Both plans work with Original Medicare and close many of the same gaps. The tradeoff is usually a higher monthly premium with more predictable costs under Plan G, versus lower premiums with some cost-sharing under Plan N.
Serving Los Angeles, San Diego, the Bay Area, Sacramento, the Inland Empire, and communities across California.
Plan G and Plan N are both standardized Medicare Supplement plans. The right choice depends on the premium difference and how you feel about occasional out-of-pocket costs.
More predictable coverage, including Part B excess charges.
May cost less monthly, with some office and ER copays and no excess-charge coverage.
The real question is whether the premium savings are enough to justify the copays and the lack of Part B excess-charge coverage for you.
Neither Plan G nor Plan N pays the Medicare Part B deductible.
Side-by-side comparison
The plans share most core benefits. These are the differences that usually matter most when deciding between them.
| Feature | Plan G | Plan N |
|---|---|---|
| Medicare Part B deductible | Not covered | Not covered |
| Part B coinsurance | Covered after the Part B deductible | Covered after the Part B deductible, except for certain office and emergency-room copays |
| Office-visit copays | No Plan N-style office copay | Up to $20 for some office visits |
| Emergency-room copays | No Plan N-style ER copay | Up to $50 when the visit does not result in an inpatient admission |
| Part B excess charges | Covered | Not covered |
| Part A hospital deductible and coinsurance | Covered | Covered |
| Skilled nursing facility coinsurance | Covered | Covered |
| Foreign travel emergency benefit | 80% up to plan limits | 80% up to plan limits |
| Monthly premium | Often higher, but pricing varies by company and applicant | Often lower, but pricing varies by company and applicant |
Plan benefits are standardized, but premiums, rate-increase history, household discounts, underwriting, and availability can vary by insurance company and applicant. This page is educational and is not a guarantee of eligibility, price, or coverage.
The part that actually decides it
Every company has to sell the identical standardized Plan G, and the identical standardized Plan N. What they don't have to match is the price — and in California the spread between the cheapest and the most expensive company can run hundreds of dollars a year for the exact same coverage.
Two things that only matter in California
Most Plan G versus Plan N comparisons are written for the whole country. Two California-specific rules can change the answer.
A handful of states have laws that stop providers from billing above the Medicare-approved amount. California is not one of them, so a provider who does not accept Medicare assignment can bill up to 15% more. Plan G covers that; Plan N does not. Most providers do accept assignment, so this is about how much uncertainty you want to carry, not a cost you should expect every year.
If you already hold a Medicare Supplement policy, California gives you a window each year beginning on your birthday to switch companies without medical underwriting, as long as you move to a plan with equal or lesser benefits. Plan N has lesser benefits than Plan G, so a Plan G holder can generally move to Plan N under this rule. Moving from Plan N up to Plan G usually means answering health questions.
The practical tradeoff
Neither plan is automatically better. The decision usually comes down to the actual premium difference and your preference for predictable costs.
How it works
Shopping Medicare Supplement plans should not cost you anything or commit you to anything. Here is the whole process.
Enter a ZIP code and age and see what every company we represent charges for the same standardized plan, lowest price first.
Ask about rate-increase history, household discounts, enrollment timing, and whether health questions apply to you. No cost, no obligation.
Apply online through the insurance company's own secure application, or have a licensed agent walk you through it.
Plan G benefits are standardized from company to company, and the same is true for Plan N. What is not standardized is the premium, or how aggressively a company has raised rates on its existing policyholders. We are an independent agency, so we are not tied to one insurer — we compare what is available to you and sort it by price, never by what pays us more.
Personalized comparison
The benefit differences are only half the decision. The next step is comparing the actual rates available to you and deciding whether Plan N's premium savings justify the additional cost-sharing.
Request a personalized comparison in less than 60 seconds.
No obligation. No pressure. Your information is only used to respond to your Medicare inquiry.
Common questions
Standardized Plan G policies provide the same basic medical benefits regardless of the company selling them. Premiums, rate-increase history, household discounts, and underwriting can still differ — which is why comparing companies matters.
Standardized Plan N policies also provide the same basic medical benefits. Premiums can still vary between companies.
They are additional amounts a provider may legally charge above the Medicare-approved amount when the provider does not accept Medicare assignment. Plan G covers them; Plan N does not. California does not prohibit them, so they are possible here.
These Medicare Supplement plans do not include outpatient prescription drug coverage. Many people pair Original Medicare and a Medigap plan with a separate Part D plan.
California's birthday rule generally lets someone who already holds a Medicare Supplement policy switch companies during a window beginning on their birthday, as long as the new plan has equal or lesser benefits. Plan N has lesser benefits than Plan G. Ask about your specific situation before you apply.
It depends on timing. During your one-time six-month Medigap open enrollment period that begins when your Part B starts, and in certain guaranteed-issue situations, companies cannot use health questions to decline you. Outside those windows they usually can.
See what every company we represent charges for the same standardized plan, sorted lowest price first — then talk it through with a licensed agent before you decide.
Serving Medicare beneficiaries throughout California.
