Medicare Supplement Plan N, explained.
Plan N is one of the three most popular Medigap plans — it gives you nearly the same strong coverage as Plan G, but at a lower premium in exchange for small copays at the doctor and ER. For people who don’t mind a modest copay, it’s often the better value. May River Medicare compares every plan against your budget, at no cost.
There is no “Part N” — this is a private supplement plan. All figures reflect 2026 amounts.
Plan N is Plan G with a small trade-off. It covers nearly everything Plan G covers, but instead of a higher premium you accept two things: copays of up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for ER visits that don’t lead to admission, plus you’re not covered for Part B excess charges. In return, the premium is typically $20–$60/month lower than Plan G.
Three things to know about Plan N
Strong coverage, lower premium
Plan N covers the full Part A deductible, skilled nursing, and foreign travel — nearly matching Plan G — for a lower monthly cost.
Small, predictable copays
You pay up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for ER visits (waived if you’re admitted). Only after the Part B deductible.
One of the top 3 plans
Plan G, Plan N, and Plan F make up about 85% of all Medigap enrollees. Plan N is the go-to for value-minded shoppers.
Exactly what Plan A does and doesn’t cover
What Plan N covers
- Part A hospital deductible ($1,736 in 2026) — in full
- Part A hospital coinsurance — plus 365 extra days after Medicare benefits end
- Part B coinsurance at 100% — except small copays (up to $20 office / $50 ER)
- Skilled nursing facility coinsurance
- First 3 pints of blood + Part A hospice coinsurance
- Foreign travel emergency care (80% after deductible, up to plan limits)
What Plan N does not cover
- Part B deductible ($283 in 2026) — you pay this once a year
- Part B excess charges (Plan G covers these; Plan N doesn’t)
- The office/ER copays themselves (up to $20 / $50)
- Prescription drugs, dental, vision, hearing (pair with Part D separately)
The math usually favors Plan N if you don’t visit the doctor often. Even with several visits a year, the copays typically add up to far less than Plan G’s higher yearly premium. Two things to know: excess charges are rare (about 97% of providers accept Medicare’s approved amount, and 8 states ban excess charges entirely), and the ER copay is waived if you’re admitted. We’ll compare Plan N against Plan G with real rates so you can see the true cost difference.
Who Plan N tends to fit
Value-minded, occasional doctor visits
If you’re generally healthy and see the doctor only a few times a year, Plan N’s lower premium usually beats Plan G even after copays.
Providers accept Medicare assignment
If your doctors accept Medicare’s approved amount (most do), the excess-charge gap rarely matters — making Plan N a smart, lower-cost choice.
No Medigap plan includes prescription coverage — you’ll pair Plan A with a separate Part D plan. And your best enrollment window is the 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period (starting when you’re 65 and on Part B), when carriers can’t deny you or charge more for health conditions.
Plan N or Plan G? Let’s find your best value.
We’ll put Plan N side by side with Plan G using real rates from 30+ A-rated carriers, and factor in your expected doctor visits, so you can see which one actually costs less for how you use care. Free, no pressure, no carrier bias.
May River Medicare Insurance is an independent agency and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government, the federal Medicare program, or CMS. Medigap benefits are federally standardized; premiums vary by carrier, age, location, and tobacco use. Figures reflect 2026 amounts published by CMS and independent sources. For a complete list of your options, contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.