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November 15, 2017
How to Compare Popular Medigap Plans F, G, and N

How to Compare Popular Medigap Plans F, G, and N

There’s all this talk about Medicare Supplements, but it gets pretty confusing pretty fast – after all, there’s 11 different plans to choose from. Which one is actually the best?

Our team has been helping seniors 65 and better choose the right Medigap plan for over 30 years.

In all that time, there are really only 3 plans that we recommend on a daily basis.

Those are Plan F, Plan G, and Plan N.

Why Plans F, G, and N?

The other plans on the market have average to below average coverage. While the plans are cheaper, we feel that it’s not enough protection.

After all, the only reason we buy insurance is to be sure we’ll be covered if something happens. If the insurance only pays pennies on the dollar, we can’t get fully behind it.

For example, Medigap Plan A leaves you hanging when it comes to:

  • The coinsurance at a skilled nursing facility,
  • The Part A deductible,
  • The Part B deductible,
  • Part B excess charges, and
  • Foreign travel insurance

While that might sound like a bunch of gobbledy-gook, that accounts for a hefty sum of potential bills. The Part A deductible alone is .

When you really compare the quality of the 11 plans, the clear standouts are F, G, and N. They provide the most coverage – all the way up to full, 100% coverage.

And we want you to have the best benefits available to you.

Medigap Comparison Chart

So, let’s compare the 3 Medigap plans, side-by-side. (To see a full comparison chart of all 11 plans, visit the Medicare Supplement Insurance page.)

  Medigap Plan F Medigap Plan G Medigap Plan N
Part A coinsurance and hospital costs up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits are used up Yes Yes Yes
Part B coinsurance or copayment Yes Yes Yes, but you do have copays of up to $20 for office visits and $50 for ER visits
Blood (first 3 pints) Yes Yes Yes
Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment Yes Yes Yes
Skilled nursing facility coinsurance Yes Yes Yes
Part A deductible Yes Yes Yes
Part B deductible Yes No No
Part B excess charges Yes Yes No
Foreign travel exchange (up to plan limits) 80% 80% 80%
Cost $$ $ $

As you can see, all 3 plans offer a great amount of coverage, with a few small differences. Let’s break those down.

How are Medigap Plans F, G, and N different?

Medigap Plan F offers comprehensive coverage, meaning you won’t get a bill for any Medicare-approved charges.

Medigap Plan G follows as a close second with almost comprehensive coverage. With Plan G, you’re only responsible for the Part B deductible, which is $233 (in 2022). Once you meet your deductible, all of your bills are covered.

Medigap Plan N is a more modest policy – it still provides good coverage, but there are a few items you’re responsible for. The first is the copayments for doctor visits, which are about $20 for an office visit, and $50 for an ER visit.

Second is the Part B deductible ($233), and lastly is Part B excess charges. We’ve never had excess charges become an issue, but it is possible. An excess charge occurs if a doctor charges more than the Medicare-approved amount. In most states, non-participating providers are allowed to charge 15% more than the Medicare-approved rates.

For example, if Medicare says they’ll reimburse an office visit at $100, that doctor could bill you for another $15. That $15 is called an excess charge.

Which Medigap Plan Should I Get?

Now that you know which 3 plans we recommend the most, you’re probably wondering… which one should I get?

Here’s what we find:

  1. If you don’t want any bills from the doctor, and you don’t mind paying more for that, go for Plan F.
  2. If you’re a bargain shopper and love getting a great value, go for Plan G.
  3. If you have a tight budget, but still want coverage, go for Plan N.

How Much Do Plans F, G, and N cost?

Everything sounds good, but show me the money! We hear you. To find out how much each option would cost you each month, let’s Get a Quote!

Contact us to estimate your monthly Medigap costs

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