Medigap Plan G offers a bit more coverage than Plan N, making it the more comprehensive option, but Plan N is a bit less expensive. Both, however, are good options.
What Is Medigap?
Medigap, or Medicare Supplements, are additional, supplemental insurance plans that cover many of the out-of-pocket costs of Original Medicare.
There are 10 different supplements, each providing its own benefits and costs—A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N. Plans A and B offer the smallest price points, but the least coverage. They’re still incredibly helpful, but likely not what you’re looking for if you want the most comprehensive plan. Plans K and L are cost-sharing plans. Plan K will typically provide 50% coverage while Plan L will provide 75%.
Plans C, D, F, G, M, and N fall on the slightly higher end of the price spectrum. However, they provide more coverage than the other options. Plan F in particular offers the most coverage of any of the 10 options. However, it and Plan C are no longer available to new Medicare enrollees as Medigap plans are no longer allowed to provide coverage for the Part B deductible, resulting in these plans being phased out.
That leaves us with Plans G and N as the most comprehensive.
Medigap Plan G
G is the next closest to Plan F in terms of benefits. It covers:
- Part A Coinsurance & Hospital Costs
- Part B Coinsurance/Copayment
- First 3 Pints of Blood for Transfusions
- Part A Hospice Care Coinsurance/Copayment
- Skilled Nursing Care Facility Coinsurance
- Part A Deductible
- Part B Excess Charges
- 80% of Foreign Travel Emergency Care
Medigap Plan N
Plan N comes in a close second to Plan G. It covers:
- Part A Coinsurance & Hospital Costs
- Part B Coinsurance/Copayment
- First 3 Pints of Blood for Transfusions
- Part A Hospice Care Coinsurance/Copayment
- Skilled Nursing Care Facility Coinsurance
- Part A Deductible
- 80% of Foreign Travel Emergency Care
The difference between Plan G and N, then, is that Plan N doesn’t cover Part B excess charges.
Plan G Vs. Plan N and Other Options
Generally speaking, Plan G is the more comprehensive of the two. Because it includes more benefits, however, it will be more expensive. When it comes to the amount of benefits included in a plan, you should expect to see those additions reflected in the month-to-month premium payment.
If you’d rather cover Part B excess charges in your premium, then, Plan G is for you. However, if you’re willing to pay this out-of-pocket for a lower monthly premium, you may want to consider Plan N.
Plan N is also identical to the benefits offered in Plan D. It, however, has a different payment structure. When you receive care, you have a copayment fee with Plan N—with Plan D, this fee is included in your premium.
This simple difference means that Plan N is less expensive. So, if you’re deciding between Plan N and G, you’ll be deciding on how much coverage you want to be included in your premium.
Expert Advice with Quality Service—Call iHealthBrokers
Deciding on a Medigap plan is an important decision that provides a lot of beneficial additional coverage. We will help you through the process—call iHealthBrokers at (888) 918-0518.
Jesse Smedley is the Principal Broker for iHealthBrokers and the founder, president, and CEO of Smedley Insurance Group, Inc. and iHealthBrokers.com. Since the inception of SIG in 2007, Jesse has been dedicated to helping people save money on their health insurance by providing them with resources to educate themselves on all their health insurance options, both under age 65 and Medicare beneficiaries. He is featured in many publications as well as writes regularly for expert columns regarding health insurance and Medicare.
