Whether you’re just signing up for Medicare, considering switching plans or helping a loved one navigate Medicare health insurance, comparing supplement plans is an important part of the process. In addition to your basic Medicare coverage, it’s common to sign up for Medicare Supplement Insurance (also referred to as Medigap) or Medicare Advantage, which helps to cover costs not included in Medicare Parts A and B.
Medigap plans F, G and N help fill health insurance coverage gaps for people who are on Medicare.
While Medigap plans G and N have similar coverage, Plan N has some copayments for office visits and emergency room visits that are not part of Plan G.
Plans F, G and N, which are the three of the most popular supplement plans, are offered by private insurance companies, such as United HealthCare and Humana.
[READ: Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage: How to Choose.]
Who Qualifies for Medigap Plans F, G or N?
Importantly, Medigap Plan F is only available for those who turned 65 or qualified for Medicare before January 1, 2020. In 2015, Congress passed the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act, also called MACRA, that blocked access to Plan F for those people who became eligible after January 1, 2020.
You can still sign up for Plan F if you qualified for Medicare before January 1, 2020.
Although many people sign up for Medicare when they’re first eligible at or around age 65, others may wait. For instance, if you were working at a place that offered health insurance benefits when you turned 65, you may have opted out of Medicare to stay on that insurance coverage. Once you retire, you may want to start taking advantage of your Medicare benefits.
[When (and How) to Sign Up for Medicare if You’re Still Working]
What Is Medigap Plan F?
Medigap Plan F helps to cover health expenses that aren’t included in Medicare Parts A and B — in other words, the coverage gaps. It is available for those who turned 65 or qualified for Medicare before January 1, 2020.
Plan F coverage includes:
— Part A coinsurance and hospital costs up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits are used up
— Part A deductible
— Part B deductible
— Part B coinsurance or copayment
— Part B excess charge, which is a charge by a provider beyond the Medicare-approved amount
— Blood (first three pints)
— Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance, as well as hospice care coinsurance or copayment
— 80% of the cost of health care costs incurred while traveling in a foreign country, up to your plan’s limits
What Is Medigap Plan G?
Medigap Plan G is similar to Medigap Plan F, but it does not include the part B deductible. Medigap Plan G coverage includes:
— Part A coinsurance and hospital costs up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits are used up
— Part A deductible
— Part B coinsurance or copayment
— Part B excess charge, which is a charge by a provider beyond the Medicare-approved amount
— Blood (first three pints)
— Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance, as well as hospice care coinsurance or copayment
— 80% of the cost of health care costs incurred while traveling in a foreign country, up to your plan’s limits
What Is Medigap Plan N?
Medigap Plan N is similar to Plan G, but it has some copayments for Part B services that Plan G doesn’t have, says Whitney Stidom, vice president of Medicare operations for eHealth, a health insurance broker and online resource provider headquartered in Santa Clara, California. That means you may have to pay a certain amount for some doctor’s office visits.
Like Plan G, Plan N doesn’t cover the Part B deductible.
Medicare Plan N coverage includes:
— Part A coinsurance and hospital costs up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits are used up
— Part A deductible
— Part B coinsurance or copayment, although there are copayments of up to $20 for some office visits and up to a $50 copayment for some emergency room visits
— Blood (first three pints)
— Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance, as well as hospice care coinsurance or copayment
— 80% of the cost of health care costs incurred while traveling in a foreign country, up until your plan’s limits
Both Plan G and Plan N are available to all Medicare beneficiaries, unlike Plan F.
Plan N and excess charges
Plan N also doesn’t cover excess charges. However, eight states (Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont) legally prohibit excess charges. So, if you live in one of these states, Plan N is an even better deal because state laws protect you from the excess charges that aren’t covered under Plan N.
Medigap Plans F vs. G vs. N Coverage
Here is more information to help you compare Medigap Plan F versus Medigap Plans G and N.
Medigap Plans F vs. G vs. N: Costs
Most people signing up for Medicare won’t have the option to choose between Medigap Plans F versus G or N because of the cutoff that took effect on January 1, 2020. No matter what your plan choices are, you’d be wise to consider your total annual out-of-pocket costs for deductibles, copays and premiums. Compare those side by side for any plan you’re considering. There are online tools on websites, such as eHealth, to help give you a side-by-side comparison.
To compare costs, make sure you’re looking at the deductible and the monthly premium. For instance, if you qualify for both Plans F and G, Plan F may seem advantageous at first because you don’t have to pay the $283 deductible for Part B.
“I would be OK with paying the Part B medical deductible because I would think about how much I was spending per month for premiums,” says Jennifer Byrd, an insurance broker specializing in Medicare who’s based in Lakewood Ranch, Florida.
To find out which plan is the most financially beneficial, it’s important to crunch the numbers either on your own or with a knowledgeable insurance agent. When working with the same type of plan, the coverage will be identical no matter which company you choose.
Make sure to choose a premium you can pay in the long run if you’ll be on a fixed income, says Bob Rees, chief sales officer with eHealth.
Medigap Plans F vs. G vs. N: Deductibles
The other major difference to consider when comparing Plans F, G and N is that Plan F covers the annual Part B deductible of $283, but Plans G and N don’t. That deductible amount can change from year to year. This year, it increased from $257 in 2025 to $283 in 2026.
“For a long time, Plan F was considered the gold standard, providing the most comprehensive coverage,” Rees says. “Plan F is being phased out for new beneficiaries. Plan G is the closest thing to Plan F that’s currently available to new beneficiaries.”
Yet Plan N is popular as well because it has relatively robust coverage and typically has a lower premium than Plans F and G.
[Read: Your Guide to Medicare Coverage.]
How to Select a Medigap Plan
Here are other strategies to evaluate which Medigap plan is right for you:
— Work with a licensed insurance broker or agent who sells plans from various companies, a counselor from the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) or other independent Medicare consultants. Medigap options can get overwhelming, but licensed insurance brokers or agents — who are subject to government oversight — can provide information for free. To use SHIP, which is a free program that can help you navigate supplement plans, visit SHIPhelp.org or find a local counselor by calling 1-877-839-2675.
— Do your research on trusted websites like Medicare.gov or the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ CMS.gov. These sites provide unbiased information and are packed with resources. Your local senior center also may have resources available. Medicare also sends an annual handbook, titled “Medicare & You,” in the mail to its users that may come in handy as you try and understand your options.
— Don’t expect a difference in coverage within the same type of plan. If you’re comparing one type of supplement plan — say, Plan G — from different companies, don’t expect much variation in their actual coverage.
— Ask how pricing is determined for the supplement plans you might choose as they could affect cost increases to your plan in the future. You may also hear these referred to as ratings, but they’re not ratings in the traditional sense. Plans are divided into community-rated, issue-age or attained-age. Community-rated plans have the same premium for everyone regardless of age, while issue-age plans are priced based only on the age you are when you buy the plan and don’t increase otherwise. Finally, attained-age plans are priced based on your current age but will increase as you get older.
— Consider an insurance company’s reputation or your personal experience with it. This may influence your choice of one company over another when choosing a Medigap plan. Given Medicare guaranteed issue rights, you may not have the option to switch companies or plans in the future.
— Budget extra costs for a prescription drug plan. Medicare’s Part D is its prescription drug plan and isn’t included with supplement plans, though it is included with Medicare Advantage plans. When choosing a supplement plan, do your homework on potential costs associated with Part D coverage to factor that into your budget.
— Ask about high-deductible plans. Some states have high-deductible versions of Supplement Plans F and G. This means you pay more in advance toward health expenses before coverage takes effect, but your monthly premiums are lower. In 2026, the deductible for high-deductible Plans F and G is $2,950. Rees advises that you should enroll in one of these only if you know you can afford the deductible when medical needs arise.
How to Sign Up for a Medigap Plan
It’s easy to apply for a Medigap plan. Here’s how:
— Find out which Medigap plans are available in your state. Not all plans are available in all areas. You can typically search online on Medicare websites and by inputting your zip code. Or, work with a trusted professional who can guide you.
— Once you find a plan that suits your needs, fill out the application.
— If you’re approved, review the policy to make sure you are comfortable with it.
It’s important to be mindful when you’re signing up for a Medigap plan. The best time to sign up for a supplement plan is the six-month window of time once you’ve turned 65 and you’re enrolled in Medicare’s Part B. During that time, insurers can’t deny you coverage due to existing health problems. You can sign up for a Medigap plan after that six-month window of time, but prices may be higher or your application may get denied.
It’s always best to check your state’s individual rules regarding Medigap enrollment as rules can vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) Plan F still available in 2026?
Medigap Plan F is still available in 2026 for those who turned 65 or qualified for Medicare before January 1, 2020.
What is the difference between Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) Plan G and Plan N?
Medigap Plan G provides slightly more coverage than Plan N. Both plans cover items such as Medicare Part A coinsurance and certain hospital costs, the Medicare Part A deductible and Part B coinsurance or copayment. Part N has some copayments for certain office visits and emergency room visits.
Why Is Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) Plan G more popular than Plan F?
Plan G is more popular than Plan F because it offers similar coverage at a lower cost. Also, Plan F is no longer available to those who became eligible for Medicare after January 1, 2020.
What are Medicare Part B excess charges?
Medicare Part B excess charges are extra costs that a medical office may charge if they don’t accept Medicare. The excess charges can total up to 15% beyond what the amount Medicare approves. Some states don’t allow Medicare excess charges.
Does Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) Plan N cover the Medicare Part B deductible?
Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) Plan N doesn’t cover the Medicare Part B deductible.
Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) Plans F vs. G vs. N: Which Is Better?
— Choose Plan G: If you want a “set-it-and-forget-it” plan with no surprise bills, selecting Plan G means that after you pay the first $283 deductible of the year, you will likely never see another medical bill for the rest of 2026.
— Choose Plan N: If are relatively healthy and want to save approximately $500 a year on premiums, but don’t mind paying a small copay when you visit the doctor, you may choose Plan N.
— Choose Plan F: Avoid paying the $283 Part B deductible by choosing Plan F.
— Choose High-Deductible Plan G: Choose this option if you want the absolute lowest monthly premium (average of $52 per month) and have enough savings to cover the $2,950 deductible if a major health event occurs.
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originally appeared on usnews.com
Update 01/27/26: The story was published at an earlier date and has been updated with new information.