What are the pros and cons of Medicare Supplement Plan G VS Medicare Supplement Plan N?

Question

David Wynne · Accepted Answer

When comparing Medicare Supplement Plan G and Plan N, you’ll find they are very similar. Both plans help cover gaps in Medicare, including hospital costs, skilled nursing, hospice care, and other important benefits. The key difference is in how they handle doctor visits and out-of-pocket costs.

Plan G provides the most comprehensive coverage. After you pay your Medicare Part B deductible, Plan G covers everything else with no extra bills—just your monthly premium.
Plan N offers a lower monthly premium, which can save you money, but it comes with small copays: up to $20 for a doctor visit and up to $50 for an ER visit (if you’re not admitted). Plan N also does not cover Medicare Part B excess charges, which are additional fees a provider may charge above Medicare’s approved rate.

The good news is that for most retirees, excess charges aren’t something to worry about. The majority of doctors accept Medicare “assignment,” which means they agree to Medicare’s approved rates and cannot bill you extra. Since excess charges only apply when you see a provider who doesn’t accept assignment—and that’s becoming increasingly rare—most people will never encounter them.

So which plan is right for you? If you prefer predictable costs and the peace of mind of knowing all your doctor visits are fully covered, Medicare Supplement Plan G is the safer choice. If you’re generally healthy, don’t go to the doctor often, and want to save money on premiums, Medicare Supplement Plan N can be a smart option.

At Live Well Benefit Advisors Licensed in SC& NC, we help you compare Medicare Supplement plans so you can choose the coverage that fits both your health needs and your budget.

Norman Smith · Answer

Let’s face it, the later you delay, the better chance that the top tier will offer lesser value to you as the consumer. Previous to the “G” being the best plan, it was the “F”, which paid the Part B deductible. Before that were the “J” plans that covered some Preventative measures and Home Care recovery.

So the “G” Plan is now the highest offering. The “N” would take the next. The differences are in the EXCESS CHARGES” that can come back to the client to pay, where the “G” plan covers it.  So if Medicare says they only pay $120,000, but the Doctor is charging $200,000, you would be responsible for the part of the excess charge the doctor looks to collect.

Lesson being… you take the best healthcare available while it is offered and they can’t take away from you at anytime afterwards. You want to be “Grandfathered” into your plan.

Terri Reagin · Answer

Plan G is easy and really the gold standard these days. There is the part B deductible ($240 this year) and then 100% coverage. Plan N is not bad per say but I do have one caution: it does not cover Part B excess (the difference between what Medicare charges and the doctors regular charges) which means they are allowed to balance bill you for up to 15%. Other than that, it’s a good plan with low copays and the part B deductible.

Answered by Terri Reagin on September 14, 2025

Broker Licensed in OK, AR, CO & 6 other states

Answered by Terri Reagin Medicare Insurance Agent

Christopher Boyd · Answer

Medicare sets the Part B Deductible each year. This must be paid out for your covered outpatient medical costs before Medicare sends remaining charges to your supplement. 

On Plan N, the premium is lower because the patient eventually gets a bill for 20% of the Medicare Approved amount for Office Visits, with a cap of $20 per visit and an Emergency Room visit capped at $50. These bills can take several weeks or months before they are fully processed and you are sent the final bill. 

Plan G does not contain the $20 office visit copay or ER $50 copay. You simply pay out the Part B Deductible for the year, then the supplement covers the remainder of your covered medical expenses. Plan G has a higher premium than Plan N. 

For some folks on Plan N, a few visits a year at $20 are less than the premium difference for Plan G.

Tony Capraro III · Answer

One of the pros and cons of Medicare supplement Plan G versus Medicare supplement Plan N. Great question. Most of my folks that I deal with here at my State Farm Agency on Kelly Street in Manchester, New Hampshire, we show them the differences between Plan G and Plan N. Really, the only difference is that with Plan N, you have additional co-pays: $20 for doctor visits and $50 for emergency room visits. We weigh out the difference in cost between Plan G and Plan N. Whatever fits the clients' goals and objectives best and is most affordable, that's what we go with. But both plans will offer you the protection you need. We would love to help you with that. I'm helping seniors every day. I've been doing it for the last 10 years specifically with Medicare. We would be glad to help you. Take the time to sit down with a professional who deals with this every day. You do not want to make mistakes in choosing Medicare after age 65. Believe me, it becomes very costly. So spend 15 minutes, 30 minutes with someone like myself. We'll explain all the differences, and then you can make a decision. Great decisions come from great information. Love to help you.

Ronnie Robinson Jr · Answer

The pros of Plan N are lower premiums; cons are the annual deductible and copays for services. The Plan G pros are that you will only owe the annual deductible, and in most cases, remaining charges will be covered by the Plan G; the cons of the Plan G are the high premiums in some states.

Answered by Ronnie Robinson Jr on August 12, 2025

Broker Licensed in FL, AL, GA & 9 other states

Answered by Ronnie Robinson Jr Medicare Insurance Agent

Nikki Rowland · Answer

Pros and cons of Plan G vs Plan N: 

Pros: 
Plan G, after the Part B deductible, almost everything is covered. 
No copays for doctor or ER visits and covers excess charges (rare, but nice protection)

Cons:
Higher monthly premium
You still pay the Part B deductible once per year

Plan N
Pros: 
Lower monthly premium.  Same major coverage as Plan G.

Cons:
Up to $20 copays for office visits, up to $50 for ER.
Does NOT cover excess charges

You are responsible for the annual Part B deductible with both plan options

Jason Denniston · Answer

Plan G and Plan N are actually very similar in how they cover you, but there are a few key differences.

With Plan G, it’s pretty simple, you pay the annual Medicare Part B deductible, and after that, the plan covers essentially all of your Medicare approved out-of-pocket costs for the rest of the year. No copays, no surprise bills.

With Plan N, your monthly premium is usually lower, but you take on a little more cost-sharing. You may have small copays at the doctor and ER, and the biggest thing to be aware of is Part B excess charges.

Excess charges happen when a provider doesn’t accept Medicare’s standard pricing and is allowed to bill up to 15% more than what Medicare approves. Plan G covers those charges, Plan N does not.

Stella Hattox · Answer

Plan G has less out of pocket for the member - at a higher premium.
Plan N - has some small out of pockets that reasonable at a lower premium.  ( doctor visits have co-pays etc. )

Mitch Anderson · Answer

A Plan G is  good fit for someone who is willing to pay more in premium to the insurance company for the benefit on not having any exposure to cost for Medicare eligible expenses at the hospital or clinic (after the Part B deductible ($283 in 2026) has been paid). 
A Plan N is a good fit for someone who is looking to pay a little less in premium (approximately 20% less than Plan G) and is willing to take on some of the risk of cost for Medicare eligible expenses at the hospital or clinic ($20 copay for Dr visit and $50 copay for ER visit after the Part B deductible has been paid).
Both plan designs have their benefits.

Mary Green · Answer

Medicare supplement plan G covers approximately 100% of costs after meeting the annual Part B deductible of $286 at a higher premium than supplement N. Supplement N has a lower monthly premium but charges out of pocket costs that include a copay at the doctor and the ER visits as well as not covering excess fees or the annual Part B deductible. Be sure you compare the potential costs against the potential savings before you decide.

Answered by Mary Green on January 19, 2026

Broker Licensed in AL, CO, FL, GA, TN & VA

Answered by Mary Green Medicare Insurance Agent

Jose Ramos · Answer

Plan G has a higher monthly cost, but almost no bills when you use care. You only pay the annual deductible with no excess charges. Plan N has a lower monthly cost, but small copays and possible excess charges.

Answered by Jose Ramos on January 26, 2026

Agent Licensed in WA, AZ, CA, ID, OR & TX

Answered by Jose Ramos Medicare Insurance Agent

Leslie Kaz · Answer

Quick Summary:

Plan G = Higher premium, fewer surprises.

Plan N = Lower premium, but you pay small copays and possible excess charges.

Chad Watkins · Answer

What are the pros and cons of Medicare Supplement Plan G compared to a Medicare Supplement Plan N? To answer this question, we need to look at what each plan covers.

With Medicare Supplement Plan G, it covers everything but the Part B deductible for 2026. That amount is $288 annually. Plan N is very similar; it does not cover the Part B deductible. There's also a $20 copay per doctor visit and a $50 copay if you go to the emergency room. Plan N also does not cover the Part B excess charge. Medicare will come up with what they consider a reasonable amount to charge for any given service, but doctors are allowed to charge an additional 15% above that. If your doctor does that, Plan G would cover it, but Plan N would not.

So what it really boils down to is how often you go to the doctor. You can calculate the break-even point of doctor visits by simply taking the premium for Plan G, subtracting the premium for Plan N, multiplying it by 12 months, and then dividing by the $20 copay per doctor visit.

For example, if you got a Plan G that was, say, $150 a month, and your Plan N is $115 a month, the difference of $35 times 12 months divided by the $20 copay equals 21 doctor visits. In other words, you would have to go to the doctor 21 times before you saved your money over Plan G.

The place where people will actually get this to work against them a little bit is if you ever need physical therapy because then you're paying $20 every time you go. Typically, for physical therapy, you need to go a few times a week, maybe for several weeks or months. That can add up to actually cost you more than you would have just paid for the premium for Plan G.

So that's really the difference between the two. If you don't go to the doctor a lot, Plan N might be the way to go. Some people just like to stick with Plan G just because this way they don't have to worry about being nickel-and-dimed by all those little $20 copays, especially for physical therapy.

If you have any other questions, you can feel welcome to call me.

Thomas Magnus, RHU · Answer

Plan G typically has higher premiums than Plan N, so you want to decide whether you want higher monthly premiums or if you prefer to reduce monthly premiums and pay copayments for certain doctor and emergency room visits. 

When comparing Medigap Plan G vs Plan N, they both offer substantial coverage benefits, but there are more out-of-pocket costs when enrolled in Plan N such as $20 copay for office visits, $50 ER copay and 15% when seeing providers that do not accept Medicare Assignment/Approved Amount

With Plan G, excess charges are fully covered, but with Plan N, you could be responsible for an additional 15% if you see a provider who charges more than the Medicare-approved amount.

Juliette Chihade · Answer

This the comparision between Plan G vs Plan N
Choose Plan G if you want:

The most predictable coverage

No copays for visits or ER care

Protection from excess charges

Coverage similar to Plan G, but you’re okay with small visit copays

To trade a bit of cost certainty for upfront savings

Tracy Davis · Answer

When someone is speaking of Medicare Supplement N the biggest thing I hear is the "excess charges" that may be billed. Typically, this is a very small percentage of providers that will not accept the Medicare assignment. It is also important to review how many times you go to the doctor as the "N" plan can charge up to $20 per visit. So, if you go the doctor quit a bit it might be just as cheap to go with a "G" plan with the additional premium. The "N" plan typically does not have as great of a rate increase as the "G" plan does year after year. My members enjoy the "G" plan because they can "set it and forget it" after they satisfy their $257/year deductible they sit back and let the plan pay on their behalf. Either one is very good option; it is just different for each person.

Answered by Tracy Davis on August 11, 2025

Broker Licensed in IN, AL, CO & 6 other states

Answered by Tracy Davis Medicare Insurance Agent

Greg Giordano · Answer

Plan G offers slightly more comprehensive coverage than Plan N, and you will likely pay a slightly higher premium. Plan G covers Medicare excess charges, which you may incur if a healthcare provider charges more than Medicare's approved amount for a particular service.
Plan N does not cover excess charges. 
Plan N have has a $20 copay charge when seeing a doctor. There is no copay when seeing a doctor if you have Plan G. Both Plan G and Plan N charge the annual part B deductible.

Nick Morris · Answer

Both Medicare Supplement Plan G & Plan N are good choices for those looking to add a supplement to their Medicare plan. Plan G is the most comprehensive option, leaving the beneficiary only paying the Medicare Part B deductible annually for medical costs. Because this is the most comprehensive option for those aging into Medicare currently, these plans will be a higher monthly cost when comparing to Plan N. For those wanting to save a little on monthly premium and still have coverage that pays for most things, Plan N is a great option. Like Plan G, those who have Plan N are responsible for paying the Medicare Part B deductible annually. Once that deductible has been met, those who have Plan N will still have up to $20 copays when going to the doctor and $50 copays for an emergency room visit. These copays are the only other costs Plan N exposes someone too unless they see a doctor who does not accept Medicare assigned rates. If they see a doctor who does not accept assignment, Plan N would leave the beneficiary paying Medicare excess charges. When a doctor does not accept assignment, they can legally bill up to 15% more, which you would owe with Plan N.

Answered by Nick Morris on September 22, 2025

Agent Licensed in MO, AR, AZ & 6 other states

Answered by Nick Morris Medicare Insurance Agent

Stephanie Snakovsky · Answer

The pros of Plan G is you only have a deductible due. The con is the premiums may be a little higher. The pros of Plan N is the premium may be slightly lower than Plan G. The con is the out-of-pocket includes the deductible along with up to a $20 office visit copay and a $50 ER copay. There could also be a 15% balance billing if a doctor that does not "accept" Medicare is seen depending on your respective state. The doctors that accept Medicare can be found on Medicare.gov for the respective zip code.

Answered by Stephanie Snakovsky on August 11, 2025

Agent Licensed in OH, FL, IN & MI, NJ, NV & TN

Answered by Stephanie Snakovsky Medicare Insurance Agent

Mary Brown · Answer

Plan G has higher premiums but almost full coverage (you only pay the Part B deductible). Plan N has lower premiums but includes copays and possible extra charges, so you may pay more when you use care.

Answered by Mary Brown on April 20, 2026

Broker Licensed in NJ, DE, FL & NC, OH, PA & TX

Answered by Mary Brown Medicare Insurance Agent

Patricia Graham · Answer

Premium savings to have a G vs a N sometimes far outweigh the cost of a G, you only have a have an annual deductible. There is no co-insurance on covered procedures and services. Plan N has an annual deductible and co-insurance as well as a 15% Part B excess charge. Rarely have I seen this with all the changes to Medicare, this could become a concern for some.

Answered by Patricia Graham on August 10, 2025

Agent Licensed in WA

Answered by Patricia Graham Medicare Insurance Agent

Steven Maicus II · Answer

Plan G has higher monthly premiums but offers more comprehensive coverage with minimal out-of-pocket costs at the point of service, while Plan N has lower monthly premiums in exchange for some cost-sharing (copays and potential excess charges)

Answered by Steven Maicus II on November 5, 2025

Broker Licensed in NY

Answered by Steven Maicus II Medicare Insurance Agent

Leann Burkholder · Answer

Supplemental plan G and plan N have the same comprehensive coverage. Both have the part B deductible that is going to $257 next year. Plan N has a lower premium than part G but there may be co-pays affiliated with doctors and ER visits.

Answered by Leann Burkholder on November 3, 2025

Agent Licensed in FL

Answered by Leann Burkholder Medicare Insurance Agent

Maurice Ellis · Answer

Which Plan Might Be Right for You?

Consider Plan G if:
	•	You want near-complete coverage with no copays.
	•	You frequently visit healthcare providers or specialists.
	•	You want protection against any surprise excess charges.
	•	You prefer convenience and predictability over premium savings.

Consider Plan N if:
	•	You’re in good health and expect fewer visits to doctors or emergency care.
	•	You’re comfortable with occasional copays.
	•	You want to lower monthly costs and benefit from more stable premiums long-term.
	•	You typically use providers who accept Medicare assignment or you’re in a state that bars excess charges.

Parris Brady · Answer

Both plans are very good and similar, they both will pay for deductibles, Coinsurance, and copays for both Part A and Part B. However, Plan G will pay for Part B Excess Charges, and Plan N will not. Keep in mind an individual with a Medicare Supplement will need to purchase a separate Stand Alone Drug Plan (Part D).

Answered by Parris Brady on August 12, 2025

Broker Licensed in FL, AZ, CA & 18 other states

Answered by Parris Brady Medicare Insurance Agent

Artreanua Carr · Answer

Pro's and con's would be based on your health status and your health benefit options. So it would be hard to state pro's and con's, in this case a needs analysis would be the first order to determine what would be your options. Then based on your neeeds analysis outcome you can judge rather those plans would have pro's and con's.

Answered by Artreanua Carr on April 27, 2026

Agent Licensed in NC, AR, FL & 8 other states

Answered by Artreanua Carr Medicare Insurance Agent

Angelina Ortega · Answer

Plan G is great if you want full coverage and don’t want to worry about copays or surprise bills. G covers almost everything except the Part B deductible. Plan N has lower monthly premiums, but you’ll pay small copays for doctor and ER visits, and it doesn’t cover excess charges. I usually recommend Plan G for folks who want peace of mind, and Plan N for those who are healthy and want to save on premiums.

Answered by Angelina Ortega on November 14, 2025

Broker Licensed in CA & AZ

Answered by Angelina Ortega Medicare Insurance Agent

What are the pros and cons of Medicare Supplement Plan G VS Medicare Supplement Plan N?

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