Medigap Plan G vs. Plan N: which should you choose in 2026?

If you're enrolling in a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan, you'll almost certainly end up choosing between Plan G and Plan N. Both work with Original Medicare (Parts A and B), both let you see any doctor in the country who accepts Medicare, and both are standardized — a Plan G from one insurer covers exactly the same things as a Plan G from another. The differences come down to three things: the Part B deductible, Plan N's small copays, and Part B excess charges. Everything else is about price.

Below is the side-by-side, the 2026 dollar figures, and the break-even test we walk clients through. If you're still deciding between Medigap and Medicare Advantage in the first place, start with our Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap guide.

Plan G vs. Plan N at a glance

Neither plan covers the Part B deductible — that's the rule for anyone who became Medicare-eligible on or after January 1, 2020 (Plan F and Plan C, which did, are closed to new enrollees). So after the deductible, Plan G pays essentially everything Medicare approves. Plan N pays everything too, except for the office and ER copays and any excess charges.

What Plan G covers that Plan N doesn't

• Office-visit copays. Plan N can charge up to $20 for some doctor visits. Not every visit — preventive services and many follow-ups aren't subject to it — but budget for it if you see specialists often.
• Emergency-room copay. Up to $50 per ER visit on Plan N, refunded if you're admitted as an inpatient.
• Part B excess charges. A doctor who doesn't "accept assignment" can bill up to 15% above the Medicare-approved amount. Plan G pays it; Plan N leaves it to you. In practice, excess charges are uncommon (most physicians accept assignment) and are banned outright in eight states: Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont.

The 60-second break-even test

Because Plan G's *only* advantage is fewer out-of-pocket surprises, the decision is mostly arithmetic:

• Step 1 — Premium gap. Get quotes for both plans in your ZIP code and subtract: Plan G premium − Plan N premium = monthly savings from N. Multiply by 12.
• Step 2 — Expected copays. Estimate your doctor visits per year × $20, plus ER visits × $50.
• Step 3 — Compare. If annual premium savings (Step 1) comfortably exceed expected copays (Step 2), Plan N is the value play. If you'd blow through the savings in copays — or you simply want zero bills after the Part B deductible — choose Plan G.

Worked example: if Plan G is $175/month and Plan N is $130/month in your area, Plan N saves $540 a year. You'd need roughly 27 copay-eligible office visits before Plan G came out ahead. For most people who see the doctor a handful of times a year, Plan N wins on total cost — which is why it has become so popular.

The counter-argument for Plan G is predictability and rate stability: Plan G pools have historically seen steadier premium increases than some older plans, and there's real value in never seeing a bill. Neither choice is wrong.

High-deductible Plan G: the budget option

Insurers also sell a high-deductible Plan G (HD-G). It's the same Plan G benefits, but you pay the first $2,900 (2026) of Medicare-covered costs yourself before the plan pays anything — in exchange for a premium that's often a fraction of standard Plan G. It suits healthy retirees with cash reserves who mainly want catastrophic protection. If you'd rather not risk a $2,900 year, Plan N usually beats HD-G on peace of mind for a modest premium difference.

When you can switch (and why timing matters)

Your one guaranteed window is Medigap Open Enrollment: the six months starting the month you're 65 or older *and* enrolled in Part B. During that window, insurers must sell you any plan they offer at the best rate regardless of health. Outside it, most states let insurers use medical underwriting, so a later switch from N to G (or vice versa) can be denied or priced up.

Exceptions: some states — including New York, Connecticut, Maine and Massachusetts — offer year-round or annual guaranteed-issue rights, and "birthday rule" states such as California and Oregon let you move to an equal-or-lesser plan around your birthday each year without underwriting. A licensed agent can tell you which rules apply where you live.

Whichever plan you choose, you'll still need a standalone drug plan — Medigap doesn't cover prescriptions. See how to pick a Part D plan, and if you're new to Medicare, check the enrollment windows so you avoid late penalties.