Medigap Plan N is one of 10 Medicare supplement Plans that help cover the healthcare costs that Medicare doesn’t cover—or the “gaps” in your Medicare coverage. Introduced in 2010, Medigap Plan N has become a popular option for Medicare recipients who prefer to pay lower premiums in exchange for a small annual deductible and some copays.
If you’re trying to decide if plan N is right for you, compare coverage with our Medigap Plans Comparison or talk to an agent. Learn more about plan N below, including what it does and does not cover.
Free Price Report
Get a free price report to compare insurance companies and premiums for Medigap Plan N in your area. While coverage between companies for the same plans remain the same, premiums can vary significantly. We make it easy to find the best rate for your preferred plan through a quick and easy survey!
Medigap Plan N Coverage
Plan N offers moderately comprehensive benefits. Here’s a quick overview of everything it does and does not cover:
Medigap Plan N Covers…
- Medicare Part A deductible
- Medicare Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment
- Medicare Part A coinsurance and hospital costs up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits are exhausted
- Part B coinsurance costs (except for office visits and emergency room visits)
- Part B preventive care coinsurance
- First three pints of blood used in an approved medical procedure (annually)
Medigap Plan N Does NOT Cover…
- Medicare Part B deductible
- Medicare Part B excess charges
- Foreign travel emergency medical care (80% up to Plan limits)
- And anything that Medicare doesn’t insure to begin with, including:
- Homeopathic treatments (e.g. acupuncture)
- Routine vision care/eyeglasses
- Routine dental care/dentures
- Foot care not related to medical conditions
- Hearing aids/routine hearing tests
- Cosmetic surgery
- Custodial care
- Prescription drugs (No Medigap Plans include meds. Consider a Part D Plan for your prescriptions)
Cost & Benefits
Medigap Plan N offers a medium-range set of benefits, covering more expenses than Plans K and L do but fewer than Plans F, G or C. Depending on your health care needs, Plan N is a good option to consider if you’re looking for moderate coverage with a lower premium.
While not as low as Plans K and L, the Plan N premium is lower than Plans A-G. Additionally, the only out-of-pocket expenses beyond your monthly premium are up to $20 copay for medical office visits and up to $50 copay for an ER visit. This plan also covers 100% of Medicare Part B coinsurance and copayments as well as the Medicare Part A deductible—compared with the 50% and 75% that Plans K and L cover, respectively.
Is Plan N right for me?
When weighing your decision, consider the tradeoffs. Would you rather save on your monthly premium but pay more out of pocket for gaps that aren’t covered? Or do you prefer to pay more monthly and less out of pocket? These are questions you’ll want to discuss with an agent when choosing your plan.
Eligibility & Enrollment
As with all Medigap plans, you must be over 65 years old and enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B in order to be eligible. Before making your decision, you’ll also want to make sure that Plan N is available in your area. Not all insurance companies carry every option—and if you live in Massachusetts, Minnesota or Wisconsin, an entirely different set of plans is available to you.
Working With Your Insurance Company
Remember, Medigap plans are government standardized. Regardless of where and from which private insurance company you buy your plan, you will get the same exact benefits for that plan. The premiums associated with Medigap plans, however, do vary across states and insurance companies. Insurance companies in your area may use one of the following systems to set their premium prices:
- Community-rated: Regardless of age, everybody pays the same about for the policy. The policy price cannot change due to your age.
- Issue-age-rated: Price is based on your age at the time of purchase. The premium will cost less for those who purchase their Medigap Plan at a younger age but will not change based on your age once you purchase it.
- Attained-age-rated: Premiums start low and increase as you age.
When weighing insurance company options then, you’ll want to consider companies’ rating systems and understand which makes the most sense to you. If you have any questions about this process, consider speaking with a knowledgeable agent.
Final Notes
Medigap plans provide coverage for more than 800,000 providers nationwide. That’s any doctor in-network for Medicare. With a Medigap plan, you’re able to see any Medicare-covered specialist, with no primary doctor referral required. Your coverage is also guaranteed renewable, meaning it can never be canceled due to health conditions from the claims you file.
If you’re unsure what plan you need, see our Medigap Plans Comparison, orschedule an agent call for assistance.
If you’ve decided on your preferred plan, request a free price report today to compare premiums in your area: