Updated August 2026 · Reviewed by the CoverageCo team
Plan G covers nearly everything Original Medicare leaves behind except the Part B deductible; Plan N covers slightly less in exchange for a lower premium. Plan N adds small copays for some office and emergency visits and doesn't cover Part B excess charges. Which wins depends on how often you see doctors and where you live.
Key takeaways
- Plan G: higher premium, almost no surprises when you use care.
- Plan N: lower premium, small copays at some visits, and no excess-charge protection.
- Excess charges only matter in states that permit them — worth checking locally.
- Benefits are identical across insurers for a given letter, so shop on price and rate history.
What each plan covers
Both plans are standardized, so the benefits below are the same no matter which insurance company sells them:
| Plan G | Plan N | |
|---|---|---|
| Part A coinsurance and hospital costs | Covered | Covered |
| Part B coinsurance | Covered in full | Covered, minus small visit copays |
| Part B deductible | Not covered | Not covered |
| Part B excess charges | Covered | Not covered |
| Skilled nursing coinsurance | Covered | Covered |
| Foreign travel emergency | Covered, with limits | Covered, with limits |
| Relative premium | Higher | Lower |
The excess charge question
A Part B excess charge happens when a provider doesn't accept Medicare's approved amount as full payment and bills you an additional percentage above it.
Plan G covers those charges. Plan N doesn't.
How much this matters depends heavily on where you live. Some states prohibit excess charges entirely, in which case the difference is largely theoretical. In states that allow them, and among certain specialists, it's a real exposure. Worth checking your state before assuming it doesn't apply.
The copays are small but frequent
Plan N includes a modest copay for some office visits and a somewhat larger one for emergency room visits that don't result in admission.
For someone who sees a doctor twice a year, that's trivial and the premium savings clearly win. For someone managing a chronic condition with frequent specialist visits, the copays accumulate and can erase the difference.
The honest test is your own calendar: roughly how many visits did you have last year, and is that likely to change?
Why Plan F isn't on this list
You'll see Plan F mentioned frequently, and it's worth explaining why it isn't part of this comparison.
Plan F is closed to people who became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. If you were eligible before then you may still be able to buy it, and if you already have it you can keep it. For anyone newly eligible, Plan G is generally the closest equivalent.
How to actually decide
Choose the letter based on how you use care and how much predictability is worth to you. Then — and this is the part people skip — shop that letter on price.
Because benefits are identical by law, two insurers selling the same letter differ only in premium, rate-increase history, and service. The spread between the cheapest and most expensive can be substantial for identical coverage.
An independent agent can compare what's available in your state and flag which insurers have a history of steep annual increases, which the premium alone won't tell you.
Common questions
Is Plan N cheaper than Plan G?
Plan N generally has a lower monthly premium. Whether it costs less overall depends on how often you use care, since Plan N includes small copays for some visits and doesn't cover Part B excess charges.
What are Part B excess charges?
An additional amount some providers may bill above Medicare's approved rate when they don't accept it as full payment. Plan G covers them; Plan N does not. Some states prohibit them entirely.
Why can't I buy Plan F anymore?
Plan F is closed to people who became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. Those eligible before that date may still be able to purchase it, and existing policyholders can keep theirs.
Does Plan G or Plan N include drug coverage?
Neither. Medigap policies sold today don't include prescription drug coverage. You'd add a separate Part D plan.