Dennis Jarvis, serving California since 1999. No cost, no pressure.
Medigap Plan G vs Plan N: Which Is Better? (2026)
- Plan G: higher premium, essentially no copays after the annual Part B deductible.
- Plan N: lower premium, small copays (up to $20 office / $50 ER), no Part B excess coverage.
- For frequent doctor-goers, Plan G's predictability often wins. For occasional users, Plan N usually saves money.
- In California, Plan N's gap (Part B excess charges) is rarely an issue, most providers accept assignment.
- The Birthday Rule lets you switch between them (to equal or lesser) each year, you're not locked in.
Plan G and Plan N are the two most popular Medicare Supplements, and choosing between them comes down to one simple trade-off: premium versus copays. Let's break it down clearly so you can see which fits you.
The Core Difference
| Feature | Plan G | Plan N |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly premium | Higher | Lower |
| Office visit copay | None | Up to $20 (some visits) |
| ER copay | None | Up to $50 (waived if admitted) |
| Part A hospital deductible | Covered | Covered |
| 20% Part B coinsurance | Covered | Covered |
| Part B excess charges | Covered | Not covered (rare in CA) |
| Annual Part B deductible | You pay | You pay |
| See any Medicare doctor | Yes | Yes |
As you can see, they're identical on the big protections, both cover the critical uncapped 20%. The differences are the small copays and Part B excess charges (which are rare in California).
How the Rates Compare
Plan N not only starts with a lower premium, its rates have generally been rising a bit slower than Plan G's too. Over several years, that gap can compound in Plan N's favor.
Not sure you've got Medicare right?
Skip the confusion and the sales calls. Get straight answers for your situation, free.
Turning 65 and buried in mailers and robocalls? Confused by the choices, or afraid of the wrong plan or a missed deadline? See what actually fits your doctors and budget in about 5 minutes.
Find my plan →Think you might be overpaying, or did your plan change for this year? Get an honest check for gaps, overpayments, and dropped doctors in about 3 minutes.
Review my coverage →Free, no pressure, and we never cold-call you.
Which Should You Choose?
Choose Plan G if…
You see doctors frequently, you want zero surprises and total predictability, or you simply prefer paying a bit more monthly to never think about copays.
Choose Plan N if…
You're relatively healthy, see doctors occasionally, and want a lower premium. In California, the Part B excess gap rarely matters, so you keep strong coverage for less.
The math that usually decides it
Here's the practical way we help people decide: estimate your yearly doctor visits, multiply by the copay, and compare to the annual premium difference. If Plan N saves you, say, $400 a year in premium, and you'd only pay $100 in copays with your visit pattern, Plan N wins by $300. If you're at the doctor constantly, the copays might eat the savings, and Plan G's predictability wins. It's simple arithmetic once you have real numbers, which we run for you, free.
Remember: You Can Switch
Whichever you choose, you're not stuck. California's Birthday Rule lets you move to an equal or lesser plan each year without medical underwriting, so you can start with Plan G and move to Plan N later, or switch carriers to chase a better rate. Explore each plan in depth: Plan G · Plan N.