Plan G vs Plan N Cost: Average Rates & What Drives Them

Plan G and Plan N are two of the standardized Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans, and they pay for almost the same things. The gap in monthly premium comes from a short list of differences: Plan N charges copays for some visits and does not cover Part B excess charges, while Plan G does cover those charges.

This page compares what each plan costs, how pricing method and location change the premium, and which out-of-pocket costs remain after you pay it. It covers cost only. Deciding which plan fits your health and budget is a job for Medicare.gov, a State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) counselor, or a licensed agent.

MoneyGeek publishes national average premiums for both plans by age and by the way the insurer sets its rates. Plan N comes in lower than Plan G in every pairing below, whichever pricing method applies.

A 65-year-old on attained age pricing pays $196/mo for Plan G and $148/mo for Plan N in these averages. At 75, the same method gives $262/mo for Plan G and $188/mo for Plan N. Those are national averages, so a quote for your ZIP code can land well above or below them.

Medigap insurers use one of three methods, and the method often matters more than the plan letter.

• Attained age: the premium starts lowest and rises as you get older. This is the most common method, and it is why the age 75 rows above sit higher than the age 65 rows.
• Issue age: the premium is set by your age when you buy the policy and does not rise because you age, though it can still rise with inflation and claims costs.
• Community rated: everyone in the area pays the same premium regardless of age. It starts highest for a 65-year-old but climbs least over time.

For a 65-year-old, Plan G costs $239/mo on issue age pricing and $306/mo on community pricing. Plan N costs $188/mo and $249/mo under the same two methods. Which method applies depends on the insurer, so ask for it in writing before you compare quotes.

Healthline lists monthly premium ranges for each plan in several cities. The spread inside a single city is large, because different insurers charge very different amounts for the same standardized benefits.

In Los Angeles, Plan G runs from $166/mo to $1,318/mo depending on the insurer, and Plan N from $127/mo to $966/mo. Chicago and Albuquerque show the same pattern: Plan N sits lower than Plan G at both ends of the range, but a cheap Plan G quote can undercut an expensive Plan N quote from a different company. Because the benefits are standardized, comparing several insurers for the same plan is usually the most effective way to lower the premium.

Neither plan pays the Medicare Part B deductible. Plan N also adds copays that Plan G does not have, as the table below shows.

Medicare.gov says Plan N pays the Part B coinsurance but leaves you a copayment of up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for emergency room visits when you are not admitted as an inpatient. Plan N also does not cover Part B excess charges, which are the amounts a provider may bill above the Medicare-approved rate when the provider does not accept assignment. Plan G covers those charges.

For 2026, MoneyGeek lists the Part B deductible at $283, which both plans leave to you each year. The Part A deductible per benefit period is $1,736, and both plans cover it.

The lower Plan N premium comes with more cost at the point of care. If you see a doctor often, the office copays can add up over a year and shrink the savings. If you rarely use care, the lower premium may come out ahead. Seeing providers who charge above the Medicare-approved rate is the other variable, since Plan N leaves those excess charges with you.

Premiums are only part of the bill. Medigap does not include prescription drug coverage, so a separate Part D plan carries its own premium. Dental, vision, and hearing are also outside standard Medigap coverage.

1. Search your ZIP code on Medicare.gov to see which insurers sell each plan in your area.
2. Request quotes for the same plan letter from several insurers, and ask which pricing method each one uses.
3. Ask whether the rate is tied to a discount, such as a household or payment discount, and what happens to the rate if the discount ends.
4. Ask how often the insurer has raised rates on the plan in recent years.

A SHIP counselor can walk through these questions with you, and a licensed agent can pull quotes from multiple insurers.