Medicare Supplement Plan N: What It Covers, Copays and Questions to Ask

Medicare Plan N, also called Medicare Supplement Plan N or Medigap Plan N, is a standardized Medigap policy that pays most of your share of Original Medicare costs, with copays of up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for emergency room visits that don't lead to an inpatient admission. You pay the Part B deductible and any Part B excess charges. Plan N has the same benefits with every company that sells it in Utah, and it can't be used with a Medicare Advantage plan.

Source: Medicare.gov: Compare Medigap plan benefits

Key takeaways

What Plan N pays: Part A coinsurance and hospital costs, the Part A deductible, Part B coinsurance, blood, hospice and skilled nursing coinsurance, and 80% of foreign travel emergencies.
Plan N copays: up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for ER visits when you aren't admitted.
What you pay: the Part B deductible and any Part B excess charges, plus the copays.
Standardized: Plan N has the same benefits with every company that sells it in Utah.
Works only with Original Medicare: Medigap can't be used with a Medicare Advantage plan, and Plan N doesn't include drug coverage.

Wondering how Plan N would work with your doctors? Book a phone or video call with our Utah team.

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This guide explains what Medicare Plan N covers, how its copays and excess charges work, how it compares with Plan G, and the questions to ask before you choose it. There's an interactive checklist to work through those questions. We don't show prices or recommend a plan.

New to Medigap? Read What is Medigap? first for the basics.

What is Medicare Plan N?

Plan N is one of the ten standardized Medigap plan letters: A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M and N. Medigap, also called Medicare Supplement Insurance, is sold by private companies and helps pay your share of costs in Original Medicare. Because the benefits are standardized, a Plan N policy covers the same things no matter which company sells it in Utah. What can differ between companies is the premium and how they serve their customers (Medicare.gov).

Like every Medigap plan, Plan N works with Original Medicare, so you can see any doctor or hospital in the U.S. that takes Medicare. Most Medigap policies don't use a network; one type, called Medicare SELECT, does.

What does Medicare Supplement Plan N cover?

Here's what Plan N pays, from Medicare's benefits chart (Medicare.gov):

Part A coinsurance and hospital costs, up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits are used: 100%
Part B coinsurance or copayment: 100%, except copays of up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for ER visits that don't lead to an inpatient admission
First 3 pints of blood: 100%
Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment: 100%
Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance: 100%
Part A deductible: 100%
Foreign travel emergency care: 80%, up to plan limits

What Medigap Plan N covers: Part A coinsurance and hospital costs, the Part A deductible, Part B coinsurance except copays, blood, hospice and skilled nursing coinsurance, and 80% of foreign travel emergencies. With Plan N you pay the Part B deductible, up to $20 for some office visits, up to $50 for ER visits without admission, Part B excess charges, and drugs through a separate Part D plan.

What you pay with Plan N

The Part B deductible: Plan N doesn't pay it. It's $283 in 2026 (CMS).
Office and ER copays: up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for ER visits when you aren't admitted.
Part B excess charges: if a doctor doesn't accept Medicare assignment.
Premiums: your Part B premium, plus the monthly premium for your Plan N policy, which each company sets.
Drugs: Plan N doesn't cover prescriptions, so you'd join a separate Medicare drug plan (Part D). See the Part D out-of-pocket cap.

Plan N copays and excess charges, explained

How Medigap Plan N copays work: after the Part B deductible, Plan N pays the Part B coinsurance, except a copay of up to $20 for some office visits, a copay of up to $50 for ER visits when you aren't admitted, and Part B excess charges, which for doctors' services can be up to 15% above the Medicare-approved amount when a doctor doesn't accept assignment.

Office visit copays: up to $20

After you meet the Part B deductible, Plan N pays your Part B coinsurance, but you may pay a copay of up to $20 for some office visits (Medicare.gov).

Emergency room copays: up to $50

You may pay a copay of up to $50 for an emergency room visit that doesn't lead to an inpatient admission. If you're admitted as an inpatient, this copay doesn't apply.

Part B excess charges

A doctor who accepts assignment takes the Medicare-approved amount as full payment. A doctor who doesn't can charge more, and for doctors' services that excess charge can't be more than 15% above the Medicare-approved amount (Medicare.gov). Plan N doesn't pay excess charges. Medicare.gov notes that most doctors accept assignment, but always check.

A Utah travel note

Plan N works with any doctor or hospital in the U.S. that takes Medicare, which matters if you spend winters in St. George, Arizona or elsewhere. Before you rely on doctors away from home, ask whether they accept Medicare assignment, since Plan N doesn't pay excess charges.

Plan N vs Plan G

Plan N and Plan G share most of their benefits. The three differences: Plan G pays Part B excess charges and Plan N doesn't, and Plan N can have the office and ER copays. Neither pays the Part B deductible. See the full chart and a cost-by-cost picker in Plan G vs Plan N.

Is Plan N a fit? Questions to ask

These questions help you weigh Plan N's trade-offs. They don't pick a plan for you. Tick each one as you think it through.

Is Medigap Plan N a fit, questions to ask: do my doctors accept Medicare assignment, how many office visits do I have each year, how have I used the emergency room, am I comfortable paying the Part B deductible and copays at some visits, do I spend time out of state, and how do premiums for Plan N and other letters compare where I live.

Is Plan N a fit? 7 questions to ask

Tick each question once you've thought it through. Your progress shows below.

0 of 7 questions done

Questions 1. Do my doctors accept Medicare assignment?
Plan N doesn't pay Part B excess charges, which can come up with doctors who don't accept assignment. 2. About how many office visits do I have each year?
Plan N may have a copay of up to $20 for some office visits. 3. How have I used the emergency room in recent years?
Plan N may have a copay of up to $50 for ER visits when you aren't admitted. 4. Am I comfortable paying the Part B deductible each year?
Plan N doesn't pay it. Neither does Plan G. 5. How do I feel about copays at some visits?
Some people don't mind small copays; others prefer fewer bills at the time of care. 6. Do I spend time out of state, and do doctors there accept assignment?
Plan N works with any doctor or hospital in the U.S. that takes Medicare, but excess charges still apply where doctors don't accept assignment. 7. How do premiums for Plan N and other letters compare where I live?
Benefits are standardized, but each company sets its own premium.

Based on Medicare.gov, "Compare Medigap plan benefits" and "Does your provider accept Medicare as full payment?" This checklist is for education only. It doesn't recommend a plan, it doesn't show prices, and nothing you tick is saved or sent.

When can you buy Plan N?

Like any Medigap policy, the key timing rule is your Medigap Open Enrollment Period. It's a one-time 6-month window that starts the first month you're 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. Outside it, insurers may ask health questions, charge more or turn you down. Within it, a company can't turn you down or charge more because of your health, though it may make you wait up to 6 months to cover a pre-existing condition (Medicare.gov).

Turning 65 soon? See turning 65 in Utah and Medicare enrollment dates to line up your Part B start with your Medigap window. If you're still working, read still working at 65, because your Medigap window starts when your Part B starts.

Plan N, Medicare Advantage and other coverage

Plan N adds to Original Medicare. Medigap can't be used with a Medicare Advantage plan, which is a different way to get your Medicare coverage. Learn how it works in What is Medicare Part C?, compare the two styles in Medicare Advantage vs. Medicare Supplement, or use our Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage comparison tool.

Fall Open Enrollment (October 15 to December 7) and the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 to March 31) are for Medicare Advantage and drug plans. Medigap policies like Plan N follow their own rules. For the Utah view across all letters, see Medicare Supplement plans in Utah.

How our team helps

We're Boo Insurance Services, a licensed independent Medicare agency in Draper, licensed since 2014. We've helped 1,000+ Utahns with Medicare and have 170+ 5-Star Google Reviews. We meet by phone or video anywhere in Utah, walk through how Plan N works with your doctors, and answer your questions in plain language. You decide, with no obligation.

Bring your list of doctors and your questions about Plan N, and we'll talk it through by phone or video.

Call 801-255-5341 Book a phone or video call

Mon–Fri 9am–5pm MT · TTY 711

Frequently asked questions

What does Medicare Plan N cover?

Plan N pays Part A coinsurance and hospital costs, the Part A deductible, Part B coinsurance (except some copays), the first 3 pints of blood, hospice and skilled nursing coinsurance, and 80% of foreign travel emergency care up to plan limits.

What are the Plan N copays?

Plan N may have a copay of up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for emergency room visits that don't lead to an inpatient admission.

Does Plan N cover the Part B deductible?

No. With Plan N, you pay the yearly Part B deductible yourself. Plan N does pay the Part A deductible.

Does Plan N cover Part B excess charges?

No. If a doctor doesn't accept Medicare assignment, they can charge more than the Medicare-approved amount. For doctors' services, that can be up to 15% more, and Plan N doesn't pay that excess charge.

Is Medicare Supplement Plan N the same with every company?

Yes, the benefits are. Medigap plans are standardized, so Plan N has the same benefits with every company that sells it in Utah. Premiums and customer service can differ.

Does Plan N include prescription drug coverage?

No. Medigap policies sold today don't include drug coverage. You join a separate Medicare drug plan (Part D).

Can I have Plan N with a Medicare Advantage plan?

No. Medigap can't be used with a Medicare Advantage plan. Plan N works only with Original Medicare.

When can I buy Medigap Plan N?

Your Medigap Open Enrollment Period is a one-time 6-month window that starts the first month you're 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. During it, a company can't turn you down or charge more because of your health, though it may make you wait up to 6 months to cover a pre-existing condition. Outside it, insurers may ask health questions, charge more or turn you down.

Serving Utah residents. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 9 organizations which offer 58 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.

Related guides

Sources

Medicare.gov, Compare Medigap plan benefits
Medicare.gov, Does your provider accept Medicare as full payment?
Medicare.gov, When can I buy a Medigap policy?
Medicare.gov, Choosing a Medigap Policy (CMS Product 02110)
CMS, 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles

Not connected with or endorsed by the United States government or the federal Medicare program. Fores Boo, licensed independent Medicare agent, NPN 17255694, Boo Insurance Services, 61 W 13490 S Ste 201, Draper, UT 84020.

Last updated: October 21, 2026.