Medigap Plan G vs Plan N: What's Different and What's the Same

Source: Medicare.gov: Compare Medigap plan benefits

This page compares two Medigap letters, Plan G and Plan N. Because Medicare standardizes the benefits, the comparison is simpler than it looks. This page lays out the benefits side by side, explains the three differences, and gives you a picker to check any cost you're curious about. We don't show prices or recommend a plan; we show how each one is built.

New to Medigap? Start with What is Medigap? and come back here.

Plan G vs Plan N: side-by-side benefits chart

Here's what each plan pays, straight from Medicare's standardized benefits chart (Medicare.gov).

Source: Medicare.gov: Compare Medigap plan benefits

The 3 differences that matter

1. Part B excess charges

When a doctor accepts assignment, they agree to take the Medicare-approved amount as full payment. A doctor who doesn't accept assignment can charge more than the Medicare-approved amount. That extra amount is called an excess charge. For doctors' services, it can't be more than 15% above the Medicare-approved amount (Medicare.gov). Plan G pays Part B excess charges. Plan N doesn't, so you'd pay them.

Medicare.gov notes that most doctors accept assignment, but always check. If you spend winters in St. George or out of state, ask the doctors you'd see there too.

2. Office visit copays

Plan N pays the Part B coinsurance, but you may pay a copay of up to $20 for some office visits. Plan G has no such copay.

3. Emergency room copays

With Plan N, 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, that copay doesn't apply. Plan G has no ER copay.

What's the same with Plan G and Plan N

• The Part A deductible: both pay it.
• The Part B deductible: neither pays it. You pay it once a year with either plan ($283 in 2026, per CMS).
• Hospital, hospice, skilled nursing and blood: both pay 100% of these coinsurance amounts.
• Foreign travel emergencies: both pay 80%, up to plan limits.
• Doctor choice: both work 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, Medicare SELECT, does.
• What neither covers: prescription drugs (you join a separate Part D plan), long-term care, dental, vision and hearing aids.
• Medigap can't be used with a Medicare Advantage plan, whichever letter you're looking at.

Which costs does each plan cover?

Pick the costs you want to check. The tool shows what Plan G and Plan N each pay for that cost, from Medicare.gov's chart.

How to compare Plan G and Plan N for yourself

Timing matters for any Medigap letter

Your Medigap Open Enrollment Period is a one-time 6-month window that starts the 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). See Medicare enrollment dates and turning 65 in Utah for how this fits your other windows.

What about high-deductible Plan G?

Medicare.gov notes that Plan G also comes as a high-deductible version in some states, where you pay a set deductible for Medicare-covered costs before the policy pays anything (Medicare.gov). It's a separate option from the standard Plan G shown here.

For more on Plan N alone, see Medicare Supplement Plan N. For the Utah picture across all letters, see Medicare Supplement plans in Utah.

Considering Medicare Advantage instead?

Plan G and Plan N both add to Original Medicare. Medicare Advantage is a different path. Learn how it works in What is Medicare Part C?, compare the two coverage styles in Medicare Advantage vs. Medicare Supplement, or use our Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage comparison tool. Medicare Advantage changes happen during Open Enrollment and the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, which are separate from your Medigap window.

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 G and Plan N work with your doctors, and answer your questions in plain language. You decide, with no obligation.

Frequently asked questions

What is the main difference between Plan G and Plan N?

Plan G pays Part B excess charges and Plan N doesn't. Plan N can also have copays of up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for ER visits that don't lead to an inpatient admission. The rest of the standardized benefits are the same.

Does Plan G or Plan N cover the Part B deductible?

Neither does. With either plan, you pay the Part B deductible yourself each year. Both plans pay the Part A deductible.

What are Part B excess charges?

If a doctor doesn't accept Medicare assignment, they can charge more than the Medicare-approved amount. For doctors' services, that extra amount, the excess charge, can be up to 15% above the Medicare-approved amount. Plan G pays it; Plan N doesn't.

When do the Plan N copays apply?

Plan N may have a copay of up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for emergency room visits when you aren't admitted as an inpatient. If you're admitted, the ER copay doesn't apply.

Are Plan G and Plan N the same with every company in Utah?

Yes, the benefits are. Medigap plans are standardized by letter, so Plan G and Plan N have the same benefits with every company that sells them in Utah. Premiums and customer service can differ.

Do Plan G and Plan N include drug coverage?

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

Can I use Plan G or Plan N with a Medicare Advantage plan?

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

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.

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.