Medigap Plan G vs Plan N Calculator (2026)
Plan G has higher premium, no doctor copays. Plan N has lower premium but $20 office / $50 ER copays plus Part B excess charges (where allowed). Calculate the break-even visit count.
| Plan G annual premium | — |
| Plan N annual premium | — |
| Plan N copays + excess / year | — |
| Annual savings (Plan N) | — |
| Plan G total over years | — |
| Plan N total over years | — |
Medigap Plan G and Plan N are the two most popular options after Plan F was closed to new enrollees in 2020. Plan G has a higher premium but no copays. Plan N has a lower premium but charges $20 per office visit, $50 per ER visit (waived if admitted), and does not cover Medicare Part B excess charges where allowed by state.
The Real Cost Difference
Plan G typically costs $35-$60/month more than Plan N. That's $420-$720/year extra premium. For Plan G to lose, you need fewer than about 21-36 office visits per year (depending on premium gap). Most Medicare beneficiaries average 6-10 office visits per year, so Plan N usually wins on math. But Plan G wins on predictability and on protection from Part B excess charges in the 42 states that allow them.
States That Ban Part B Excess
Eight states prohibit Part B excess charges by state law: New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Ohio, Rhode Island, and Vermont. If you live in one of these, Plan N's main downside disappears and the case for Plan N strengthens. Outside these states, ask each provider if they accept Medicare assignment. Most do, but specialists sometimes don't. A single $200 excess charge is small; a $5,000 surgery with 15% excess is $750 — large enough to matter.
Last updated May 2026. Sources: CMS Medicare.