Medigap (Medicare Supplement) Plan Comparison Tool 2026: Plan G vs. Plan N
Figures last verified against official CMS sources in August 2026.
Quick Answer
According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Medigap Plan G is the most comprehensive Medicare Supplement plan available to new enrollees in 2026. It covers 100% of Medicare-approved costs after a single $283 annual Part B deductible — no copays, no coinsurance. Medigap Plan N offers premiums roughly 20–25% lower than Plan G, with up to $20 doctor visit copays and no coverage for Part B excess charges. All Medigap benefits are federally standardized — the same plan letter provides identical coverage regardless of which insurance company sells it.
Medigap Plan Comparison Tool 2026
Select a Medigap plan (Plan G, N, A, or F) to view an itemized breakdown of covered benefits, copays, and premium estimates.
With 10 standardized Medigap plan letters — A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N — choosing the right Medicare Supplement policy feels overwhelming, especially when insurance agents push specific plans for their own commission reasons. We built this independent comparison tool so seniors can see exactly what each plan covers and what it costs without entering an email address or speaking to a single agent.
- Seniors approaching 65 who need to choose a Medigap supplement during their 6-month guaranteed Open Enrollment window before health underwriting applies.
- Medicare beneficiaries deciding between Plan G (full coverage after deductible) and Plan N (lower premium with modest copays) based on their health usage patterns.
- Existing Medicare enrollees who want to review their current supplement plan benefits and compare them against other standardized options.
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How to Use This Comparison Tool — Step by Step
- Step 1 — Select the Medigap plans to compare. Choose Plan G, Plan N, Plan A, or Plan F from the plan selector. Plan G and Plan N are the two most commonly selected plans for new enrollees in 2026. Plan G offers maximum coverage with completely predictable costs after the annual Part B deductible. Plan N offers lower monthly premiums with modest copays. Plan F is shown for reference but is only available to people who became Medicare-eligible before January 1, 2020.
- Step 2 — Enter your age. Input your current age to generate an estimated average monthly premium range. Medigap premiums are age-rated — the older you are when you enroll, the higher the monthly cost. You can find personalized Medigap premium quotes specific to your ZIP code, age, and gender at no cost with no account at medicare.gov/find-a-plan.
- Step 3 — Click "Inspect Plan Benefits and Costs." The tool generates a side-by-side benefits table showing exactly which Medicare cost-sharing amounts each plan covers — including Part A and Part B deductibles, Part B coinsurance, Part B excess charges, skilled nursing facility coinsurance, and foreign travel emergency coverage. Review the coverage-versus-cost trade-off for each plan to find the right balance for your health situation.
💡 Pro Tip
Because Medigap Plan G benefits are 100% identical across all insurance carriers by federal law, shop entirely on monthly premium price and the insurer's annual rate increase history — not on coverage details. An insurer with a low starting premium but a history of 12% annual rate increases can cost significantly more over 10 years than one that starts slightly higher but raises rates 4% annually. Your state insurance commissioner's office publishes rate increase history for all carriers. Official Medigap guidelines and a carrier directory for your state are at medicare.gov/supplements-other-insurance.
Real-Life Examples — Which Medigap Plan Makes Sense?
These three representative situations show how the Plan G versus Plan N decision plays out with real numbers for different seniors.
Dorothy is healthy, sees her primary care doctor twice a year, and had no specialist visits in the past three years. She wants a supplement plan but is watching her monthly budget carefully.
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Age at enrollment | 65 |
| Expected doctor visits per year | 2 primary care, 0 specialist |
| Plan G monthly premium (estimate) | $120/month |
| Plan N monthly premium (estimate) | $92/month |
Plan G annual cost: $1,440 premiums + $283 Part B deductible = $1,723 total Plan N annual cost: $1,104 premiums + $283 deductible + $40 copays = $1,427 total
Dorothy chose Plan N, saving about $296 per year in her low-use situation. She understood she could switch to Plan G later only if she remains healthy enough to pass medical underwriting.
Harold has coronary artery disease, sees a cardiologist four times a year, and had one outpatient cardiac procedure last year. He wants completely predictable costs with no surprise bills.
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Age at enrollment | 68 |
| Expected specialist visits per year | 4–6 cardiologist visits + 1 procedure |
| Plan G monthly premium (estimate) | $155/month |
| Plan N copay exposure per year | $120+ (6 visits × $20) |
Plan G annual cost: $1,860 premiums + $283 deductible = $2,143 total, zero unpredictable bills Plan N annual cost: $1,428 premiums + $283 deductible + $120+ copays = $1,831+ total
Harold chose Plan G for the peace of mind of zero copays. The $312 annual premium savings from Plan N was not worth the constant copay tracking and the risk that his cardiologist charges Part B excess charges.
Ruth left Medicare Advantage after 7 years due to constant prior authorization delays. She is switching to Original Medicare plus Medigap but needs to pass health underwriting since her Medigap Open Enrollment window closed years ago.
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Age at Medigap application | 74 — past guaranteed issue window |
| Health conditions | Type 2 diabetes, managed hypertension |
| Guaranteed issue right? | No — standard underwriting applies in her state |
| Options available | Plan A (most carriers will approve) or Plan G with rating |
Several carriers offered Plan G at a rated premium (25–40% higher than standard due to health conditions) Plan A was available from most carriers at standard premium — covers hospital costs and Part B coinsurance only
Ruth worked with a free SHIP counselor at shiphelp.org who identified she had a guaranteed issue right from leaving Medicare Advantage during the January–March Open Enrollment Period. She qualified for Plan G at standard rates.
These are representative examples based on common situations. Premium amounts vary by age, state, gender, and carrier. Individual results depend on actual health usage and plan availability in your ZIP code. Always verify current premiums and plan availability at medicare.gov/find-a-plan.
Common Medigap Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Mistake 1 — Missing the 6-Month Guaranteed Open Enrollment Window
The most costly Medigap mistake is missing the guaranteed 6-month Open Enrollment window. This window opens the first month you are both age 65 and enrolled in Medicare Part B. During these six months, insurance companies cannot reject you, cannot ask about your health history, and cannot charge you more due to pre-existing conditions. After this window closes, most states allow full medical underwriting — meaning serious conditions like diabetes, heart disease, or past cancer can result in rejection or much higher premiums for life.
The fix is to enroll in Medigap immediately when you enroll in Part B at 65 — not later, not after trying Medicare Advantage first. The official open enrollment window rules are at medicare.gov — when can I buy Medigap.
Mistake 2 — Comparing Plans by Benefits Instead of by Price and Rate History
Because Medigap Plan G benefits are legally identical regardless of which insurer sells them, many seniors waste hours comparing brochures with identical benefit tables. The only factors that actually differ between carriers are: monthly premium today, and annual rate increase percentage over the past 5–10 years. A carrier with a 12% annual increase history will far outpace a carrier with 4% annual increases within 5 years, even if they start at the same price.
The fix is to request each carrier's 5-year rate increase history directly, or call your state insurance commissioner's office which tracks this data. Find the contact for your state commissioner at naic.org/state_contacts.
Mistake 3 — Assuming Plan N Is Always Better Because of the Lower Premium
Plan N's lower premium looks attractive, but the out-of-pocket copay exposure can exceed Plan G's premium savings for seniors who see specialists frequently. Plan N charges up to $20 per doctor visit copay, a $50 emergency room copay, and does not cover Part B excess charges at all. For someone seeing four specialists quarterly plus a primary care doctor — 17 visits per year — the copay exposure alone is $340, which may exceed the annual premium savings versus Plan G.
The fix is to calculate your expected annual copay exposure under Plan N before comparing it to the Plan G premium savings. Use your prior year's doctor visit count as a baseline. If you see specialists regularly, Plan G's predictability almost always wins mathematically.
Mistake 4 — Enrolling in Medicare Advantage First to "Try It" Before Getting Medigap
Seniors who enroll in Medicare Advantage at 65 to "try it" often discover later they cannot get a Medigap plan at standard rates because their guaranteed issue window has closed and they have developed health conditions in the meantime. In most states, once your 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period closes, you are subject to health underwriting and can be denied or rated up permanently.
The fix is to make your Medicare coverage decision at 65 with full information — not to treat it as a trial period. Read our full comparison guide at Medicare Advantage vs. Original Medicare cost comparison before making your initial coverage choice.
Official Government Sources Used in This Tool
| Source Name | What We Used It For | Direct Link |
|---|---|---|
| CMS — Choosing a Medigap Policy: A Guide to Health Insurance for People with Medicare (2026) | Official standardized Medigap benefit chart covering Plans A through N, guaranteed issue rights, and MACRA Plan F restriction rules | CMS Medigap Guide to Health Insurance (PDF) |
| CMS — How to Compare Medigap Policies | Official guidance on standardized plan letters, shopping by price, and state-specific Medigap rules including states with guaranteed issue rights | medicare.gov — Compare Medigap Policies |
| CMS 2026 Medicare Part B Premium and Deductible Announcement | 2026 annual Part B deductible ($283) used in all Plan G and Plan N cost calculations on this page | CMS 2026 Part B Premiums and Deductibles Fact Sheet |
| Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) — Plan F Eligibility Rules | Statutory basis for the January 1, 2020 Plan F and Plan C eligibility cutoff rule | H.R. 2 — Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 |
Seniors Audit is an independent educational platform. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to any government agency, insurance company, or financial services firm. All benefit tables use the official standardized plan charts published by CMS. We do not receive payment for referrals, leads, or any action taken by visitors to this site.
Frequently Asked Questions About Medigap Plans
What is the most popular Medigap plan in 2026?
Medigap Plan G is the most popular Medicare Supplement plan for new enrollees in 2026. Plan G covers 100% of Medicare-approved doctor, hospital, and outpatient costs after you pay the small annual Part B deductible of $283. You pay nothing else — no copays, no coinsurance, no Part A deductibles — for the rest of the year. Plan G replaced Plan F as the top-selling plan after Plan F was closed to new Medicare enrollees in 2020.
What is the difference between Medigap Plan G and Plan N?
Medigap Plan G covers 100% of Medicare-approved costs after the $283 annual Part B deductible, including rare Part B excess charges. Plan N offers roughly 20–25% lower monthly premiums than Plan G, but requires a copay of up to $20 per doctor office visit, a $50 copay for emergency room visits not leading to admission, and does NOT cover Part B excess charges (the extra amount some doctors charge above Medicare's approved rate — up to 15% more).
Why can newly eligible Medicare enrollees no longer buy Medigap Plan F?
Under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) of 2015, Medigap plans that cover the Part B deductible — specifically Plan F and Plan C — cannot be sold to anyone who became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. This law was designed to give Medicare beneficiaries more "skin in the game" to reduce overuse of services. If you were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020, you can still purchase or keep Plan F.
Are Medigap benefits standardized across different insurance companies?
Yes. By federal law, a Medigap Plan G sold by Company A offers the exact same medical benefits as a Medigap Plan G sold by Company B. The coverage is 100% identical. The only differences between carriers are the monthly premium price, customer service reputation, and the insurer's annual rate increase history. This standardization means you should shop on price and rate stability — not on benefits, which never vary.
When is the best time to buy a Medigap policy?
The best — and sometimes only — time to buy a Medigap policy without health questions is during your 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period (Medigap OEP). This window opens on the first day of the month you turn 65 AND are enrolled in Medicare Part B. During this 6-month window, insurance companies cannot deny you coverage or charge higher premiums due to pre-existing health conditions. After this window closes, they can reject you or price you out based on your medical history.
Does Medigap cover dental, vision, or hearing care?
No. Standard Medigap plans do not cover dental care, eye exams or eyeglasses, hearing exams or hearing aids, or routine foot care. These are not covered by Original Medicare, and Medigap only fills the gaps left by Medicare Parts A and B. For dental and vision coverage, you would need a separate stand-alone plan or a Medicare Advantage plan that includes those benefits — but Medicare Advantage plans restrict your doctor network.
What are Part B excess charges and do they really happen?
Part B excess charges are additional fees that doctors who do not accept "Medicare assignment" are legally allowed to charge above Medicare's approved amount — up to 15% more. For example, if Medicare approves $200 for a procedure, a non-assignment doctor can charge up to $230. Only Plans G and F cover these excess charges. Plans N, A, K, and L do not. In most states, these charges are rare but they can be significant for specialist visits.
Can I change my Medigap plan after the open enrollment window closes?
Yes, but you may face health underwriting. After your 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period closes, you can apply to switch plans or carriers at any time, but the insurance company can review your health history and reject you or charge a higher premium based on pre-existing conditions in most states. A few states — including Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York — have year-round guaranteed issue rules that protect you regardless of health.
Key Terms Used on This Page
- Medigap
- Also called Medicare Supplement Insurance. A private insurance policy that fills in the "gaps" left by Original Medicare Parts A and B — mainly the 20% Part B coinsurance, Part A deductibles, and hospital copays. The name comes from "Medicare gap."
- Plan G
- The most comprehensive Medigap plan available to new enrollees since 2020. Covers 100% of Medicare-approved costs after the annual Part B deductible ($283 in 2026). No other out-of-pocket costs for the rest of the year.
- Plan N
- A lower-premium Medigap alternative to Plan G. Covers the same benefits as Plan G except it requires a $20 copay per doctor visit, a $50 ER copay, and does NOT cover Part B excess charges.
- Plan F
- Previously the most comprehensive Medigap plan — covers even the Part B deductible. No longer available to people who became eligible for Medicare after December 31, 2019. Still available to those eligible before 2020.
- Part B excess charges
- Extra fees that non-participating Medicare doctors (those who do not accept Medicare assignment) can charge above Medicare's approved amount — legally up to 15% more. Only Plans G and F cover these charges. In most states these are rare but can be significant for specialist visits.
- Medicare assignment
- An agreement by which a doctor accepts Medicare's approved payment amount as payment in full. Doctors who accept assignment cannot charge Part B excess charges. You can check if a doctor accepts assignment at medicare.gov/care-compare.
- Medigap OEP
- Medigap Open Enrollment Period — the 6-month window starting the first month you are both age 65 and enrolled in Medicare Part B. During this window, Medigap insurers cannot reject you or charge more due to health conditions. This is your most important purchase window.
- MACRA
- Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 — the federal law that eliminated first-dollar coverage Medigap plans (F and C) for new Medicare enrollees beginning January 1, 2020.
- CMS
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services — the federal agency that establishes and standardizes all Medigap plan benefit structures and enforces the rules that make every Plan G identical regardless of carrier.
- Underwriting
- The insurance company process of reviewing your medical history to decide whether to sell you coverage and at what price. During the Medigap OEP, underwriting is prohibited. After the OEP, underwriting is allowed in most states.
Other Free Medicare Tools You May Find Useful
After comparing Medigap plans, these are the tools seniors most commonly use next.
For a complete walkthrough of all Medicare plan types, enrollment windows, and 2026 costs, visit our Medicare education hub — and read our guide on comparing Medigap Plan G vs Plan N vs Medicare Advantage. If you need to compare Medicare Advantage versus Original Medicare first before choosing a supplement, use our Medicare Advantage vs. Original Medicare cost comparison tool. If your income may affect your Part B premium, check your IRMAA surcharge estimate before finalizing your budget.
About This Educational Estimate: This tool is for educational purposes only. Seniors Audit uses the official formulas published by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), but results are estimates based on the information you entered. Rules, rates, and eligibility thresholds change annually and vary by individual circumstance.
Always verify your specific result directly with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) at 1-800-633-4227 or at www.medicare.gov before making enrollment, coverage, or financial decisions.
If you have Medicare questions, a free SHIP counselor in your state can review your specific situation at no cost — find yours at shiphelp.org.
Seniors Audit is independent and not affiliated with any government agency or insurance company. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to any government agency, insurance company, or financial services firm. All calculations use the official formulas and current figures published by the agencies listed above. We do not receive payment for referrals, leads, or any action taken by visitors to this site. Last reviewed: August 2026.