Medicare Supplement Plan N is one of the standardized plans that are required to offer the same benefits across carriers. The plan is one of the best options for better Medicare Part B coverage.
What’s Covered Under Medicare Supplement Plan N?
Medigap Plan N offers a lot of coverage if you have Medicare already and want to fill in some of the gaps that are present with Medicare Part B.
Medicare Part A Hospital Services
Hospitalization can be very expensive if you don’t have a supplement plan. When choosing this plan, you’ll pay $0 for the first 60 days in the hospital, day 61 to 90 and nothing for days past 90.
Without this coverage, you would have to pay $1,408 for the first 60 days, $352 for the next thirty days and $704 for every day after 91.
Medicare Part B Medical Services
For all Medicare-approved amounts, the original Medicare plan covers 80% of costs. Plan N will pay for all balances for these approved amounts aside from the $20 copay for doctor visits and $50 for emergency room visits. If a visit to the emergency room results in you being admitted to the hospital, the $50 copay is waived as long as the visit is covered under Medicare Part A.
Blood work is covered under Plan N, including all costs for the first three pints of blood and 20% for the remainder of Medicare approved amounts.
You’re responsible for some out-of-pocket costs, which are your Plan B excess charges and deductibles. The trade-off between this plan and Plan D is the costs. This plan has lower premiums, so it may fit better into your budget.
There are a few minor differences and costs that you should consider when choosing Plan N.
What’s the Difference Between Plan D and Plan N?
If you have Medigap Plan D, you’ll find that the N is very similar to this plan. Under Plan N, the major difference is in your coinsurance costs. You’ll have 100% of coinsurance costs covered with two main exceptions:
- Office copays of $20
- Emergency room copays of $50
Plan D will cover all of these copays, so you’ll have to compare the costs to see if the savings offered under Plan N are a good option for you. If you have to go to the emergency room or a doctor’s office often, the copay may be too much of an expense for you.
Durable medical equipment, where 80% of Medicare-approved amounts are paid traditionally, will have the additional 20% covered under this plan.
The only additional coverage offered is 80% of the remainder of charges during the first 60 days of foreign travel per trip out of the country. This cover does have a maximum lifetime benefit of $50,000.
Supplement plans allow the insured to be able to predict their expenses. Once you are part of a plan, as long as you pay your premiums, the coverage will persist. Plans work alongside the Original Medicare to help cover costs that you’re normally responsible for paying out-of-pocket.