Medigap Plan G vs. Plan N in Maryland: Costs, Copays, and Coverage Differences

Medigap Plan G and Plan N cover many of the same gaps in Original Medicare. The main tradeoff is predictability versus potential premium savings: Plan G covers Part B excess charges and does not add office or emergency-room copays, while Plan N can require certain copays and does not cover excess charges.

Neither plan pays the Medicare Part B deductible. In 2026, that deductible is $283. The better choice is not simply the plan with the lower monthly premium; it is the one with the better total cost and fit for the way you use care.

Plan G vs. Plan N at a glance

Medigap benefits are standardized. A Plan G from one insurer has the same basic medical benefits as a Plan G from another insurer, though premiums, discounts, rating methods, household rules, and service can differ. The same principle applies to Plan N.

Coverage detail	Plan G	Plan N
Part A hospital coinsurance	Covered	Covered
Part A deductible	Covered	Covered
Skilled nursing facility coinsurance	Covered	Covered
Part B coinsurance	Covered	Covered, except certain copays
Part B deductible	Not covered	Not covered
Part B excess charges	Covered	Not covered
Foreign travel emergency benefit	80%, up to plan limits	80%, up to plan limits

The comparison follows Medicare's official Medigap benefits chart. For Plan N, Medicare says Part B coinsurance is covered except for a copayment of up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for emergency-room visits that do not result in an inpatient admission.

What Plan G gives you

Plan G is built for people who want fewer variables after paying the Part B deductible. Once that deductible is met, Plan G covers the Part B coinsurance included in standardized Medigap benefits. It also covers Part B excess charges.

That does not mean Plan G covers every health expense. It generally does not cover routine dental, vision, hearing aids, long-term care, or outpatient prescription drugs. You normally need separate Part D coverage for prescriptions.

Plan G may be a comfortable fit if you have frequent outpatient visits, prefer predictable cost sharing, travel within the United States, or do not want to check whether a provider can bill a Part B excess charge. The tradeoff is that Plan G may carry a higher premium than Plan N, but that is not guaranteed. Actual quotes matter.

What Plan N changes

Plan N covers the same major hospital gaps shown above, but it shifts a little more cost responsibility to you. You may owe up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for an emergency-room visit that does not lead to inpatient admission. Plan N also leaves Part B excess charges uncovered.

In exchange, Plan N is often priced below Plan G, although the size of the difference varies by insurer and applicant. A modest premium reduction can disappear if you expect many visits. A meaningful reduction may outweigh occasional copays for someone who uses outpatient care less often and is comfortable checking provider billing practices.

Do not treat the copay limits as a flat fee for every service. The rules apply to certain visits, and other Medicare-approved services follow their own cost-sharing treatment. Read the policy outline and ask the insurer how common services are handled before enrolling.

Part B excess charges: the difference many shoppers miss

A doctor who accepts Medicare assignment agrees to Medicare's approved amount for covered services. A provider who does not accept assignment may be allowed to bill more than that amount. The added amount is called a Part B excess charge.

Plan G covers eligible Part B excess charges; Plan N does not. Many providers accept Medicare assignment, so this difference may not affect every patient. Still, it deserves attention if you see specialists in several states or prefer the widest practical flexibility. Ask each office, “Do you accept Medicare assignment?” That wording is more precise than asking only whether the office accepts Medicare.

Compare the total annual cost, not just the premium

A clean comparison starts with the annual premium difference. Multiply each monthly premium by 12, then add the out-of-pocket costs you reasonably expect under Plan N. You do not need a perfect forecast. A simple range is more useful than focusing on one low monthly number.

• Annual premium: Compare quotes for the same applicant, ZIP code, household status, and effective date.

• Expected visits: Estimate how many primary-care and specialist visits you typically have in a year.

• Emergency-room use: Plan N's ER copay applies only when the visit does not result in inpatient admission.

• Provider billing: Check whether the doctors you want accept Medicare assignment.

• Future increases: Ask how the premium is rated and whether the insurer can show its recent rate history. Past increases do not predict future ones, but the information adds context.

Maryland's 2026 Medicare Supplement rate guide shows how widely premiums and rating approaches can vary. Use it as a starting reference, then confirm a current quote with the insurer or a licensed agent before making a decision.

Maryland enrollment timing can affect your choices

Your federal Medigap Open Enrollment Period lasts six months and begins when you are 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare Part B. During that window, insurers generally cannot use medical underwriting to deny a Medigap policy or charge more because of health history. Outside protected enrollment rights, you may face health questions or a denial, depending on the situation.

Maryland also provides an annual birthday opportunity for people who already have Medigap. According to the Maryland Insurance Administration, an existing policyholder can apply during the birthday and the following 30 days for a policy with equal or lesser benefits without medical underwriting. The insurer must notify policyholders 30 to 60 days before the birthday, and the new policy does not have to be from the current carrier.

Moving from Plan G to Plan N may fit the equal-or-lesser-benefits rule, but do not cancel your current policy until the new coverage is approved and its effective date is confirmed. Enrollment rights depend on your circumstances, so verify the rule that applies before submitting an application.

Questions to ask before choosing Plan G or Plan N

• What is the exact monthly premium after any household or payment-method discount?

• Is the policy community-rated, issue-age-rated, or attained-age-rated?

• How large is the current premium difference between Plan G and Plan N?

• Do my regular doctors accept Medicare assignment?

• Am I in an open-enrollment or guaranteed-issue period, or will medical underwriting apply?

• What separate Part D plan will I use for prescriptions?

If you are still comparing the two larger Medicare paths, read Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap in Maryland first. The Forest Brook Financial Medicare Supplement overview explains how Medigap works with Original Medicare. You can also review what Medigap usually does not provide in this guide to dental, vision, and hearing coverage. If you are leaving a Medicare Advantage plan, check the enrollment and underwriting issues in switching from Medicare Advantage to Medigap before making changes.

Frequently asked questions

Is Plan N always cheaper than Plan G?

No. Plan N often has a lower premium, but prices vary by insurer, age, location, rating method, tobacco status, discounts, and enrollment rights. Compare current quotes rather than assuming the order.

Do Plan G and Plan N cover the Part B deductible?

No. Neither plan covers the Part B deductible for people newly eligible for Medicare after January 1, 2020. The 2026 Part B deductible is $283.

Can I use Plan G or Plan N with Medicare Advantage?

No. Medigap supplements Original Medicare. It does not work with a Medicare Advantage plan.

Do these plans include prescription drug coverage?

No. Modern Medigap policies do not include outpatient prescription drug coverage. You can consider a separate Medicare Part D plan.

The bottom line

Plan G usually appeals to people who value predictable medical cost sharing and coverage for Part B excess charges. Plan N may appeal to people who are comfortable with limited copays and provider-assignment checks when the premium savings are worthwhile. Compare the annual cost, not just the monthly rate.

If you want help comparing current Plan G and Plan N options available in Maryland, contact Forest Brook Financial for a plain-English review of the premiums, rating methods, and enrollment rules that apply to you.

Forest Brook Financial is not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency. Medigap premiums, eligibility, underwriting, discounts, policy availability, and service vary by insurer, applicant, location, enrollment rights, and state. Standardized benefits do not make every policy or price identical.