both leave you the Part B deductible and both have no networks. The difference is in how they handle the smaller costs after that.
| Plan G | Plan N | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly premium | Higher | Lower |
| Part B deductible ($283) | You pay | You pay |
| Part B 20% coinsurance | Covered | Covered (minus copays) |
| Office / ER copays | None | Up to $20 / up to $50 |
| Part B excess charges | Covered | You pay |
Think of it as a trade. With Plan G, you pay a bit more each month and almost never see a bill after the deductible. With Plan N, you pay less each month but accept a few small, predictable costs when you actually use care.
To see how those premiums and copays might add up for a typical year, our Cost Estimator can help you put real numbers next to each option.
Who Plan N fits best
Plan N tends to make the most sense for people who:
- Don’t visit the doctor often. If you only see your provider a handful of times a year, those small copays barely register, and the lower premium adds up to real savings over twelve months.
- Want a lower premium but still want the predictability and any-provider freedom of a Medigap plan.
- Live where providers accept assignment — which is most of Utah and most of the country — so excess charges aren’t a regular worry.
If you have frequent appointments or you’d simply rather not think about copays and excess charges at all, Plan G may be the calmer choice even at a higher premium. There’s no single right answer; it comes down to your health, your budget, and how often you use care.
Don’t forget drug coverage
One thing both Plan G and Plan N have in common: no built-in drug coverage. Medigap plans don’t include Part D. So if you go with Plan N, you’ll want to add a standalone Part D prescription drug plan to cover your medications. That keeps your prescriptions in check and helps you avoid the Part D late penalty down the road.
A simple way to decide
The choice between Plan N and Plan G usually comes down to one question: would you rather pay a little more every month, or a little less every month with a few small copays when you use care? Both are solid, predictable plans — there’s no wrong answer.
If you’d like a second set of eyes on the math for your own situation, reach out to Bret for a no-pressure conversation. A few minutes on the phone can make the trade-offs a lot clearer than a chart ever will.