Medigap Plan N vs. Plan F and Plan G: The Definitive 2026 Medicare Supplement Insurance Comparison Guide

Many Medicare beneficiaries choose Original Medicare because it offers broad access to doctors and hospitals nationwide. However, that flexibility can come with significant out-of-pocket costs—especially early in the year:

• Original Medicare Part B includes an annual deductible.
• Once the deductible is met, beneficiaries typically pay 20% coinsurance for most Medicare-covered Part B services.
• If you are hospitalized, Medicare Part A requires a deductible for each benefit period. (A benefit period begins when you are admitted to the hospital and ends after you have been out of the hospital or a skilled nursing facility for 60 consecutive days.)

To help cover some of these out-of-pocket costs, some people add a Medigap policy—also called Medicare Supplement Insurance—which helps pay for certain expenses that Original Medicare does not cover.

For many beneficiaries, the key decision is not only whether Plan F or Plan G is better. Since Plans F and G are very similar, the bigger comparison is often whether to choose a more comprehensive Medigap option, like Plan F or Plan G, or a lower-premium option, like Plan N, that includes more cost-sharing. 

What are Medigap Plans N, F and G?

Medigap plans are also known as Medicare Supplement Insurance, Medicare Gap Insurance or Medicare SELECT (a specific subtype of Medigap).

Medigap plans are sold by private insurance companies, but the benefits for each plan letter are standardized in most states. In practical terms, that means a Plan F, N, or G must cover the same standardized benefits regardless of the carrier, though monthly premiums, pricing methods, and customer service can vary.

Plan F and Plan G are among the most comprehensive Medigap options because they help reduce many of Original Medicare’s deductibles and coinsurance costs.Plan N is also a popular Medigap option, but it works a little differently. It generally has lower premiums than Plan G or Plan F, but the beneficiary may have more out-of-pocket costs when receiving care. 

Important note about Plan F: Plan F is generally only available to people who were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020. Under current federal rules, Medigap plans that cover the Part B deductible generally cannot be sold to people who became newly eligible for Medicare on or after that date. For most newer beneficiaries who want broad Medigap coverage, Plan G is usually the closest alternative to Plan F. 

Why Compare Plan N against Plans F and G?

Plans F and G are very much alike. The main difference is that Plan F covers the Medicare Part B deductible, while Plan G does not.

Plan N is different because it introduces more trade-offs. It still covers many important gaps in Original Medicare, but it does not cover the Part B deductible, does not cover Part B excess charges, and may require copayments for some office visits and emergency room visits.

This makes Plan N less of a direct replacement for Plan F or Plan G and more of a lower-premium alternative for beneficiaries who are comfortable sharing more of the cost when they use care.

What do Plan N, Plan F and Plan G have in common?

Plan N, Plan F, and Plan G cover key “gaps” in Original Medicare, including:

• Part A Hospital Deductible: Covers the deductible required when a hospital benefit period begins.
• Part A Coinsurance & Costs: Covers hospital coinsurance and additional hospital days after Medicare coverage limits are reached.
• Skilled Nursing Facility Coinsurance: Covers your coinsurance costs when transitioning to skilled nursing care.
• Hospice Care: Covers hospice coinsurance or copayments.
• Part B Medical Coinsurance: Covers your typical 20% share of costs after Medicare pays its portion.
• Foreign Travel Emergency Care: Covers 80% of certain medically necessary emergency care outside the United States after a separate deductible, up to plan limits (Original Medicare generally does not cover this).

Important Plan N Difference: Plan N handles Part B costs differently. While it covers the 20% Part B coinsurance, you may still pay up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for emergency room visits that do not result in an inpatient admission. Plan N also does not cover Part B excess charges.

A Note for Residents of MA, MN, and WI If you live in Massachusetts, Minnesota, or Wisconsin, Medigap works differently. These states do not use the standard lettered plans (A through N) used in the rest of the country, so your plan options may not look exactly like Plan N, Plan F, or Plan G. If you live in one of these states, use this article as a general guide, but compare the Medigap options available in your state before choosing a policy. 

What’s the Coverage Difference between Plan N, Plan F and Plan G?

The difference is straightforward:

• Plan F covers the Medicare Part B deductible, leaving you with $0 out-of-pocket for Medicare-covered services.
• Plan G does not cover the Part B deductible ($283 in 2026), leaving you responsible for paying that deductible before the plan begins covering your remaining Medicare-approved Part B coinsurance.
• Plan N also does not cover the Part B deductible ($283 in 2026), leaving you responsible for that deductible, plus limited copayments for some office visits and emergency room visits. Plan N also does not cover Part B excess charges.

What are Part B excess charges, and why do they matter for Plan N?

Part B excess charges may apply when a provider does not accept Medicare assignment and is legally allowed to charge more than the Medicare-approved amount.

• Plan F and Plan G cover Part B excess charges.
• Plan N does not.

For this reason, beneficiaries considering Plan N may want to confirm whether their doctors and specialists accept Medicare assignment. This may be especially important for people who see multiple specialists, travel often, or want fewer surprises when receiving Part B-covered care.

How Plan N Differs From High-Deductible Plans F and G: Different Ways to Lower Premiums 

In some states, Plans F and G may be available in a high-deductible* version. This is different from regular Plan F or regular G. 

A high-deductible Plan F or G may have a lower monthly premium, but the beneficiary takes on more out-of-pocket responsibility before the Medigap policy begins paying its share. In 2026, this deductible amount is $2,950. Original Medicare still pays first, but the beneficiary is responsible for Medicare-covered deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance until that $2,950 high-deductible limit is reached.

Plan N is different. It is not a high-deductible version of Plan F or Plan G. Instead, Plan N has its own cost-sharing structure, including the Part B deductible, possible copayments for some office visits and emergency room visits, and no coverage for Part B excess charges. 

EXAMPLES

Here is a simple example using a $200 Medicare-approved specialist visit. In this example, Original Medicare pays 80%, or $160. The remaining 20%, or $40, is the amount Medigap may help cover. 

Example 1: Regular Plan F

Plan F covers the Part B deductible and generally covers the remaining $40, leaving the eligible beneficiary with $0 out-of-pocket for the Medicare-covered visit. 

Example 2: Regular Plan G

Plan G does not cover the Part B deductible. But after the deductible is met, Plan G generally covers the remaining $40, leaving the beneficiary with $0 out-of-pocket for this visit. 

Example 3: Plan N

Plan N does not cover the Part B deductible. After the deductible is met, Plan N generally covers the remaining $40, but the beneficiary may still owe up to a $20 copayment for some office visits. Plan N also does not cover Part B excess charges. 

Example 4: High-Deductible Plan F or G

Original Medicare still pays $160 first. The beneficiary pays the remaining $40 out-of-pocket. They will continue to pay these out-of-pocket costs for Medicare-covered services until they hit the $2,950 high-deductible limit for 2026. After that amount is reached, the high-deductible Medigap policy begins paying according to the plan’s benefits.

In simple terms, Plan N and high-deductible Plans F or G are different ways to lower monthly premiums, but they shift costs to the beneficiary in different ways. 

Which Plan is Right for You?

Choosing between these plans depends on your budget and how you prefer to pay for care.  Here are some best practices to help YOU decide.

Choose Plan F if you are eligible and want the most predictable out-of-pocket costs. 
Plan F may be a good fit if you want the «set it and forget it» convenience of $0 out-of-pocket costs for Medicare-covered services. However, Plan F is generally only available to people who were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020. 

Choose Plan G if you want broad coverage and are comfortable paying the Part B deductible.
Plan G is usually the closest alternative to Plan F for newer Medicare beneficiaries. After you pay the Part B deductible, Plan G generally covers the remaining Medicare-approved Part B coinsurance and also covers Part B excess charges. 

Choose Plan N if you want a lower monthly premium and are comfortable with more cost-sharing.
Plan N may be a good fit if you do not mind paying the Part B deductible, possible copayments for some office visits and emergency room visits, and possible Part B excess charges if your provider does not accept Medicare assignment. 

Before you choose:

• Know your enrollment window: The easiest time to enroll is typically your 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period (starts when you’re 65+ and enrolled in Part B). Outside that window, you may face medical underwriting in many states.
• Confirm Plan F eligibility: If you became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020, Plan F generally isn’t available—so Plan G is usually the closest alternative for comprehensive coverage.
• Compare Plan N against Plan G — and Plan F if you are eligible: The key question is whether the monthly premium savings on Plan N are enough to justify the added cost-sharing. If the savings are small, Plan G — or Plan F, if available to you — may offer better peace of mind. If the savings are significant, Plan N may be worth considering.
• Compare apples to apples. Make sure you are not accidentally comparing Plan N to a high-deductible Plan G or high-deductible Plan F based on premium alone. The price difference can be significant because the cost-sharing structure is different. Once you decide which type of plan you want, compare the same plan type across different insurance companies. 

Monthly premium is only one part of the decision. It is also important to consider how premiums may change over time. 

Understanding Long-Term Premium Trends — Why Plan F May Cost You More in the Long Run 

While Plan F currently offers the most coverage, it is important to consider future costs. Plan F is now a «closed» group—meaning people who became newly eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020 generally cannot buy it. —the pool of people in these plans is getting older. Without younger, typically healthier members joining to balance the risk, insurance companies often raise premiums more aggressively to cover the increasing claims of an aging group. 

In contrast, Plan G and Plan N remain available  to all new enrollees, creating a more stable and diverse pool that may lead to more predictable premium increases over time. However, premiums can still vary by insurance company, location, age, pricing method, and rate increase history. 

For this reason, beneficiaries should compare not only the current monthly premium, but also the plan’s long-term affordability. A lower premium today may be appealing, especially with Plan N, but it is still important to understand what costs you may be responsible for when you use care. 

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