Medicare Supplement Plan N: Coverage, Costs, Pros & Cons

Key Takeaways

Plan N pays the $1,736 Part A deductible, Part B co-insurance and skilled nursing facility care but not the Part B deductible or excess charges.

You pay copays up to $20 for doctor visits and up to $50 for emergency room visits that don't result in hospital admission.

Plan N costs $148 to $267 per month depending on your age and pricing method, lower monthly than Plan G on average.

Plan N doesn't cover the $283 annual Part B deductible, Part B excess charges, prescription drugs, dental, vision or hearing services.

What Is Medicare Supplement Plan N?

Medicare Supplement Plan N is a standardized Medigap policy that fills most gaps in Original Medicare at lower monthly premiums than Plan G or Plan F. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services standardizes Plan N's benefits nationwide, so every insurer must include the same covered items. What changes between insurers is the monthly premium, not the coverage.

Plan N works for Medicare beneficiaries who want broad financial protection and can absorb small copays and two coverage gaps. You pay up to $20 per doctor visit and up to $50 per emergency room visit not resulting in admission, in exchange for lower monthly premiums. Plan N doesn't cover the $283 annual Part B deductible or Part B excess charges, per the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' 2026 benefit standards.


Part B deductible covered	No ($283 in 2026)
Part B excess charges covered	No
Doctor visit copay	Up to $20
ER visit copay (not admitted)	Up to $50
Prescription drug coverage	No
Foreign travel emergency	80% after $250 deductible; $50,000 lifetime max

What Does Medicare Supplement Plan N Cover?

Plan N covers most Original Medicare out-of-pocket costs under Parts A and B, including hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care and Part B co-insurance. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services standardizes these benefits, so every Plan N policy in the country covers the same items. You pay only the doctor and ER copays and the annual Part B deductible out of pocket.

Part A Hospital Co-Insurance and Hospital Costs

Plan N covers your share of inpatient hospital costs under Medicare Part A, including up to 365 additional days after Medicare benefits end. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services sets the Part A daily co-insurance at $434 for days 61 through 90 of a hospital stay in 2026.

Part B Co-Insurance or Copay

Plan N pays Medicare Part B co-insurance or copays for approved services after you pay the $283 annual Part B deductible yourself. This co-insurance is typically 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for most outpatient services.

Part A Deductible

Plan N pays the full $1,736 Part A deductible per benefit period in 2026. This deductible applies each time you're admitted to a hospital after a 60-day break in care, not once per calendar year, so full coverage provides real protection against repeated hospital stays.

Skilled Nursing Facility Co-Insurance

Plan N covers skilled nursing facility co-insurance for days 21 through 100 at $217 per day in 2026, per the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Original Medicare covers days one through 20 in full; days 21 through 100 require co-insurance that Plan N pays.

First Three Pints of Blood

Plan N covers the cost of the first three pints of blood annually under both Part A and Part B. Original Medicare doesn't pay for the first three pints, so this benefit removes a common out-of-pocket cost for beneficiaries who need transfusions.

Foreign Travel Emergency

Plan N covers 80% of emergency medical costs outside the United States after a $250 deductible, up to a $50,000 lifetime maximum, per the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Original Medicare provides no foreign travel emergency coverage.

Part B Preventive Care Co-Insurance

Plan N covers Medicare-approved preventive care co-insurance at no cost to you when your provider accepts Medicare assignment. This applies to annual wellness visits, cancer screenings and other services covered under Medicare Part B.

What Plan N Doesn't Cover?

Plan N has two coverage gaps beyond the standard copays that can add to your annual out-of-pocket costs. Budget for both before selecting Plan N over Plan G.

Part B Deductible

You pay the full $283 annual Part B deductible before Plan N's Part B co-insurance applies in 2026, per the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. This deductible resets each January 1.

Part B Excess Charges

If your provider doesn't accept Medicare assignment, they may charge up to 15% above the Medicare-approved rate. Plan N doesn't cover this amount, so you pay the difference out of pocket. Selecting providers who accept Medicare assignment removes this gap entirely.

Prescription Drugs

Plan N excludes prescription drug coverage. You'll need a separate Medicare Part D plan, which costs $20 to $80 per month in most markets, per MoneyGeek's analysis of 2026 Part D plan data.

Dental, Vision and Hearing

Plan N doesn't cover routine dental care, vision exams, eyeglasses or hearing aids. You'll need separate dental and vision coverage or a discount plan for those services.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Medicare Supplement Plan N?

Plan N provides strong financial protection at lower monthly premiums than the most comprehensive Medigap options, which works well for Medicare beneficiaries who see doctors regularly but want to reduce their monthly cost. The tradeoff is predictable copays and two coverage gaps: the Part B deductible and Part B excess charges that add up for some policyholders. Review both sides before enrolling.

Benefits and Disadvantages of Plan N

Plan N premiums start at $148 per month at age 65 under attained-age pricing, lower than Plan G's monthly average for comparable hospital and co-insurance benefits, per MoneyGeek's analysis of 2026 Medigap plan data.
Plan N pays the full $1,736 Part A deductible per benefit period, protecting you from large out-of-pocket costs during a hospital stay in 2026.
Plan N covers skilled nursing facility co-insurance for days 21 through 100 at $217 per day in 2026, a cost that adds up quickly during post-hospital recovery stays.
Plan N covers 80% of emergency medical costs abroad after a $250 deductible, with a $50,000 lifetime maximum, per the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Original Medicare provides no foreign travel coverage.
Plan N works with any provider nationwide who accepts Medicare, so you don't need referrals, prior authorization or in-network restrictions to see a specialist.

You pay the $283 annual Part B deductible out of pocket before Plan N's co-insurance applies. Plan G shares this gap, but Plan F covers it for beneficiaries who enrolled in Medicare before January 1, 2020.
Each doctor visit costs up to $20 and each emergency room visit not resulting in admission costs up to $50. Beneficiaries with multiple weekly appointments may spend more in copays than the monthly premium savings compared to Plan G.
Providers who don't accept Medicare assignment can charge up to 15% above the Medicare-approved rate. Plan N doesn't cover this gap. Plan G does.
A separate Part D plan is required. Adding Part D coverage typically costs $20 to $80 per month, per MoneyGeek's analysis of 2026 Part D plan data.
Routine dental care, eye exams and hearing aids require separate coverage. Plan N, like all Medigap plans, excludes these services.

How Much Does Medicare Supplement Plan N Cost per Month?

Medicare Supplement Plan N premiums vary by insurer, location and the pricing method your insurer uses. Three methods exist: attained-age pricing, which raises your premium each birthday; issue-age pricing, which locks your rate at your enrollment age; and community rating, which charges the same amount regardless of age. Premiums for a 65-year-old start at $148 per month based on MoneyGeek's analysis of 2026 Medigap plan data.


Attained Age	65	$148	$1,780
Attained Age	75	$188	$2,260
Issue Age	65	$188	$2,258
Issue Age	75	$234	$2,811
Community	65	$249	$2,994
Community	75	$267	$3,202

*MoneyGeek's 2026 analysis of Medicare Supplement Plan N premiums. Rates represent national averages and vary by state and insurer.

How Is Medicare Supplement Plan N Different From Plan G and Plan F?

Plan N, Plan G and Plan F all cover the Part A deductible, skilled nursing facility co-insurance and foreign travel emergencies, but they differ on the Part B deductible, excess charges, copays and monthly premiums. Plan F is no longer available to beneficiaries who became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020, per the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Plan G is the most comprehensive Medigap plan available to new enrollees today.


Part A deductible ($1,736)	Yes	Yes	Yes
Part A hospital co-insurance	Yes	Yes	Yes
Skilled nursing facility co-insurance	Yes	Yes	Yes
Part B co-insurance	Yes	Yes	Yes
Part B deductible ($283)	No	No	Yes
Part B excess charges	No	Yes	Yes
Foreign travel emergency	Yes	Yes	Yes
Doctor visit copay	Up to $20	None	None
ER visit copay (not admitted)	Up to $50	None	None
Available to new enrollees	Yes	Yes	No

*Benefit standardization applies in all states except Massachusetts, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Should You Consider Medicare Supplement Plan N?

Plan N works well for Medicare beneficiaries who want substantial financial protection and can absorb the $283 annual Part B deductible and small copays per visit. Compare Plan N to Plan G and high-deductible Plan G to confirm the monthly premium savings outweigh the additional out-of-pocket costs you'd take on. Your annual visit frequency and whether your doctors accept Medicare assignment are the two clearest factors.

If you're weighing Plan N against Medicare Advantage plans, note that Medicare Advantage plans average $0 per month in 2026 but restrict access to network providers, per MoneyGeek's analysis of 2026 Medicare Advantage plan data.

You want lower monthly premiums than Plan G

Plan N's $148 monthly starting premium at age 65 is lower than Plan G's monthly average. If you see your doctor two to four times a year, the $20 copay per visit likely costs less annually than the premium difference between Plan N and Plan G.

Your doctors accept Medicare assignment

Plan N doesn't cover Part B excess charges, so it works best when your providers accept Medicare's approved rates in full. Doctors who don't accept Medicare assignment can charge up to 15% above those rates, which you'd pay out of pocket under Plan N.

You want nationwide provider access

Plan N, like all Medicare Supplement plans, lets you see any Medicare-accepting provider nationwide without referrals or prior authorization. This sets it apart from Medicare Advantage plans, which typically restrict access to network providers.

You want a guaranteed-renewable policy

Plan N renews automatically each year as long as you pay your premiums. Insurers can't cancel your policy because of age, health changes or how often you use services. This guaranteed renewability is a federal protection that applies to all standardized Medigap plans.

WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATIVES TO MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT PLAN N?

Plan G covers Part B excess charges and has no doctor visit copays, which works better for beneficiaries whose providers don't always accept Medicare assignment. High-deductible Plan G has lower monthly premiums than Plan N, but requires you to pay $2,950 in costs before coverage begins in 2026, per the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Medicare Advantage plans often cost $0 per month but restrict you to a provider network. Review Medigap vs. Medicare Advantage to compare both approaches before enrolling.

Bottom Line

Medicare Supplement Plan N covers most Original Medicare out-of-pocket costs at lower monthly premiums than Plan G. You pay copays up to $20 per doctor visit and up to $50 per emergency room visit not resulting in admission, plus the $283 annual Part B deductible. Enroll during your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period, which starts when you turn 65 and enroll in Medicare Part B, to get guaranteed coverage.

Medicare Supplement Plan N: FAQ

We've answered the most frequently asked questions about Medicare Supplement Plan N:

Does Medicare Supplement Plan N cover the Part B deductible?

Plan N doesn't cover the Part B deductible, which is $283 in 2026 per the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. You pay this amount each calendar year before Plan N's Part B co-insurance applies. Plan G also doesn't cover the Part B deductible. Plan F does, but it's only available to beneficiaries who enrolled in Medicare before January 1, 2020.

What's the difference between Medicare Supplement Plan N and Plan G?

Plan N and Plan G both cover the $1,736 Part A deductible, Part B co-insurance and skilled nursing facility care for days 21 through 100. Plan G also covers Part B excess charges and charges no doctor visit copays. Plan N requires copays up to $20 per doctor visit and up to $50 per emergency room visit not resulting in admission, with lower monthly premiums than Plan G in exchange.

Can you be denied Medicare Supplement Plan N coverage?

During your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period, which starts when you turn 65 and enroll in Medicare Part B, insurers can't deny Plan N coverage or charge higher rates based on health conditions. Outside this window, insurers may review your medical history and can decline coverage or raise rates. Certain life events, such as losing employer coverage, may trigger a new guaranteed-issue right under federal law.

About Mark Fitzpatrick

Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research for insurance shoppers. His insights have been featured in CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.

Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!

He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.

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sources

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. "2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles.." Accessed March 14, 2026.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. "Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Insurance.." Accessed March 14, 2026.