Medigap Plan G vs. Plan N: Which Should You Choose?
The two most popular Medicare Supplement plans differ in exactly three ways: copays, excess charges, and price. Here's the full breakdown — including the premium math that actually decides it for most Florida seniors.
Get G vs. N Rates for Your ZIP
We'll run both plans across every major Florida carrier.
Plan G vs. Plan N — Full Coverage Table (2026)
Every benefit, side by side. The three rows where they differ are the whole decision.
| Benefit | Plan G | Plan N |
|---|---|---|
| Part A hospital deductible ($1,736 in 2026) | ||
| Part A coinsurance + 365 extra hospital days | ||
| Part B coinsurance (the 20%) | ||
| Office visit copay | None | Up to $20 |
| ER copay (if not admitted) | None | Up to $50 |
| Part B deductible ($283 in 2026) | ||
| Part B excess charges | ||
| Skilled nursing facility coinsurance | ||
| First 3 pints of blood | ||
| Foreign travel emergency (80%) | ||
| Doctor network | None — any Medicare doctor | None — any Medicare doctor |
| Typical FL premium at 65 (non-tobacco) | $150–$250/mo | $90–$180/mo |
Premium ranges are estimates for a 65-year-old non-tobacco user enrolling during open enrollment; actual rates vary by age, ZIP, gender, and carrier. Plan N's ER copay is waived if you're admitted as an inpatient.
The Break-Even Math That Decides It
Say Plan N costs $50/month less than Plan G for you — $600 saved per year. The question becomes: will your copays exceed $600?
Occasional Doctor Visits
8 office visits a year × $20 copay = $160 in copays. Against $600 of premium savings, Plan N comes out roughly $440 ahead — and that gap repeats every year.
Advantage: Plan N — for healthier enrollees, the savings are real and recurring.
Frequent Care or Specialists
Seeing doctors 2–3 times a month? 30 visits × $20 = $600 in copays — the entire premium advantage is gone, and you've taken on billing variability for nothing.
Advantage: Plan G — one premium, zero surprises, no per-visit friction.
Quick Verdict: Who Should Pick Which?
Choose Plan G if you…
- See doctors or specialists regularly
- Want completely predictable costs — one premium, done
- Never want to think about assignment or excess charges
- Value simplicity over squeezing out premium savings
Choose Plan N if you…
- Are relatively healthy and visit doctors a handful of times a year
- Want meaningful premium savings ($360–$840/yr is common)
- Don't mind a $20 copay here and there
- Are comfortable confirming doctors accept Medicare assignment
On a tighter budget? There's a third option worth knowing: High-Deductible Plan G, often $40–$85/month in Florida.
Plan G vs. Plan N Questions, Answered
The details Florida seniors ask about most when choosing between the two.
Both cover the big-ticket gaps in Original Medicare. Plan G covers slightly more: it pays Part B excess charges and has no copays. Plan N trades a lower monthly premium for copays of up to $20 at some office visits and up to $50 at the ER (waived if you're admitted), and it doesn't cover excess charges. Neither plan covers the annual Part B deductible ($283 in 2026).
Typically $30–$70 per month for a 65-year-old, depending on carrier and ZIP code. Over a year that's $360–$840 in premium savings — the question is whether your copays would eat up that difference. For most people who see the doctor once a month or less, they don't.
An excess charge is when a doctor who doesn't accept Medicare's approved amount bills up to 15% more. Plan G pays these; Plan N doesn't. In practice, roughly 97% of Medicare providers accept Medicare's rates (called 'accepting assignment'), so excess charges are rare. You can avoid them entirely by asking any new doctor one question: 'Do you accept Medicare assignment?'
No — neither has a network at all. Both plans work with any doctor or hospital in the U.S. that accepts Medicare, no referrals needed. The doctor-access experience is identical; only the cost-sharing differs.
In Florida, switching Medigap plans after your open enrollment window usually requires medical underwriting — the insurer can ask health questions and could decline you. If you're healthy, switching is often possible. But it's smart to pick the plan you want to keep long-term up front, since your health tomorrow isn't guaranteed.
Plan G is the most popular Medigap plan in Florida and nationally — people like paying one premium and never seeing another bill beyond the Part B deductible. But Plan N has grown fast among cost-conscious enrollees, and for many healthy 65-year-olds it's genuinely the better value. The right answer depends on your doctor habits and budget — which is exactly what a free comparison sorts out.
New to Medicare Supplement plans? Start with our Medigap overview, or see how Medigap compares to Medicare Advantage.