Medigap Plan G vs Plan N: How to Choose (2026)

Choosing Medigap Plan G vs Plan N comes down to two things: Plan N's small office and ER copays and its excess-charge gap, traded for a lower premium. Everything else is identical, because the federal government standardizes both plans. So this is a smaller decision than it looks, and once you understand those two differences you can pick with confidence. Here's exactly how they play out for your situation.

In This Guide

• Key Takeaways
• Why Every Plan G and Every Plan N Is the Same
• The Two Differences That Matter
• Plan G vs Plan N, Side by Side
• Who Should Pick Plan N
• Who Should Pick Plan G
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Learn More

Why Every Plan G and Every Plan N Is the Same

Let's clear up the thing that trips up most shoppers first. When you compare Plan G quotes from five different insurers, you're not comparing five different plans. You're comparing five prices for the exact same plan.

That's because Medicare Supplement policies are standardized under federal law, specifically section 1882 of the Social Security Act. The benefits inside each lettered plan are set by the government, not by the insurance company. So a Plan G from a big national carrier covers precisely what a Plan G from a small regional one covers, and the same goes for Plan N.1

What does change between insurers is the premium and the service. What doesn't change is the coverage. So once you've picked a letter, shopping is mostly about finding the lowest price for a healthy, stable company. And picking the letter is what this guide is about.

Medigap Plan G vs Plan N: The Two Differences That Matter

Plan G and Plan N are both strong plans. After you meet one annual deductible, both cover the big stuff Original Medicare leaves on your plate, like the 20% Part B coinsurance and hospital costs.2 They differ in just two places.

First, the part that's the same for both, so it's not a tiebreaker: neither Plan G nor Plan N pays your annual Part B deductible, which is $283 in 2026. You pay that yourself once a year before either plan starts covering your Part B costs. After that, here's where they split.1,2

Difference #1: copays. With Plan G, after the deductible, you don't pay anything at the doctor. Plan N adds a copay of up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for emergency room visits that don't end in a hospital admission.1 These are small, but if you see specialists often, they add up over a year.

Difference #2: excess charges. An excess charge is the extra a doctor can bill when they don't accept Medicare's standard payment (what's called not accepting assignment). Plan G covers those charges in full. Plan N leaves them to you.1 How much this matters depends on which doctors you see, and specifically on whether each one accepts assignment, is non-participating, or has opted out of Medicare altogether.3 It's worth reading up on how Part B excess charges work before you decide.

That's the whole difference. Everything else about the two plans is the same.

Medigap Plan G vs Plan N, Side by Side

Here's the comparison in one place. Notice how much is identical, and how the differences all sit in the same two rows.

The 20% figure is the share of Part B costs Original Medicare leaves you after the deductible, and both plans pick that up (Plan N just carves out the copays).2,1

Who Should Pick Plan N

Plan N is the money-saver, and for a lot of people it's the smarter buy. It fits you if:

• You don't go to the doctor constantly, so the copays won't add up to much.
• Your doctors accept Medicare assignment, so excess charges never come up. A provider who accepts assignment takes the Medicare-approved amount as payment in full and can't generate an excess charge, so it's worth asking each doctor you see.3
• You'd rather keep your monthly premium down and handle the occasional small copay yourself.1

The math works when the premium you save each month is more than the copays and any excess charges you'd actually run into. For a healthy person who sees the doctor a handful of times a year and lives where their providers take assignment, that's often an easy win.

Who Should Pick Plan G

Plan G is the predictable one. Pick it if:

• You see doctors or specialists often, so those $20 copays would stack up.1
• You want one and done: pay the Part B deductible in January, then face no copays or coinsurance on your covered Medicare care the rest of the year.1
• You worry about excess charges, or you know a doctor you see doesn't accept assignment.

Plan G costs more each month, but you're buying certainty. After that single deductible, your Part A and Part B cost sharing is handled, excess charges included.1 For people who value knowing their number, that peace of mind is worth the higher premium.

So which is it? If you're healthy, cost-conscious, and your doctors take assignment, Plan N usually wins on total cost. If you use a lot of care or you just want the fuller, more predictable coverage of the two, Plan G is the safer pick. Run both premium quotes for your zip code and weigh the difference against how much care you actually use.

Check one thing on every Plan G quote before you compare it. Plans F and G are also sold in high-deductible versions in some states, and with high-deductible Plan G you pay Medicare-covered costs, meaning coinsurance, copayments and deductibles, up to $2,950 in 2026 before the policy pays anything.1 So a Plan G quote that comes in at or below Plan N is probably the high-deductible version rather than the plan this guide describes. Ask which one you're being shown, and read our guide to high-deductible Plan G if it turns out to be that.

Learn More

Find personalized help comparing Medigap Plan G and Plan N for your own situation at brevy.com.

The information on Brevy.com is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal, financial, or medical advice. Rules vary by state and program and change frequently. Always verify with the relevant agency or a qualified professional. Brevy is not a law firm, financial advisor, or healthcare provider.