Medicare Supplement Plan N
Medicare Supplement Plan N is a standardized Medigap policy that works with Original Medicare. In most states, Plan N’s basic standardized benefits are the same regardless of which insurance company sells the policy, while premiums can vary by insurer and location. [1][2]
What does Plan N cover?
Medicare’s standardized Medigap chart shows that Plan N covers:
- Part A coinsurance and hospital costs for up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits are used
- Part B coinsurance, subject to Plan N’s permitted office and emergency-room copayments
- The first three pints of blood
- Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayments
- Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance
- The Medicare Part A deductible
- 80% of foreign-travel emergency costs, up to plan limits [1]
Plan N does not cover the Medicare Part B deductible or Part B excess charges. [1]
What are the Plan N office and ER copays?
Plan N pays 100% of Part B coinsurance except that you may owe a copayment of up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for emergency-room visits that do not result in an inpatient admission. [1]
These copayments are part of Plan N’s standardized design. They are one reason Plan N can price differently from Plan G, although actual premiums depend on the insurer and your location.
What are Part B excess charges?
A Part B excess charge can apply when a provider is legally permitted to charge more than the Medicare-approved amount. Plan N does not cover Part B excess charges. Plan G and Plan F do cover them under the standardized benefit chart. [1]
Whether this difference matters to you depends on the providers you use and whether excess charges are permitted and applicable in your situation.
Does Plan N cover the Part B deductible?
No. You are responsible for the Medicare Part B deductible before Medicare and your Medigap benefits apply as required. The Part B deductible is set by Medicare and can change each year. [1]
Does Plan N cover prescription drugs?
No. Medigap policies sold after 2005 do not include prescription drug coverage. If you have Original Medicare plus Plan N and want prescription drug coverage, you generally need to consider a separate Medicare Part D plan. [3]
Does Plan N cover dental, vision or hearing?
The standardized Medigap benefits do not generally include routine dental care, routine vision care, hearing aids, eyeglasses, long-term care or private-duty nursing. Insurers may offer separate products or non-insurance programs, but those should not be represented as standardized Plan N benefits. [3]
Plan N vs. Plan G
The main standardized differences between Plan N and Plan G are Part B excess charges and Plan N’s permitted office and emergency-room copayments.
Plan G covers Part B excess charges and does not use Plan N’s office/ER copayment structure. Neither standard Plan G nor Plan N covers the Part B deductible. Both include 80% foreign-travel emergency coverage up to plan limits. [1]
When comparing the two, look at the premium difference and how much you value lower point-of-service cost sharing.
Who can buy Plan N?
You generally need Medicare Part A and Part B and must use Original Medicare rather than Medicare Advantage to use a Medigap policy. [4]
Your federal Medigap Open Enrollment Period lasts six months starting the first month you have Part B and are age 65 or older. During this period, insurers cannot deny you a Medigap policy due to pre-existing health problems. Outside the period, underwriting may apply unless you have a guaranteed-issue or state-specific right. [4][5]
How much does Plan N cost?
There is no single national Plan N premium. Premiums vary by insurance company, location and other permitted rating factors. Medicare advises comparing the same plan letter among multiple insurers because standardized benefits are the same while prices may differ substantially. [2]
Ask how the policy is priced and how premiums may change over time, not just what the initial premium is.
Is Plan N right for you?
Plan N may appeal to someone who wants broad Medigap protection but is comfortable with the office/ER copayment structure and with not having Part B excess-charge coverage. Plan G may appeal to someone who values the additional excess-charge protection and simpler Part B cost-sharing structure.
Neither option is automatically best for everyone. The right comparison depends on your budget, providers, expected medical use, state rules and available premiums.
Compare Plan N options
Wise Owl Insurance Group can help you compare Plan N policies available in your area and review Plan N alongside Plan G, Plan F if eligible, and other Medicare coverage approaches.
Availability, premiums and underwriting vary. Review the insurer’s current outline of coverage and policy documents before enrolling.
Last reviewed: 2026-09-21