Medigap (Medicare Supplement)
Both plans work with Original Medicare. The right fit comes down to how you balance monthly premiums, cost sharing and predictability.
How Medigap works
Medigap is private insurance that supplements Original Medicare. Medicare pays its share first, and your Medigap policy helps pay certain remaining deductibles, coinsurance and copayments according to the plan's standardized benefits.
Plan letters are standardized in most states, so the basic benefits of a Plan G are the same from one carrier to another. Premiums, pricing history, discounts and service can still differ.
Medigap is not Medicare Advantage, and it does not include outpatient prescription drug coverage. A separate Part D plan is typically paired with it.
The primary comparison
Neither plan is universally better. The difference is how much coverage you want the policy to provide versus how much cost sharing you are comfortable accepting.
Plan G
Plan G covers all standardized Medigap benefits available to people new to Medicare, except the annual Part B deductible.
Plan N
Plan N covers many of the same standardized benefits as Plan G, while leaving you responsible for certain Part B copays and excess charges.
Side-by-side
| Benefit or cost | Plan G | Plan N |
|---|---|---|
| Part A coinsurance and hospital costs | Covered | Covered |
| Part B coinsurance | Covered | Covered, except certain office and emergency-room copays |
| Part A deductible | Covered | Covered |
| Part B deductible | Not covered | Not covered |
| Part B excess charges | Covered | Not covered |
| Foreign travel emergency | 80%, up to plan limits | 80%, up to plan limits |
| Prescription drug coverage | Separate Part D plan needed | Separate Part D plan needed |
Benefits shown are for standardized plans in most states. Massachusetts, Minnesota and Wisconsin standardize Medigap differently. Coverage, premiums and availability vary.
Another option
High Deductible Plan G can offer lower-premium potential, but you pay Medicare-covered deductibles, copayments and coinsurance until the annual high deductible is met. After that, the policy pays according to Plan G's benefits.
The deductible is set annually, and this option is not offered everywhere. It deserves consideration, but it should not be compared on premium alone.
See whether High Deductible G fitsWhat matters most
The same standardized benefits can be priced differently by each insurance company.
Rates vary by carrier, age, location, household discounts and other rating factors.
Consider how often you see a doctor and how comfortable you are with occasional cost sharing.
Decide whether you value broader cost coverage or the potential for a lower monthly premium.
Your Medigap Open Enrollment Period and guaranteed-issue rights can affect your options.
Personal Medicare guidance
Justin helps you compare Plan G and Plan N across available carriers, considering premiums, household discounts, pricing methods, enrollment timing and your preferences.
MedigapRx is based in Fort Lauderdale and provides personal Medicare guidance in Florida and additional licensed states—with support that continues after enrollment.
Talk With JustinCommon questions
No. Medigap policies sold today do not include prescription drug coverage. If you want drug coverage, you can enroll in a separate Medicare Part D plan.
Standard Medigap policies work with Original Medicare, so you can generally use any provider nationwide who accepts Medicare. Medicare SELECT policies can have network requirements.
No. Plan G and Plan N do not cover the annual Medicare Part B deductible.
Possibly, but outside certain enrollment periods or guaranteed-issue situations, an insurer may use medical underwriting and may not have to sell you a policy. Review your eligibility before ending existing coverage.
Your next step
Review available carriers, rates and enrollment timing with a licensed Medicare advisor.
