🏥 Original Medicare pays roughly 80% of your medical costs — leaving you responsible for the other 20%, with no upper limit. A Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan closes that gap. This 2026 guide compares Plans F, G, and N head-to-head with real costs, real examples, and a simple framework to help you decide which one actually fits your health and budget.
If you've started researching Medigap, you've probably noticed something frustrating: most articles either bury you in insurance jargon or feel like a sales pitch for a specific company. We built this guide differently — by reviewing the top-ranking, most-trusted Medigap resources available today, then combining their strongest points into one clear, unbiased guide.
Here's the short version: Plan G is now the most popular plan for new enrollees, Plan N offers the lowest premiums for healthy seniors, and Plan F remains the gold standard — but only if you qualified for Medicare before January 1, 2020. The right answer depends entirely on your health, budget, and how much predictability you want. Let's break it all down.
📋 Jump to a Section CLICK TO JUMP
- 1. What Is Medigap (in Plain English)?
- 2. 2026 Medicare Numbers You Need
- 3. Plan F vs. G vs. N — Full Breakdown
- 4. Side-by-Side Comparison Chart
- 5. Which Plan Is Right for You?
- 6. The Real Math: Plan G vs Plan N
- 7. The 6-Month Window You Can't Miss
- 8. Mistakes to Avoid
- 9. The High-Deductible Option
- 10. Frequently Asked Questions
📜 What Is Medigap (in Plain English)?
Medicare Supplement Insurance — commonly called Medigap — is private insurance that works alongside Original Medicare (Parts A and B) to cover the costs Medicare leaves behind, like deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments.
Medigap plans are federally standardized. This means Plan G from one insurance company offers the exact same core benefits as Plan G from any other company. The only real difference between companies is the price — which is why shopping around matters so much.
There are 10 standardized plans in most states, labeled A through N. This guide focuses on the three that matter most to the vast majority of Medicare beneficiaries today: F, G, and N — which together cover roughly 85% of all Medigap enrollees nationwide.
📊 2026 Medicare Numbers You Need to Know
Official 2026 numbers from Medicare.gov and CMS
Government Reference: According to Medicare.gov, the official 2026 Part B annual deductible is $283 (up from $257 in 2025), and the Part A hospital deductible is $1,736. These two numbers are the foundation for understanding what each Medigap plan actually covers.
🗂️ Plan F vs. G vs. N — Full Breakdown
Plan F
Zero medical bills. Covers every Medicare gap, including the Part B deductible. Only available if you were eligible for Medicare before Jan 1, 2020.
Plan G
Best overall value. Covers everything Plan F does except the $283 Part B deductible. Most popular choice for new enrollees in 2026.
Plan N
Lowest premium. Saves $30-90/month vs Plan G, but adds small copays and doesn't cover Part B excess charges.
Plan F — The Most Complete Plan (For Those Who Qualify)
Plan F covers 100% of every Medicare gap — the Part A deductible, Part B deductible, Part B coinsurance, Part B excess charges, skilled nursing coinsurance, and 80% of foreign travel emergencies. The catch: Plan F is closed to anyone who became newly eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. If you already have it, you can keep it. If you're newly eligible, you cannot enroll in it at all.
Plan G — The New Gold Standard
Plan G covers everything Plan F does, with exactly one exception: the annual Part B deductible ($283 in 2026). Once you pay that single deductible, Plan G covers virtually everything else for the rest of the year. This predictability is why it has become the most popular plan among new Medicare enrollees — accounting for roughly 39% of all Medigap enrollees nationwide.
Plan N — The Budget-Friendly Option
Plan N trades a lower monthly premium for small, predictable copays: typically $20 for office visits and up to $50 for ER visits (waived if admitted). The bigger trade-off is that Plan N does not cover Part B excess charges — extra amounts some providers can legally charge above the Medicare-approved rate (up to 15% more). If your doctors all accept "Medicare assignment" (most do), this risk is largely a non-issue.
📋 Side-by-Side Comparison Chart
Complete coverage comparison: Plan F vs Plan G vs Plan N
🎯 Which Plan Is Right for You?
Rather than guessing, match your top priority to the plan built for it:
Match your healthcare priority to the right plan
Robert, 67, became eligible for Medicare in 2025, so Plan F was never an option for him. He visits the doctor frequently for a chronic condition and wanted predictable costs above everything else. He chose Plan G at $145/month. His only annual out-of-pocket exposure is the $283 Part B deductible — after that, his entire year of covered care costs him nothing extra.
Susan, 66, is healthy, sees her doctor twice a year for routine checkups, and confirmed that all of her providers accept Medicare assignment. She chose Plan N at $98/month instead of Plan G at $150/month — saving $624 per year. Her small office-visit copays for two annual visits add up to less than $50, making Plan N the clear financial winner for her situation.
🧮 The Real Math: Plan G vs. Plan N
Most articles tell you Plan N is "cheaper" without showing you the actual break-even math. Here it is:
Plan G: $150/month × 12 = $1,800/year premium + $283 Part B deductible = $2,083 total
Plan N: $100/month × 12 = $1,200/year premium + $283 deductible + (4 office visits × $20 = $80) = $1,563 total
Result: In this example, Plan N saves roughly $520 per year — but only if you don't see out-of-network providers who charge excess fees, and your visit count stays moderate. Run your own numbers based on your typical doctor visits and local premium quotes.
If even one of your specialists doesn't accept Medicare assignment, Plan N leaves you exposed to charges up to 15% above the Medicare-approved rate — with no cap. Before choosing Plan N, call your specific doctors' billing offices and ask directly: "Do you accept Medicare assignment?"
⏰ The 6-Month Window You Cannot Miss
Timing matters enormously with Medigap — possibly more than the plan choice itself.
Your guaranteed-issue window starts the moment you turn 65 and enroll in Part B
This 6-month window begins the month you turn 65 and are enrolled in Medicare Part B. During this window, you have a guaranteed issue right — insurers cannot deny you coverage or charge you more because of pre-existing health conditions, no matter what.
Outside this window, you generally lose your guaranteed issue right. Insurers can require medical underwriting — meaning they can deny your application entirely or charge significantly higher premiums based on your health history. A few states (like California and Oregon) offer limited annual windows around your birthday, but most states do not.
⚠️ Mistakes That Cost Seniors Real Money
🚩 Avoid These Common Errors
- Choosing based on premium alone — without comparing total potential out-of-pocket exposure across plans
- Missing the 6-month enrollment window — leading to potential denial or higher rates later
- Not checking if your doctors accept Medicare assignment before choosing Plan N
- Forgetting Medigap doesn't include drug coverage — you'll need a separate Part D plan
- Assuming all companies charge the same price for the same plan letter — premiums can vary significantly even though coverage is identical
Medicare insurance specialists who help beneficiaries nationwide consistently report that the most common mistake is choosing a plan based solely on premium cost, without considering total potential out-of-pocket exposure across an entire year of care.
💰 The High-Deductible Option Most People Don't Know About
Both Plan F and Plan G offer a High-Deductible version in many states. You pay a larger annual deductible — $2,950 in 2026 — before the plan starts covering costs. In exchange, monthly premiums can be less than half of standard Plan G.
Healthy seniors who rarely use healthcare and want a low-cost safety net against a major, unexpected illness or hospitalization. Only choose this option if you're confident you could comfortably afford the $2,950 deductible if a serious health need arose.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
🎯 Final Summary — Key Points to Remember
- Plan F covers everything but is closed to anyone newly eligible after Jan 1, 2020
- Plan G covers everything except the $283 Part B deductible — most popular for new enrollees
- Plan N has lower premiums but adds small copays and no excess charge protection
- All companies selling the same plan letter must offer identical coverage — only price differs
- Your 6-month enrollment window starts at 65 + Part B enrollment — don't miss it
- Medigap never includes drug coverage — you'll need a separate Part D plan
- High-deductible Plan G can cut premiums in half for healthy seniors willing to pay $2,950 if needed
- Always confirm your doctors accept Medicare assignment before choosing Plan N
Compare Real Medigap Rates in Your Area
Premiums vary by zip code, age, and insurer. Get your personalized quotes directly from Medicare's official tools.
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