Is Plan G the Best Medicare Supplement Plan?
For years, the "Cadillac" Medicare Supplement plan has been Plan F. It's the most comprehensive plan, completely filling the Medicare...
Medicare Supplement Plan N is a good Medigap option for healthy people looking to save on their monthly plan premium.
Medigap Plan N highlights:
Lower monthly premiums than Plans F and G
An excellent option for people in good health
Use with any doctor that accepts Medicare
$226 annual deductible (in 2023)
Does not cover Part B excess charges
$20 copayment for doctor visits
$50 copayment for ER visits
Basic benefits*, including 100%
Part B coinsurance
Part A deductible
Part B deductible
100% Part B excess charges
$0 plan deductible
$20 copayment for office visit; $50 copayment for ER
$226 Part B deductible
Not covered
*Basic benefits:
Hospitalization: Part A coinsurance plus coverage for 365 additional days after Medicare benefits end.
Medical Expenses: Part B coinsurance (generally 20% of Medicare-approved expenses) or copayments for hospital outpatient services. Plans K, L, and N require insureds to pay a portion of Part B coinsurance or copayments.
Blood: First 3 pints of blood each year.
Hospice: Part A coinsurance.
Medicare Supplement Plan N enrollees must pay a $20 copayment for doctor visits and a $50 copayment for visits to the emergency room. Otherwise it is identical to Plan G except it does not cover Medicare Part B excess charges. Part B excess charges occur when a provider does not accept Medicare assignment for a procedure, therefore charging more than Medicare allows.
Plan N covers:
Hospitalization: Part A coinsurance plus coverage for 365 additional days after Medicare benefits end.
Medical Expenses: after Part B deductible, plan pays balance after Original Medicare's 20%, other than $20 copays for doctor visits and $50 copays for ER visits
Blood: First 3 pints of blood each year.
Hospice: Part A coinsurance.
Skilled Nursing Facility Care: up to 100 days of skilled nursing facility care.
Does not Cover Part B Excess Charges.
Foreign Travel Medical Services: after a $250 deductible during the first 60 days, Plan N pays 80% of the remainder of charges up to a lifetime maximum of $50,000.
Printable Full Description of
Plan N Coverage
Medicare Supplement Plan N is an appealing option for people in good health. Plan N premiums are lower than Plans F and G. This savings in premium can often offset the $20 copayment for doctor visits. While Plan N does not pay for Part B excess charges, most doctors accept Medicare assignment, meaning there is no excess charge.
There are a few reasons you might choose Plan N:
Lower premiums. Plan N has lower premiums than Plans F and G. If the annual premium savings with Plan N exceeds your estimated copays for doctor visits, then it might make financial sense to choose Plan N.
Your doctor accepts Medicare assignment. A potential drawback of Plan N is that it does not pay for Medicare Part B excess charges. If the doctors you see accept Medicare assignment, then Part B excess charges are less of a concern. You can call your doctor to confirm that they accept Medicare assignment, but we recommend double-checking on Medicare.gov.