Medigap Plan G vs Plan N in New York
Almost everyone who chooses a Medicare Supplement in New York ends up deciding between Plan G and Plan N. They cover nearly the same things. The difference is a handful of small copays in exchange for a meaningfully lower premium — and in New York, one of the usual reasons to avoid Plan N doesn't apply.
What the two plans cover
| Benefit | Plan G | Plan N |
|---|---|---|
| Part A hospital deductible & coinsurance | Covered | Covered |
| Skilled nursing facility coinsurance | Covered | Covered |
| Part B 20% coinsurance | Covered | Covered, except copays below |
| Office visit | $0 | Up to $20 copay |
| Emergency room (not admitted) | $0 | Up to $50 copay |
| Part B deductible | You pay | You pay |
| Part B excess charges | Covered | Not covered |
| Foreign travel emergency | 80% after deductible | 80% after deductible |
That's the whole difference: two small copays and excess charges. Everything else — the hospital, the surgery, the chemotherapy, the rehab stay — is covered identically.
Why the answer is different in New York
1. Excess charges are capped at 5% here
Nationally, the argument against Plan N is "what if a specialist doesn't accept assignment and bills 15% more?" New York is one of a handful of states that restricts excess charges: Public Health Law §19 limits physicians to 5% above the Medicare-approved amount for most services, against the federal 15%. Unless you regularly see doctors out of state, the excess-charge risk that scares people off Plan N elsewhere is, in New York, small and capped.
2. Community rating makes the premium gap matter more
New York Medigap premiums are community-rated — everyone on a plan pays the same regardless of age. That pushes premiums at 65 higher than in age-rated states, so the dollar gap between G and N is larger here, and the savings from choosing N are correspondingly bigger.
3. You can change your mind
New York's year-round guaranteed issue means you're never stuck. If you pick N and find yourself at the doctor every two weeks, you can move to G next month. In most states that door closes after your first six months on Part B.
Count your office visits
Divide the annual premium difference between G and N by $20. If you have fewer office visits than that number in a typical year, Plan N is cheaper for you — often by a wide margin. If you have more, or you'd rather have as few bills as possible, Plan G.
Who tends to pick which
- Plan G — people with a chronic condition and frequent specialist visits; people who split time in states that allow excess charges; people who want the fewest possible bills and are happy to pay for it.
- Plan N — people in good health who see a doctor a few times a year; budget-conscious buyers who still want provider freedom; couples where the lower earner's premium matters.
- High-deductible G — the financially comfortable who want catastrophic cover at the lowest premium and can absorb the deductible.
What both plans don't do
- Cover prescription drugs — you need a separate Part D plan.
- Cover routine dental, vision or hearing.
- Cover the Part B deductible (Plan F does, but only for people eligible before 2020).
Getting quotes
Because the plans are standardised, shopping is about premium and the carrier's rate history. I compare the carriers I'm appointed with for both G and N at your ZIP code, alongside a Part D comparison for your actual prescriptions. Request Medigap quotes — and if you're weighing a Supplement against Medicare Advantage, the Medigap in New York page covers that decision.
- Compare Medigap plan benefits (medicare.gov) — Plan N copays
- Medigap high-deductible amounts (CMS) — $2,950 for 2026
- Comparison of 2026 community-rated Medicare Supplement monthly premiums, in effect July 1, 2026 (NY DFS) — Albany region Plan G and N premiums
- Protections for Medicare beneficiaries residing in New York (NY DFS) — community rating, year-round acceptance
- NY Public Health Law §19 — reasonable charges for Medicare beneficiaries — 5% excess-charge cap
I do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information I provide is limited to the plans I do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your State Health Insurance Assistance Program for information on all of your options. Not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government, the Social Security Administration or the federal Medicare program.
Common questions
Short answers to what people ask before they call.
What's the actual difference between Plan G and Plan N?
Both cover the Part A deductible, hospital and skilled-nursing coinsurance, the Part B 20% coinsurance, blood and foreign travel emergencies. Plan N adds a copay of up to $20 at office visits and up to $50 at the emergency room (waived if you're admitted), and does not cover Part B excess charges. Neither covers the Part B deductible.
What are Part B excess charges, and do they exist in New York?
An excess charge is the extra up to 15% a doctor who doesn't accept Medicare assignment can bill above Medicare's approved amount. New York Public Health Law §19 caps what physicians may charge Medicare patients at 5% above the Medicare-approved amount for most services (a few office and home visits may go to the federal 15%), so the excess-charge risk Plan N carries in other states is small here — not zero. Out-of-state care is the exception.
How much cheaper is Plan N?
It varies by carrier. In the DFS table in effect July 1, 2026 for the Albany region, the same company's Plan N runs roughly $70 to $175 a month below its Plan G (for example $342.50 against $269.00 at one carrier, $601.17 against $426.20 at another). Over a year that gap is usually more than you'd pay in office-visit copays unless you see doctors very frequently. I'll quote both side by side for your ZIP code.
Can I switch from G to N, or N to G, later?
In New York, yes — any month, with no health questions, because Medigap is guaranteed-issue year-round here. Start with the one that fits your budget and expected usage; you're not locked in.
What about high-deductible Plan G?
It's Plan G with a yearly deductible ($2,950 in 2026, indexed annually) before the plan pays, in exchange for a much lower premium. Medicare still pays its share first; you cover the cost-sharing until the deductible is met. It suits people who want catastrophic protection and can absorb a couple of thousand dollars in a bad year. Not everyone offers it in New York; I'll tell you who does.
Let's talk it through
A phone call or a message is all it takes. The first conversation is just a conversation.