Medicare Plan F vs Plan G vs Plan N

Key Points

• Medicare Supplement Plans F, G, and N are the three most popular Supplement plans.
• Medicare Plan F is the most comprehensive plan as it covers all costs after Medicare but is not available to anyone who becomes Medicare eligible after January 1, 2020.
• Plan G and Plan N can be more cost-effective even though they have more out-of-pocket costs compared to Plan F.

Nearly 50 million people are enrolled in Original Medicare (Part A and Part B). Over 11 million of those people have additional coverage through a Medigap plan. Beneficiaries who want a Medigap plan often feel indecisive over whether to choose Medicare Plan F vs. Plan G vs. Plan N. These are three of the top Medicare Supplement plans for 2025.

Enrolling in Medigap is smart if you’re concerned about out-of-pocket health care costs. The average 66-year-old couple spends about 57% of their Social Security benefits on health care, according to a 2016 study.

Medigap Plans are Standardized

There are currently ten different Medigap plans that are standard across most states. (Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin have their own plan standards.) What this means for consumers, however, is that Plan A offered by Company X in Anaheim is the same as Plan A offered by Company Y in Boise. While premiums may differ, benefits and coverage are the same.

Private insurance companies offer Medigap plans, but these companies do not have to offer all ten plans. However, any company that provides Medigap coverage must offer Plan A. Also, if it wishes to offer more than one plan, it must offer either Medigap Plan C or Plan F in addition to any other plans it offers.

Ever wondered which Medigap plan is the most popular? It’s Plan F by a landslide—about 55% of all Medigap plans currently in force are Plan F. Plan C is a distant second at about 9%, according to the most recent Medigap enrollment data.

If you’re looking for the plan with the highest enrollment growth, however, Plan N and Plan G are skyrocketing in popularity, up 33% and 25%, respectively, over last year’s numbers.

Here’s what you need to know about what these plans cover so you can choose the right one for your needs.

What’s Covered on Medigap Plan F?

Medigap Plan F is a heavy favorite with individuals who want comprehensive benefits and first-dollar coverage on their health care costs. First-dollar coverage means the plan covers both your Part A and Part B deductibles, so you pay nothing before your Medicare benefits kick in. This kind of broad protection makes sense if you have serious or chronic health conditions and a lot of medical expenses each year.

Of course, you’ll pay more in premiums, so consider the pros and cons before you make your decision.

Here’s what Medigap Plan F covers:

• Part A deductible and Part B deductible
• Part A and Part B coinsurance and/or copayment amounts
• Hospital coinsurance for a full year (365 days) after Original Medicare Part A benefits are used up
• Part B excess charges
• Hospice care coinsurance
• Skilled nursing care coinsurance
• Blood: First 3 pints per year (for approved procedures)
• Foreign travel emergency care at 80% (up to plan limits)

Remember that premiums for Plan F tend to be the highest among the Medigap plans, but if you’re looking for lower premiums and broad coverage, there is a high-deductible option for Plan F. Under the high-deductible plan, you’ll pay the first $2,870 (in 2025) out-of-pocket expenses before your plan pays.

There’s another thing you should know about Plan F. It was phased out at the start of 2020. Medigap Plan F is no longer offered as a new policy to those eligible for Medicare after January 1, 2020. However, if you’re already enrolled in Plan F or were eligible for Medicare before 2020, you still have access to Plan F. You are grandfathered in.

What’s Covered under Medigap Plan G?

Medigap Plan G is currently outselling most other Medigap plans because it offers the same broad coverage as Plan F except for the Part B deductible, which is $257 in 2025.

The only difference when you compare Medicare Supplements Plan F and Plan G is the deductible. Otherwise, they function just the same.

One important feature that Medicare Supplements Plan F and G have over all the other Medigap plans is these two popular plans are the only Medicare Supplement Plans that offer coverage for Part B excess charges—and that’s important if you want maximum flexibility in choosing your healthcare provider.

When you see a provider that doesn’t participate with Medicare, he can charge up to 15% more than the standard Medicare rate for your services. You will pay this money out of pocket unless you have Medigap Plan F or Plan G. It’s something to consider if provider choice is important to you.

There are no plans to phase out Plan G, which is another good point to keep in mind.

When we help beneficiaries explore Medigap plans, we run through Medicare Plan G pros and cons and compare it to other plans, such as Plan N.

What’s Covered under Medigap Plan N?

This is another fast-selling plan because it offers a good balance between protection against catastrophic out-of-pocket expenses and affordable premiums.

Under Medigap Plan N, you have all the same coverage as Plan F except:

• No coverage for Part B deductible
• No coverage for Part B excess charges
• You may have a copay of up to $20 for doctor visits and $50 for hospital visits that don’t result in admission.

This is one of the newer plans rolled out in 2010. It’s a good fit for individuals who don’t mind a little cost-sharing in exchange for lower premiums. It’s also not going anywhere, unlike Plan F.

Common Questions:

Is Medicare Plan F being discontinued?

Yes, but only for new enrollees on or after January 1, 2020. Any Medicare beneficiary who is eligible for Medicare before that date will always have the option to buy Plan F. Learn more in this post about Plan F going away in 2020.

Is Medicare Plan G better than Plan F?

Medicare Plan G is not better than Plan F because Medicare Plan G covers one less benefit than Plan F. It leaves you to pay the Part B deductible, whereas Medigap Plan F covers that deductible.

What’s the top Medicare Supplement plan for 2025?

In 2025, Medicare Supplement Plan F will still be the most comprehensive plan that you can buy. However, you should compare Plans G and N for value.

When Comparing Medicare Plan F vs. Plan G vs. Plan N

Be sure to consider the type of coverage you think you’ll want over the long term. Here’s why:

In most cases, you do not have a guaranteed right to switch Medigap policies once you’re past your Initial Enrollment Period. Unless special circumstances apply, such as a move out of your policy service area, you do not have a guaranteed right to switch.

After your one-time Medigap Open Enrollment Period expires, you’ll be subject to medical underwriting once you apply for a new plan. That means the insurance company can refuse coverage or charge higher premiums for your plan.

Some states like California and Oregon do have an annual enrollment period around your birthday month or your policy anniversary. You can change Medigap plans without medical underwriting or a premium penalty—but only for plans with the same or lower benefits than your existing plan. In other words, you can’t trade up. Learn more about other states with different Guaranteed Issue rules for Medigap.

Be sure to discuss your options with an experienced Medicare broker like Boomer Benefits. We can do a few cost-benefit analyses for the plans you like so you enroll in the right plan the first time around.

Key Takeaways

• Medicare Supplement plans such as Plan F, G, and N are designed to help cover the gaps in Medicare and pick up those costs for you.
• Plan F is no longer available to new beneficiaries, but it is the most comprehensive Supplement plan.
• Plan G and Plan N do not cover the Part B deductible, and Plan N has more out-of-pocket costs, but they can be more cost-effective than Plan F.

Please don’t hesistate to contact us here.

• Mail
• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• X
• Nextdoor