Medigap Plan G vs Plan N 2027: Which Is Better for Medicare Supplement Coverage?

Medigap Plan G and Plan N are two of the most important Medicare Supplement options for people who use Original Medicare, but they are not identical.

Both plans cover many of the same gaps in Original Medicare, including the Medicare Part A deductible, skilled nursing facility coinsurance, hospice cost sharing and 80% of qualifying foreign travel emergency costs up to plan limits.

The biggest differences are on the Medicare Part B side.

Plan G covers Part B excess charges and does not use the Plan N office and emergency-room copay structure.

Plan N does not cover Part B excess charges and can require a copayment of up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for emergency-room visits that do not result in an inpatient admission.

Plan G also has a high-deductible version in some states. For 2027, CMS has set that high-deductible amount at $3,050.

There is no single answer to whether Plan G or Plan N is “better.” The more useful question is which trade-off fits the beneficiary’s expected medical use, doctors, budget and available premiums.

Plan G vs Plan N 2027 at a Glance

Benefit or cost	Plan G	Plan N
Part A coinsurance and hospital costs	Covered	Covered
Part B coinsurance	Covered	Covered, with certain copays
Blood — first 3 pints	Covered	Covered
Part A hospice cost sharing	Covered	Covered
Skilled nursing facility coinsurance	Covered	Covered
Medicare Part A deductible	Covered	Covered
Medicare Part B deductible	Not covered	Not covered
Part B excess charges	Covered	Not covered
Foreign travel emergency benefit	80% up to plan limits	80% up to plan limits
Office visit copay	No Plan N-style copay	Up to $20 for some visits
ER copay	No Plan N-style copay	Up to $50 if not admitted
High-deductible option	Available in some states	No standardized high-deductible Plan N

The benefit differences above come from Medicare’s official Medigap plan comparison chart.

What Does Medigap Plan G Cover?

Plan G is one of the most comprehensive standardized Medigap options available to people who became newly eligible for Medicare after January 1, 2020.

Under Medicare’s standardized benefit chart, Plan G covers:

Medicare Part A coinsurance and hospital costs for up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits are used;
Medicare Part B coinsurance or copayments;
the first three pints of blood;
Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayments;
skilled nursing facility care coinsurance;
the Medicare Part A deductible;
Medicare Part B excess charges; and
80% of qualifying foreign travel emergency costs, up to plan limits.

Plan G does not cover the Medicare Part B deductible.

That rule applies because federal law generally prevents Medigap plans sold to people newly eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020 from covering the Part B deductible.

What Does Medigap Plan N Cover?

Plan N covers many of the same standardized benefits as Plan G.

It covers:

Part A coinsurance and hospital costs;
Part B coinsurance, subject to Plan N’s copay structure;
the first three pints of blood;
Part A hospice cost sharing;
skilled nursing facility coinsurance;
the Medicare Part A deductible; and
80% of qualifying foreign travel emergency costs, up to plan limits.

Like Plan G, Plan N does not cover the Medicare Part B deductible.

But Plan N also does not cover Medicare Part B excess charges.

In addition, Medicare says Plan N can require a copayment of up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for emergency-room visits that do not result in an inpatient admission.

The Biggest Difference: Plan N Office and ER Copays

For many people comparing Plan G and Plan N, the most noticeable day-to-day difference is Plan N’s copay structure.

Medicare’s official benefit chart states that Plan N pays 100% of the Part B coinsurance, except that the beneficiary may owe:

Up to $20 for some office visits

and:

Up to $50 for an emergency-room visit when the visit does not result in an inpatient admission

Plan G does not have this standardized Plan N copay structure.

This means someone who sees doctors frequently may want to consider how often office-visit copays could occur over a full year, rather than comparing monthly premiums alone.

Example: How Plan N Office Copays Can Add Up

Suppose a beneficiary has 12 office visits during the year and each one results in the maximum $20 Plan N copay.

The illustrative annual total would be:

12 × $20 = $240

If another person has 24 qualifying office visits:

24 × $20 = $480

These examples do not mean every visit automatically costs $20. Medicare describes the Plan N amount as a copayment of up to $20 for some office visits.

The examples simply show why the premium difference between Plan G and Plan N should be evaluated alongside expected health-care use.

Plan G Covers Part B Excess Charges; Plan N Does Not

This is the other major standardized benefit difference.

Plan G covers Medicare Part B excess charges.

Plan N does not.

An excess charge can arise when a doctor or other health-care provider does not accept Medicare assignment and is legally permitted to charge more than the Medicare-approved amount.

Medicare says that, in many cases, a non-participating provider that does not accept assignment can charge up to 15% above the Medicare-approved amount. This is known as the Medicare limiting charge.

You can review the official explanation on Medicare.gov’s provider assignment page.

Example of a Medicare Part B Excess Charge

Consider a simplified example in which the Medicare-approved amount for a covered service is $1,000.

If the applicable limiting charge allows a provider to charge 15% above that amount:

$1,000 × 15% = $150

The potential total allowed charge in this simplified example would be:

$1,150

Plan G includes standardized coverage for Part B excess charges.

Plan N does not.

However, excess charges do not arise in every situation. A provider that accepts Medicare assignment agrees to accept the Medicare-approved amount as full payment for the covered service, subject to applicable deductibles and coinsurance.

Someone considering Plan N can therefore check whether their doctors accept Medicare assignment when evaluating this risk.

Do Plan G and Plan N Cover the Medicare Part B Deductible?

No.

Neither Plan G nor Plan N covers the annual Medicare Part B deductible for people subject to current federal Medigap rules.

This is an important similarity between the two plans.

After the applicable Part B deductible is satisfied, Plan G generally covers the standardized Part B coinsurance benefit, while Plan N covers the Part B coinsurance subject to its permitted office and emergency-room copays.

Plan G vs Plan N for Foreign Travel

Both Plan G and Plan N include a standardized foreign travel emergency benefit.

Medicare’s comparison chart lists both plans as paying 80% of qualifying foreign travel emergency costs, subject to the plan’s rules and limits.

This means foreign-travel coverage is generally not the deciding difference between Plan G and Plan N.

Travelers should still read the policy’s details carefully because the Medigap foreign travel benefit has specific eligibility rules and lifetime limits.

Does Plan G Have a High-Deductible Option in 2027?

Yes, in some states.

CMS has finalized the annual deductible for high-deductible Plan G at:

$3,050 for 2027

The amount rises from $2,950 in 2026.

CMS explains that the $3,050 amount represents annual Medicare-covered out-of-pocket expenses, excluding premiums, that a beneficiary must pay before the high-deductible policy begins paying benefits.

The official amount is available on the CMS high-deductible Medigap announcement page.

High-deductible Plan G should not be confused with standard Plan G.

The $3,050 threshold applies only to the high-deductible version.

Is There a High-Deductible Plan N?

Medicare’s standardized Medigap structure does not list a high-deductible version of Plan N.

The federally standardized high-deductible options apply to Plans F and G, along with certain older Plan J policies.

That makes high-deductible Plan G a separate comparison option for people who want to consider a lower-premium/higher-upfront-cost structure.

Which Plan Has the Lower Premium: Plan G or Plan N?

There is no single nationwide premium for either Plan G or Plan N.

Medicare says Medigap premiums can vary widely based on:

insurance company;
where the beneficiary lives;
pricing method;
available discounts;
medical underwriting when allowed; and
other factors.

Some insurers may price Plan N below Plan G, but beneficiaries should obtain actual local quotes rather than rely on a national assumption.

Medicare also emphasizes that standardized policies with the same letter provide the same basic standardized benefits regardless of the insurer selling them.

That means when shopping for Plan G, compare Plan G quotes from several companies. When shopping for Plan N, compare Plan N quotes from several companies.

See the official Medicare.gov Medigap cost guide.

How Medigap Premium Pricing Can Affect the Comparison

The starting premium is not the only Medigap price question to ask.

Insurance companies can use different rating methods when setting premiums.

Medicare describes three common approaches:

Community-rated: premiums are generally not based on age;
Issue-age-rated: premiums are based on the age when the policy is purchased; and
Attained-age-rated: premiums are based on the beneficiary’s current age and can rise as the person gets older.

Premiums can also rise for inflation and other reasons.

So when comparing Plan G and Plan N, ask not only:

“What is the premium today?”

but also:

“How is this policy priced, and how may the premium change over time?”

Plan G vs Plan N: Which Has More Predictable Costs?

From a standardized benefit perspective, Plan G generally has fewer point-of-service cost-sharing variables than Plan N because it covers Part B excess charges and does not impose Plan N’s permitted office and non-admitted ER copays.

That can make Plan G attractive to someone who values more predictable Medicare-covered medical cost sharing.

Plan N accepts more beneficiary cost sharing in exchange for a different standardized benefit design.

Whether that trade-off is worthwhile depends largely on the premium difference available to that person.

When Plan G May Be Worth Considering

Plan G may be worth comparing closely if a beneficiary:

expects frequent doctor visits;
wants to avoid Plan N’s office and ER copay structure;
wants standardized coverage for Part B excess charges;
prefers more predictable Medicare-covered cost sharing; or
finds that the local Plan G premium is close to Plan N’s premium.

This is not a recommendation that Plan G is universally better. Actual premiums and individual needs vary.

When Plan N May Be Worth Considering

Plan N may deserve closer consideration if a beneficiary:

is comfortable paying certain office and ER copays;
primarily uses providers who accept Medicare assignment;
finds a meaningful local premium difference between Plan N and Plan G; and
understands the risk of Part B excess charges.

The correct comparison is the total expected cost and coverage trade-off—not simply which plan has the lower advertised monthly premium.

Plan G vs Plan N Cost Example

Consider a hypothetical comparison.

Suppose Plan G costs $30 more per month than Plan N.

Annual premium difference:

$30 × 12 = $360

Now suppose a Plan N beneficiary has 12 office visits that each trigger a $20 copay.

Illustrative office copays:

12 × $20 = $240

In that simplified example, the remaining premium difference would be:

$360 − $240 = $120

But this still would not settle the comparison.

The person would also need to consider:

whether any ER copays occur;
whether any Part B excess charges occur;
future premium increases; and
the insurer’s pricing method.

This is why local quotes and expected health-care use matter more than a generic statement that one plan is cheaper.

Can You Switch From Plan N to Plan G Later?

Possibly, but do not assume switching will always be easy.

Federal law provides a one-time six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period that generally begins when a person is age 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare Part B.

During that protected period, Medicare says insurers cannot deny a Medigap application because of pre-existing health problems.

After the protected period ends, an insurer may be allowed to use medical underwriting unless the beneficiary has a guaranteed-issue right or additional state protection.

This means someone choosing Plan N today should not automatically assume they can move to Plan G years later without underwriting.

Review the official Medicare Medigap buying guidance before switching coverage.

Medicare’s Fall Open Enrollment Is Not a General Medigap Switching Period

This point is easy to misunderstand.

The annual Medicare Open Enrollment Period from October 15 through December 7 primarily applies to Medicare Advantage and Medicare prescription drug coverage.

It does not create a nationwide annual federal right to switch from Plan N to Plan G—or between other Medigap policies—without medical underwriting.

Medigap has separate enrollment and guaranteed-issue rules.

States may provide additional switching protections, so beneficiaries should check local rules before changing policies.

Plan G vs Plan N and Prescription Drug Coverage

Neither modern Plan G nor Plan N includes Medicare prescription drug coverage.

Medigap works with Original Medicare and helps with certain Part A and Part B cost sharing.

People who want Medicare prescription drug coverage generally enroll separately in Medicare Part D.

This means the full monthly budget for someone with Original Medicare can include:

Medicare Part B premium;
Medigap premium;
Medicare Part D premium; and
applicable out-of-pocket costs.

How Plan G or Plan N Fits Into a 2027 Retirement Budget

Medigap is only one part of retirement health-care spending.

Beneficiaries may also need to account for Medicare premiums, prescription drug coverage and other health costs.

At the same time, Social Security beneficiaries are watching their 2027 benefit changes.

Use our Social Security COLA 2027 Calculator to estimate a potential new monthly benefit.

You can also review our 2027 Social Security Benefit Changes guide, our Social Security Benefit Increase Projection for 2027, and our explanation of how Social Security COLA is calculated using CPI-W.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Plan G covers Medicare Part B excess charges and does not use Plan N’s standardized office and non-admitted emergency-room copay structure. Plan N does not cover Part B excess charges and may charge up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for an ER visit that does not result in an inpatient admission.

Does Plan N cover the Medicare Part A deductible?

Yes. Medicare’s standardized benefit chart shows Plan N covering the Medicare Part A deductible.

Does Plan G cover the Medicare Part A deductible?

Yes. Standardized Plan G also covers the Medicare Part A deductible.

Does Plan G cover the Medicare Part B deductible?

No. Plan G does not cover the Medicare Part B deductible for beneficiaries subject to current federal Medigap rules.

Does Plan N cover the Medicare Part B deductible?

No. Plan N also does not cover the Part B deductible.

What is the Plan N doctor copay?

Medicare says Plan N can require a copayment of up to $20 for some office visits.

What is the Plan N emergency-room copay?

Plan N can require a copayment of up to $50 for an emergency-room visit that does not result in an inpatient admission.

Does Plan N cover Part B excess charges?

No. Medicare’s standardized Medigap benefit chart shows that Plan N does not cover Part B excess charges.

Does Plan G cover Part B excess charges?

Yes. Plan G includes standardized coverage for Medicare Part B excess charges.

What is the high-deductible Plan G amount for 2027?

CMS has set the 2027 high-deductible Plan G amount at $3,050.

Is high-deductible Plan G the same as regular Plan G?

No. Regular Plan G does not have the special $3,050 high-deductible structure. The amount applies only to the high-deductible version available in some states.

Which is cheaper, Plan G or Plan N?

There is no single national answer. Medigap premiums vary by insurer, location, pricing method and other factors. Plan N may be priced lower in some markets, but beneficiaries should compare actual local quotes.

Can I switch from Plan N to Plan G later?

Possibly, but federal law does not guarantee unlimited Medigap switching rights. Outside protected enrollment or guaranteed-issue situations, medical underwriting may apply where allowed. State laws can provide additional rights.

Bottom Line

Medigap Plan G and Plan N cover many of the same Original Medicare cost-sharing gaps, but three differences stand out.

First, Plan N can require up to a $20 copay for some office visits.

Second, Plan N can require up to a $50 emergency-room copay when the visit does not result in an inpatient admission.

Third, Plan G covers Medicare Part B excess charges while Plan N does not.

Both plans cover the Medicare Part A deductible and neither covers the Medicare Part B deductible under the current standardized structure for newer beneficiaries.

Plan G also offers a high-deductible option in some states, with CMS setting the 2027 high-deductible amount at $3,050.

The better comparison is therefore not simply:

“Which plan has the lower premium?”

Instead compare:

the actual monthly premiums available to you;
expected doctor visits;
possible Plan N copays;
Part B excess-charge risk;
insurer pricing method; and
your ability to switch Medigap policies later.

For many beneficiaries, the right choice will depend on whether the premium savings available with Plan N are large enough to justify the additional cost-sharing and excess-charge exposure compared with Plan G.