Medicare Plan G vs. Plan N in 2026: Which Medigap Plan Is Right for You?

If you've decided that Medigap (Medicare Supplement) is the right choice for you, the next question is: Plan G or Plan N?

These are the two most popular Medigap plans in Florida -- and for good reason. Both provide excellent coverage. But they have meaningful differences that can affect your total annual cost by hundreds of dollars.

Here's the complete comparison.

Before getting into the differences, here's what Plan G and Plan N have in common:

• Medicare Part A coinsurance and hospital costs (up to 365 days after Medicare benefits are exhausted)
• Medicare Part A deductible ($1,736 in 2026)
• Medicare Part B coinsurance (the 20% you'd otherwise pay)
• Skilled nursing facility coinsurance
• Foreign travel emergency (80% up to plan limits)
• Blood (first 3 pints)

Both plans give you access to any Medicare-accepting provider in the country -- no networks, no referrals, no prior authorization.

The Part B deductible: Both Plan G and Plan N require you to pay the Medicare Part B deductible ($283 in 2026) before coverage kicks in. This is the same for both plans.

Office visit copays: With Plan N, you pay up to $20 for each doctor visit after the Part B deductible. With Plan G, you pay nothing.

ER copays: With Plan N, you pay up to $50 for emergency room visits that don't result in inpatient admission. With Plan G, you pay nothing.

Part B excess charges: This is the most important difference for some people. Doctors who don't accept Medicare assignment can charge up to 15% more than the Medicare-approved amount. Plan G covers these excess charges; Plan N does not. In Florida, most doctors accept Medicare assignment -- but not all.

Plan N typically costs $30-$50/month less than Plan G in Florida. That's $360-$600/year in premium savings.

Plan N makes sense if:

• You visit the doctor infrequently (fewer than 15-20 office visits per year)
• You rarely use the emergency room
• All your doctors accept Medicare assignment (no excess charges)
• You're healthy and want to save on premiums

Example: If you save $40/month with Plan N ($480/year) and have 10 office visits at $20 each ($200), plus 0 ER visits, your net savings is $280/year. Plan N wins.

Plan G makes sense if:

• You visit the doctor frequently (multiple specialists, regular follow-ups)
• You have a chronic condition that requires frequent care
• You want completely predictable costs -- no copays to track
• Any of your doctors don't accept Medicare assignment
• You value simplicity over optimization

Example: If you save $40/month with Plan N ($480/year) but have 25 office visits at $20 each ($500), Plan G actually costs less overall -- and you never have to think about copays.

Part B excess charges are a real consideration in Florida. While most Florida doctors accept Medicare assignment, some specialists -- particularly in high-demand areas like Miami, Naples, and Palm Beach -- do not.

If you see a doctor who doesn't accept Medicare assignment and you have Plan N, you could owe up to 15% more than the Medicare-approved amount. With Plan G, that excess is covered.

Before choosing Plan N, I recommend checking whether your current doctors and any specialists you might need accept Medicare assignment. I can help you verify this.

Medigap premiums vary by age, gender, tobacco use, and carrier. Here are typical ranges for a 65-year-old non-smoking female in Florida:

Plan G: $120-$180/month (varies by carrier and county) Plan N: $85-$140/month (varies by carrier and county)

The premium difference between Plan G and Plan N is typically $30-$50/month -- but this varies significantly by carrier. Some carriers price Plan N very aggressively; others don't.

Important: Medigap premiums increase with age. The rate you pay at 65 is not the rate you'll pay at 75. I compare age-based rate increase histories for every carrier I recommend.

In Florida, the top Medigap carriers for Plan G and Plan N include:

• Mutual of Omaha -- consistently competitive rates, strong financial stability
• Aetna -- competitive pricing, especially for Plan N
• Cigna -- strong rates for younger enrollees
• Lumico -- newer carrier with aggressive pricing
• Florida Blue -- strong local presence, competitive rates
• Transamerica -- competitive for certain age bands

The "best" carrier depends on your age, county, and health history. I compare all carriers available in your ZIP code before making a recommendation.

Choose Plan G if: You want complete predictability, visit doctors frequently, or have any doctors who don't accept Medicare assignment.

Choose Plan N if: You're healthy, visit doctors infrequently, and want to save $300-$600/year in premiums.

For most Florida seniors I work with, Plan G is the more popular choice -- the peace of mind of $0 copays is worth the slightly higher premium. But Plan N is a legitimate option for healthy, infrequent healthcare users.

The best way to decide is to run the numbers for your specific situation -- your doctors, your health history, and your budget.

William Gray is an independent Medicare insurance broker based in Daytona Beach, FL (License #W690237). He compares Plan G and Plan N from 50+ Medigap carriers -- free service, no pressure.

We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.