How to Compare Medicare Supplement Insurance Companies
When comparing Medicare Supplement companies, don’t compare benefits first—compare the same standardized plan across insurers.
Medicare Supplement Plan N Explained: Coverage, Copays & Costs for 2026
Last Modified: 10/05/2026 | Reviewed by Keith Armbrecht (NPN 634015)
Quick Summary
Medicare Supplement Plan N is a Medigap plan that provides substantial coverage of the gaps in Original Medicare while requiring some additional cost sharing compared with Plan G.
With Plan N, you are responsible for the annual Medicare Part B deductible. You may also pay up to $20 for certain office visits and up to $50 for certain emergency-room visits that don’t result in inpatient admission.
Plan N also doesn’t cover Medicare Part B excess charges.
In exchange for accepting those costs, Plan N may have a lower monthly premium than Plan G.
Key Facts
- Plan N works with Original Medicare.
- Covers the Medicare Part A deductible.
- Covers skilled nursing facility coinsurance.
- Covers most Part B coinsurance.
- Office visits can have a copayment of up to $20.
- Certain ER visits can have a copayment of up to $50.
- The ER copay is waived when the visit results in inpatient admission.
- Plan N doesn’t cover the annual Part B deductible.
- The Part B deductible is $283 in 2026.
- Plan N doesn’t cover Part B excess charges.
- Includes limited foreign-travel emergency benefits.
- Plan N may have a lower premium than Plan G.
How Plan N Works
Original Medicare pays first.
Plan N then pays according to its standardized benefits.
For Medicare Part B services, you first satisfy the annual Part B deductible. Plan N then covers applicable Part B cost sharing, subject to its permitted office and emergency-room copayments and any applicable excess charges.
Plan N Copays
Plan N can require:
Up to $20 for certain office visits.
Up to $50 for certain emergency-room visits that don’t result in inpatient admission.
That doesn’t mean every medical encounter automatically produces a $20 copay.
What Are Part B Excess Charges?
If a physician doesn’t accept Medicare assignment, the physician may in certain circumstances charge more than the Medicare-approved amount, subject to Medicare rules.
Plan N doesn’t cover Part B excess charges.
Plan G does.
This is one of the differences to consider when comparing Plan G and Plan N.
Video Explanation from Keith
Is Medicare Supplement Plan N a Better Value?
Watch Keith explain Plan N’s copays, excess charges and premium savings—and how he compares Plan N with Plan G.
Keith's Take
Plan N is one of my favorite plans to compare with Plan G because the decision can often be reduced to dollars and common sense.
If Plan N is approximately $25 per month less than Plan G, that’s around $300 per year in premium savings.
Then I ask: Is the additional cost sharing you’re accepting with Plan N worth $300 in annual savings?
For someone who doesn’t visit doctors frequently, the answer may be very different than for someone seeing specialists every month.
I also look beyond today’s premium. Long-term rate behavior matters.
That’s why I don’t automatically say Plan G or Plan N is best. I compare the numbers.
Keith Armbrecht
Medicare on Video
Frequently Asked Questions About Plan N
Q. What does Plan N cover?
A. Plan N covers many major gaps in Original Medicare, including the Part A deductible and applicable Part A and Part B coinsurance, subject to Plan N's cost-sharing rules.
Q. What is the Plan N office copay?
A. Up to $20 for certain office visits.
Q. What is the Plan N emergency-room copay?
A. Up to $50 for certain emergency-room visits that don't result in inpatient admission.
Q. Does Plan N pay the Part B deductible?
A. No. The Part B deductible is $283 in 2026.
Q. Does Plan N cover excess charges?
A. No.
Q. Does Plan N have a network?
A. Standard Medigap Plan N supplements Original Medicare rather than operating through a traditional Medicare Advantage network.
Q. Does Plan N cover prescriptions?
A. No. Prescription coverage can generally be obtained through a separate Part D plan.
Q. Is Plan N cheaper than Plan G?
A. It often can be, but premiums vary by location, carrier and applicant. Compare actual rates rather than assuming.
Q. Is Plan N better than Plan G?
A. It can be for someone who values lower premiums and is comfortable with its additional cost sharing. Plan G may be preferable for someone who wants more comprehensive standardized coverage.
Official Government Sources
Explore Related Guides
What Is the Best Medicare Supplement Plan? How to Decide
There isn’t one Medicare Supplement plan that’s best for everyone. For people newly eligible for Medicare today, the three options I most often want compared are: Plan G, Plan N
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Get Your Free Medicare Supplement Quote
Compare Plan N and Plan G Rates
The most useful Plan N comparison begins with the actual premium difference in your ZIP code.
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Medicare confirms Plan N’s standardized benefit structure, including its permitted office and ER copays and lack of Part B excess-charge coverage. (Medicare)