80% Coverage
After the standardized $250 annual deductible, the benefit generally pays 80% of qualifying emergency medical costs, subject to plan limits.
Medigap Plan N is a standardized Medicare Supplement plan that covers many of the major out-of-pocket costs left by Original Medicare. In exchange for potentially lower premiums than more comprehensive options, you can have limited office and emergency room copayments, and Plan N does not cover the Medicare Part B deductible or Part B excess charges.
Medigap Plan N covers 100% of Medicare Part A coinsurance and hospital costs for up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits are used, the first three pints of blood, Part A hospice cost-sharing, skilled nursing facility coinsurance, and the Part A deductible. It also covers the standardized Part B coinsurance benefit, except for copayments of up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for emergency room visits that do not result in an inpatient admission.
Plan N does not cover the Medicare Part B deductible or Part B excess charges. In 2026, the annual Part B deductible is $283. Plan N also includes the standardized 80% foreign travel emergency benefit, subject to its deductible and plan limits.
Medigap benefits are standardized in most states. The table below shows the benefits Medicare assigns to Plan N in 2026.
| Medigap Benefit | Plan N | What You Should Know |
|---|---|---|
| Part A coinsurance and hospital costs, up to 365 additional days after Medicare benefits are used | ✓ 100% | Plan N fully covers this standardized Part A benefit. |
| Part B coinsurance or copayment | ✓ 100%* | Plan N pays the Part B coinsurance except for up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for certain ER visits that do not result in an inpatient admission. |
| Blood benefit, first 3 pints | ✓ 100% | Plan N covers this standardized benefit in full. |
| Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment | ✓ 100% | Plan N covers the standardized hospice cost-sharing benefit. |
| Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance | ✓ 100% | Plan N covers the standardized skilled nursing facility coinsurance benefit. |
| Part A deductible | ✓ 100% | The 2026 Part A deductible is $1,736 per benefit period. Plan N covers the standardized Part A deductible benefit in full. |
| Part B deductible | ✕ Not covered | You are responsible for the $283 annual Part B deductible in 2026. |
| Part B excess charges | ✕ Not covered | Plan N does not pay permitted Part B excess charges from providers who do not accept Medicare assignment. |
| Foreign travel emergency, up to plan limits | 80% | Plan N includes the standardized foreign travel emergency benefit, subject to the $250 annual deductible, first-60-day rule, and $50,000 lifetime limit. |
| Out-of-pocket limit | N/A | Plan N does not have the standardized annual out-of-pocket limit used by Plans K and L. |
Plan N trades some point-of-service cost-sharing for a different premium structure than more comprehensive Medigap plans. The standardized copayment rules are limited and specific.
After the annual Medicare Part B deductible is met, Plan N generally covers the Part B coinsurance, but you may owe a copayment of up to $20 for some office visits.
Plan N can require an emergency room copayment of up to $50 when the ER visit does not result in an inpatient admission. If the visit results in an inpatient admission, that specific Plan N ER copayment does not apply under the standardized benefit rule.
This is one of the most important differences between Plan N and Plan G.
A Part B excess charge can occur when a provider does not accept Medicare assignment and is legally permitted to charge more than the Medicare-approved amount. Plan N does not cover that excess amount. Plan G does cover the standardized Part B excess-charge benefit.
The practical step is to ask whether a provider accepts Medicare assignment before receiving non-emergency care. Learn more in our Medicare assignment and provider billing guide.
Original Medicare generally provides limited coverage outside the United States. Plan N includes the standardized Medigap foreign travel emergency benefit.
After the standardized $250 annual deductible, the benefit generally pays 80% of qualifying emergency medical costs, subject to plan limits.
The standardized benefit applies to qualifying emergency care that begins during the first 60 days of a trip outside the United States.
The standardized foreign travel emergency benefit has a $50,000 lifetime maximum.
Plan N is broad, but it does not eliminate every Medicare-related or health care expense.
You pay the annual Medicare Part B deductible. It is $283 in 2026.
Plan N does not cover permitted Part B excess charges from providers who do not accept Medicare assignment.
Modern Medigap policies do not include outpatient prescription drug coverage. A separate Medicare Part D plan can provide drug coverage.
Standardized Medigap Plan N generally does not cover routine dental care, routine vision care, hearing aids, or eyeglasses.
Medigap does not turn long-term custodial care into a Medicare-covered service.
You still pay the monthly premium charged by the insurer for the Medigap Plan N policy.
Plan G and Plan N cover many of the same standardized benefits, but the differences can materially affect both premiums and out-of-pocket costs.
There is no universally best Medigap plan. Plan N may be worth comparing when its cost-sharing structure aligns with your budget and preferences.
Plan N may have a lower premium than Plan G in some markets, but actual rates vary by insurer, location, age, rating method, discounts, and other factors.
The office and emergency room copayment structure can be reasonable for someone who prefers to accept some point-of-service costs in exchange for a different premium structure.
Because Plan N does not cover Part B excess charges, confirming whether providers accept Medicare assignment can reduce billing surprises.
Evaluate premium plus the Part B deductible, possible copayments, possible excess charges, Part D costs, and non-covered services rather than focusing on one number.
Plan N can significantly reduce Original Medicare cost-sharing, but you still have several potential expenses.
You pay the insurance company's monthly Medigap premium. Medicare notes that Medigap premiums vary by policy, location, and other factors.
You continue paying your Medicare Part B premium. The standard Part B premium is $202.90 per month in 2026, with higher amounts for some beneficiaries based on income.
You pay the $283 annual Part B deductible in 2026 because Plan N does not cover it.
You can owe up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for qualifying emergency room visits that do not result in an inpatient admission.
If a provider does not accept Medicare assignment and is permitted to bill an excess charge, Plan N does not cover that amount.
Prescription drug coverage, routine dental, routine vision, hearing aids, long-term custodial care, and other non-covered services are separate from standardized Plan N coverage.
Your strongest federal Medigap enrollment protection generally occurs during your one-time Medigap Open Enrollment Period.
It starts the first month you have Medicare Part B and are age 65 or older. During this period, an insurer generally cannot use medical underwriting to deny you a Medigap policy or charge you more because of health problems. Outside this period, federal protections can be more limited, although guaranteed-issue rights and state-specific rules may apply.
Plan N covers 100% of Part A coinsurance and hospital costs, the first three pints of blood, hospice cost-sharing, skilled nursing facility coinsurance, and the Part A deductible. It covers the Part B coinsurance except for up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for emergency room visits that do not result in an inpatient admission. It also includes 80% foreign travel emergency coverage up to plan limits.
Yes. Plan N covers 100% of the standardized Medicare Part A deductible benefit. The 2026 Part A deductible is $1,736 per benefit period.
No. Plan N does not cover the Medicare Part B deductible. The annual Part B deductible is $283 in 2026.
Plan N can require a copayment of up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for emergency room visits that do not result in an inpatient admission.
No. Plan N does not cover Part B excess charges. These can occur when a provider does not accept Medicare assignment and is legally permitted to charge more than the Medicare-approved amount.
Yes. Plan N covers 100% of the standardized skilled nursing facility coinsurance benefit.
Yes. Plan N includes the standardized foreign travel emergency benefit, generally paying 80% after a $250 annual deductible for qualifying emergency care during the first 60 days of a trip, subject to a $50,000 lifetime limit.
No. Medigap policies sold after 2005 do not include outpatient prescription drug coverage. If you want Medicare drug coverage, you can enroll in a separate Medicare Part D plan if eligible.
No. Premiums vary by insurer, location, age, rating method, discounts, and other factors. Plan N may have a lower premium in some markets, but the right comparison is total expected annual cost and coverage, not premium alone.
Medigap rules and Medicare costs can change. These Medicare resources are the primary references for the standardized benefits and 2026 amounts used on this page.
Compare premiums, standardized benefits, office and emergency room copayments, provider assignment, Part B excess-charge exposure, and expected health care use before choosing a Medicare Supplement policy.
Request Medicare Supplement InformationSenior Healthcare Planning is an independent insurance agency that provides education, guidance, and enrollment assistance for Medicare-related insurance products, including Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement, and Prescription Drug Plans. Senior Healthcare Planning is not connected with or endorsed by the United States government or the federal Medicare program. Medicare Supplement availability and premiums vary by insurance company and location. Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin standardize Medigap differently. This page is for educational purposes and is not a guarantee of coverage or benefits.