Many types of Medicare Supplement plans are available for people to purchase, like Medicare Supplement Plan N. When you become eligible, you can enroll in Medicare Parts A and B, but these parts do not cover everything. Some people choose to select Medicare Advantage, while others opt for a Medicare Supplement plan, also known as a Medigap plan.  

These Medigap or Medicare Supplement plans can fill in the gaps in different ways.  Medigap policies are standardized across the US by letters and must be clearly identified as “Medicare Supplement Insurance.” In Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, Medigap policies are standardized in a different way. Some plans have higher premiums with low or no copays, while others have higher copays but lower monthly premiums. There are also differences in the types of care coverage. Let’s take a closer look at Plan N Medicare Supplement insurance and what you can expect. 

What is Medigap Plan N? 

There are ten Medicare Supplement or Medigap plans, and Plan N is one of them. Private insurance companies provide these plans. Like the other Medigap plans, Plan N covers Medicare Part A hospital costs and coinsurance for up to 365 days after you have used up your Medicare benefits. Plan N Medigap can also cover 100 percent of your Medicare Part B coinsurance, with certain exceptions. 

The law requires that private insurers offer standardized Medigap Plan N policies with comparable benefits. You can get these basic benefits regardless of the insurance company you choose, but there can be cost differences. And Medigap Plan N may not be available everywhere since insurers are not required to offer Plan N Medicare Supplement insurance everywhere.  

Finally, there are exceptions to Medigap plan standardizations in three states: Massachusetts, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. These states have created different Medigap policies. 

Medicare Supplement Plan N benefits 

Medigap Plan N covers many Original Medicare benefit costs, including: 

• Medicare Part A coinsurance costs, including hospital stays up to 365 days; 
• Medicare Part A deductible; 
• Medicare Part B copay at your doctors’ offices; 
• Medicare Part B coinsurance for outpatient procedures and care;
• Up to three pints during a blood transfusion; 
• Coinsurance for hospice care and care from a skilled nursing facility; 
• Up to 80 percent of your healthcare costs for emergency care out of the country. 

Like other Medigap plans, Plan N only covers Medicare-approved services. As a result, there are several key things that Plan N does not cover, such as: 

• The Medicare Plan B deductible: Medicare law has changed, and current Medigap plans cannot include coverage for this deductible. But if you had a Medigap plan before this change, you may have this coverage unless you choose to change plans. 
• Dental or vision care: Medigap plans do not cover eye exams, eyeglasses, and other types of dental or vision care. People with Medicare Supplement plans must pay these costs out-of-pocket. 
• Most prescription drugs: While Part B does cover some prescriptions, you may have to pay for most out-of-pocket without a Part D plan. Many people purchase a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan to help with the costs of their prescriptions, but Plan N does not cover them on its own. 
• Hearing care: Although many people who become eligible for Medicare also need hearing aids, Original Medicare (Parts A and B) does not cover the cost of hearing aids. People who purchase Medigap plans must pay for hearing aids out-of-pocket. 

Does Medicare Supplement Plan N cover the Part B deductible? 

Plan N Medigap insurance does not cover the Part B deductible. If you purchased your Medicare Supplement plan before 2020, then your plan may include coverage for the Medicare Part B deductible. But as a result of a law passed by Congress, effective since January 2020, current plans do not have Part B deductible coverage. Medigap plans C and F do provide Part B deductible coverage. People eligible to enroll in Medicare before the law change or who selected Medicare Supplement Plans C or F can get deductible coverage as long as they remain enrolled in those two Medigap plans.  

Medigap Plan N costs 

You can expect certain costs regardless of the private insurer you select to purchase from. For example, with Plan N, you may have to pay the Part B deductible before receiving care coverage. In 2024, the Part B deductible will be $240.  

When you shop for a Medicare Supplement policy, you may notice a range of premium costs. This is because insurers can price their policies in different ways. For example, some set prices for plans based on the communities they serve. Others may offer different pricing based on the recipient’s age when they first purchased their policy. Finally, some policies may change as the recipient ages, increasing yearly. These policies may be very inexpensive when people first enroll in them but can increase based on the person’s age or even because of inflation. Recipients could end up paying very high prices for these plans over time. 

It is important to understand that although the prices can vary significantly from one insurer to another, even for the same coverage. If two insurers offer Plan N, one could charge much more than the other, but both plans will provide the same benefits. 

Medigap Plan N copays 

With Medigap Plan N, you may also have to pay a $50 copay for visits to the emergency room that don’t end up in inpatient admission. And you may have to pay a $20 copayment for some of your visits to the doctor’s office. 

Medicare Supplement Plan N covers the rest of your coinsurance and copayments after you pay the Part B deductible. 

Medicare Supplement Plan G vs. N 

Many people compare Medigap Plan G to Plan N since they have many similarities. Medicare Supplement Plan G offers the most coverage but has higher premiums. But Medicare Supplement Plan N may require recipients to pay a $20 copayment for visits to the doctor’s office and up to $50 for emergency room visits if they are not admitted for inpatient care.  

Another cost difference you may encounter when comparing Medigap Plan N details with Plan G is Part B excess charge coverage. Plan G covers this type of charge, but Plan N does not. However, most insurers have made an agreement with Medicare regarding excess charges and will not bill. Make sure you read the details of your plan to determine if this type of charge is possible where you live. 

If you are deciding between Plan G and Plan N, consider the cost differences between the two plans in your area. Then, think about the number of times you expect to visit the doctor’s office or emergency room per year. If you do not expect to see the doctor or emergency room very frequently, then Plan N could be much more cost-effective. 

Medigap Plan N vs. Plan F 

Both Medigap Plans N and F are popular choices, but there is one big difference between the two—the Part B deductible. Plan F covers the Part B deductible, but Plan N does not. As of January 2020, insurers can no longer sell Plan F to new purchasers unless you were already eligible before January 2020 to buy. If you already purchased Plan F before January 2020, then you can continue to use Plan F. 

There are a few other differences between Medicare Supplement Plans F and N. With Plan N, you may have to pay a copay for doctor’s office visits and emergency room visits that don’t result in admission. You may also have to pay any Part B excess charges. 

Is Plan N a good Medicare Supplement Plan? 

Medicare Supplement Plan N is one of the most popular Medigap plan choices. Many people like the coverage it offers. While selecting Plan N could mean paying a copay for your doctor visits, the premium also tends to be lower than comparable plans like G or F. In addition, insurers can no longer sell Plan F to people who did not already qualify for Medicare before January 2020.  

It can be challenging to choose between Medicare Supplement plans. It is essential to think carefully about your current health and habits. While no one can predict the future, your current health and what you do can increase or decrease your risk for certain conditions down the road. If you are eligible for Original Medicare and are in relatively good health, you may want the protection of more comprehensive coverage but don’t anticipate visiting the doctor often. Medicare Supplement Plan N can be a great choice in this situation.  

Article updated on October 31, 2023.