10/18/2026
🩺 If you're on Original Medicare and shopping for a supplement, the choice usually comes down to Plan G, Plan N, or High-Deductible G.
Plan G and Plan N cover the big hospital bills from the first day: the $1,736 Part A deductible for each benefit period, plus the coinsurance for hospital, skilled nursing, and hospice care. High-Deductible G covers the same bills once its deductible is met.
Plan G covers everything Medicare approves after the $283 Part B deductible, including excess charges, which some doctors can bill at up to 15% above Medicare's rate.
Plan N covers the same hospital costs and the Part B coinsurance, except for copays of up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for an ER visit that doesn't lead to an admission. It doesn't cover excess charges.
Excess charges come from doctors who don't accept Medicare's approved amount as full payment, so asking whether a doctor accepts assignment avoids most of them.
High-Deductible G has the same benefits as Plan G, but you pay the first $2,950 of Medicare-covered costs each year before it pays anything. That deductible includes the $283 Part B deductible, so the most it can cost you beyond Plan G in a heavy year is $2,667.
Premiums run in the opposite order: Plan G costs the most, Plan N less, and High-Deductible G the least. The gaps depend on your state, age, and insurer, so price all three for your ZIP code before deciding.
Once you have quotes, the math is short. If Plan N saves you $40 a month, that's $480 a year, enough to cover 24 office copays. If High-Deductible G saves $1,800 a year, it comes out ahead in a healthy year and behind by $867 in the worst one.
Two location notes: Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin use their own Medigap plan designs, and High-Deductible G isn't sold in every state.
One timing rule matters more than the plan letter. Fall open enrollment, October 15 to December 7, is for Medicare Advantage and drug plans, and it doesn't give you a right to change Medigap plans.
Your guaranteed right to buy any Medigap plan is a one-time 6 months that starts when you're 65 and enrolled in Part B. After that, insurers in most states can ask health questions and turn you down, so check your state's rules before you drop a policy you already have.
P.S. Once a week, I email the best money article I read, with my take on this week's top Facebook posts and what's new on the Ways to Wealth blog. It's free, and you can sign up on the Ways to Wealth home page.
R.J. Weiss, CFP®
The content shared here is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not personalized investment, tax, legal, or financial advice. Consult a licensed professional before making decisions based on your specific situation.
