What Does Medicare Supplement Plan N Cover?

With millions of Americans enrolled in Medigap policies — industry and NAIC figures have put the total at well over 14 million — choosing the right plan matters more than most people realize. If you have been researching your options, you have probably asked: what does Medicare Supplement Plan N cover? The short answer is that Plan N covers most of the gaps in Original Medicare, but it does so at a lower premium than the more comprehensive Plan G by requiring small copays at the point of service and by leaving two specific items uncovered. Understanding these tradeoffs can save some beneficiaries money each year without sacrificing meaningful protection.

How Medicare Supplement Plan N Works

Plan N is a standardized Medigap policy sold by private insurance companies and regulated by federal and state law. Because it is standardized, the core benefits are identical regardless of which insurer you choose. The main differences between carriers are the monthly premium, customer service, and any household or non-smoker discounts they offer.

Like all Medigap plans, Plan N works alongside Original Medicare (Parts A and B). Medicare pays its share first, then Plan N picks up most or all of the remaining costs, subject to the copays and exclusions described below. You still pay your monthly Part B premium — the standard amount is $202.90 per month for most beneficiaries in 2026, with higher amounts for higher incomes — in addition to your Plan N premium.

What Plan N Covers

Plan N provides robust coverage for many of the out-of-pocket costs Original Medicare leaves behind. According to Medicare.gov, Plan N covers the following at 100 percent:

• Medicare Part A coinsurance and hospital costs for up to 365 additional days after Medicare benefits are exhausted
• The Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment
• The Part A deductible ($1,736 per benefit period in 2026)
• Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance
• The first three pints of blood each year

For Part B services, Plan N covers 100 percent of the Part B coinsurance or copayment — except for a copay of up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for emergency room visits that do not result in an inpatient admission. Plan N also covers 80 percent of foreign travel emergency care, up to the plan limits. This broad scope is why many beneficiaries consider Plan N a strong alternative to Plan G.

What Plan N Does Not Cover

Two notable exclusions set Plan N apart from higher-tier plans: the Part B deductible and Part B excess charges.

The Part B deductible. The annual Part B deductible is $283 in 2026. With Plan N, you pay that amount out of pocket before the plan begins covering your Part B coinsurance. (Note that no Medigap plan sold to people who became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020 — including Plan N — can cover the Part B deductible, so this is not unique to Plan N among newer plans.) For most beneficiaries, this is a manageable once-a-year expense.

Part B excess charges. Excess charges occur when a provider does not accept Medicare assignment and bills up to 15 percent above the Medicare-approved amount. Plan N does not cover these, so you could owe the difference. Per CMS, the large majority of physicians accept Medicare assignment, so excess charges affect a minority of beneficiaries — but they are possible, and Plan G does cover them. Several states, including Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont, limit or prohibit excess charges. You can learn more about how these charges fit into overall healthcare costs in our dedicated guide.

Plan N Copays Explained

The copay structure is what makes Plan N distinct among Medigap plans. When you visit a doctor’s office, you may pay a copay of up to $20. This applies to most outpatient office visits covered under Part B. The copay does not apply to preventive services that Original Medicare already covers at no cost to you, and the exact amount can be less than $20 depending on the visit.

The emergency room copay of up to $50 applies only when you visit the ER and are not admitted as an inpatient. If you are admitted, the ER copay is waived, and Plan N covers your Part A cost-sharing as usual. In practice, many beneficiaries find these copays a small price to pay in exchange for premiums that can run lower than Plan G in the same area.

Plan N Premiums and Costs

Premiums for Plan N vary based on your age, location, gender, tobacco use, and the insurance company, so no single figure applies to everyone. According to data compiled by the NAIC and state insurance departments, monthly Plan N premiums commonly fall in the low-to-mid hundreds of dollars, and Plan G premiums typically run higher for the same beneficiary and market. Because actual quotes vary so widely, treat any range as illustrative and get real quotes for your ZIP code rather than relying on averages.

Insurance companies use one of three pricing methods: community-rated (the same premium regardless of age), issue-age-rated (based on your age when you buy), or attained-age-rated (increases as you get older). Community-rated plans may start higher but stay more stable over time, while attained-age-rated plans may start lower and increase annually. Comparing quotes from multiple carriers is essential to finding the best value, and your state insurance department website typically lists available Medigap rates.

Plan N vs. Plan G: Which Is Better?

The comparison between Plan N and Medicare Supplement Plan G is one of the most common decisions beneficiaries face. Plan G covers everything Plan N covers plus Part B excess charges, and it does not require office-visit or ER copays. However, Plan G generally costs more each month.

Consider the math with 2026 figures. Suppose your Plan G premium is $50 per month more than Plan N — that is $600 per year in additional premium. With Plan N, you would instead pay the $283 Part B deductible plus occasional $20 copays. If you visit the doctor six times in a year, that is about $120 in copays plus the deductible, totaling roughly $403. In this scenario, Plan N saves you around $197 for the year — but the result flips if you have many office visits, incur excess charges, or find a small premium gap between the plans. Beneficiaries who are relatively healthy and see their doctors a moderate number of times per year tend to come out ahead with Plan N, while frequent utilizers may prefer Plan G’s simplicity. Run the numbers for your own expected usage.

For a broader look at how all the lettered plans stack up, visit our comparison of Medicare Supplement plans.

Who Should Consider Plan N?

Plan N is well-suited for beneficiaries who are comfortable with small, predictable copays in exchange for lower monthly premiums. If you are in good health, do not visit the doctor frequently, and live in a state that restricts excess charges, Plan N can be an excellent choice. It provides nearly the same financial protection as Plan G while keeping fixed monthly costs lower.

Beneficiaries who travel abroad may also appreciate Plan N’s foreign travel emergency coverage, which pays 80 percent of covered services after a $250 deductible, up to a $50,000 lifetime limit. This benefit is generally absent from Medicare Advantage plans, making it a notable perk for those who compare Medigap to Medicare Advantage.

How to Enroll in Plan N

The best time to enroll in any Medigap plan is during your Medigap Open Enrollment Period, which lasts six months starting the first day of the month you are both 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. During this window, insurers cannot deny you coverage or charge higher premiums based on pre-existing conditions — this is your guaranteed-issue right. Outside this period, you may face medical underwriting, and the insurer can decline your application or charge more.

Some states, including California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York, and Oregon, offer additional guaranteed-issue rights or continuous or annual open enrollment for Medigap. Check with your state insurance department for the rules that apply to you. To learn about Medicare Supplement plan costs in more detail, we have a dedicated article that walks through pricing factors step by step. If you have questions about your specific situation, you can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Plan N cover prescription drugs?

No. No Medigap plan sold after 2005 (following the 2006 Part D rollout) includes prescription drug coverage. You need a separate Medicare Part D plan for drug coverage. You cannot have both a Medigap plan and a Medicare Advantage plan at the same time, but you can pair Medigap with a standalone Part D plan.

Can I switch from Plan G to Plan N?

Yes, but outside your initial Medigap Open Enrollment Period you will likely need to pass medical underwriting. If you are approved, you can switch at any time. Some states have special protections that allow switching without underwriting under certain conditions.

Are Plan N benefits the same with every insurance company?

Yes. Because Medigap plans are standardized by the federal government, Plan N benefits are identical regardless of the insurer. The differences are limited to premiums, customer service, and available discounts. Minnesota, Massachusetts, and Wisconsin use alternative standardization systems, so residents of those states should check their state-specific plan structures.

Does Plan N cover telehealth visits?

Plan N covers telehealth the same way it covers in-person visits. If Medicare Part B covers the telehealth service, Plan N pays the coinsurance after you meet your Part B deductible, and a copay of up to $20 may apply just as it would for an in-person office visit. Note that Medicare’s telehealth rules can change, so confirm current coverage on Medicare.gov.

Does Plan N cover the Part B deductible in 2026?

No. Plan N does not cover the Part B deductible, which is $283 in 2026. You pay that amount out of pocket once per year before Plan N begins covering your Part B coinsurance.

Making Your Decision

Understanding what does Medicare Supplement Plan N cover comes down to recognizing its strengths and its two exclusions: comprehensive gap coverage at a lower premium, with small copays and no coverage of the Part B deductible or excess charges as the tradeoff. For many beneficiaries — especially those in good health and in states that limit excess charges — Plan N strikes a strong balance between cost and protection. Compare quotes from several insurance companies, review your medical history and expected usage, and consult our healthcare policy guide before enrolling. The right plan is the one that fits both your health needs and your budget.

Sources

• Medicare.gov — 2026 Medicare costs (Part A deductible $1,736; Part B premium $202.90; Part B deductible $283) and Medigap plan benefits (medicare.gov)
• CMS.gov — Medicare assignment, excess charges, and Medigap standardization (cms.gov)
• National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and state insurance departments — Medigap premium and rating data
• 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) — official Medicare help line