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Plan G, Plan N and High Deductible G compared
Three Supplement plans, what each one pays, and who each one tends to suit, written for Bethesda retirees.
Plan G, Plan N and High Deductible G
Three Supplement plans, explained in plain words
Medicare Supplement plans are standardized. A Plan G from one carrier pays the same benefits as a Plan G from any other carrier in Maryland, so the choice that matters is the letter, and then the price and service behind it. For Bethesda retirees, three letters come up again and again: Plan G, Plan N and High Deductible Plan G. Plans C and F are still around, but only people who were first eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020 can buy them, so most new enrollees are choosing among G, N and the high deductible version of G.
Before comparing, it helps to know what is being supplemented. Original Medicare leaves gaps: a Part A deductible of $1,736 per benefit period in 2026, a Part B deductible of $283 in 2026, and coinsurance on most Part B services with no yearly cap on what you could owe. A Supplement plan fills some or all of those gaps. These are 2026 figures, and the 2027 amounts are announced each fall, so we always confirm the current ones with you.
Plan G: the steady one
Plan G pays your share of nearly everything Original Medicare leaves to you, including the Part A deductible, Part B coinsurance and Part B excess charges. The one thing it does not cover is the yearly Part B deductible, which is $283 in 2026. Once you have met that, covered care costs you nothing more for the rest of the calendar year, apart from your monthly premium.
- One predictable monthly premium and one yearly deductible to meet
- Covers Part B excess charges if a doctor bills above the Medicare amount
- Foreign travel emergency coverage, up to plan limits
People often lean toward Plan G when they see specialists regularly, expect a surgery or want to stop thinking about bills. The tradeoff is that its premium is higher than Plan N's.
Plan N: lower premium, small copays
Plan N covers the same big costs as Plan G, including the Part A deductible and hospital coinsurance. The difference sits in the small print. It pays the full Part B coinsurance except for a copay of up to $20 at some office visits and up to $50 at an emergency room visit that does not lead to a hospital admission. It also does not pay Part B excess charges, and like Plan G it leaves the Part B deductible to you.
- Usually a lower monthly premium than Plan G
- Small copays when you use certain services
- No cover for excess charges, so provider billing matters more
Plan N tends to appeal to people who see their doctors a few times a year and would rather pay a small copay now and then than a higher premium every month. It is a fair choice, not a lesser one. It simply spreads the cost differently.
High Deductible Plan G: the safety net
High Deductible Plan G has the same benefits as Plan G once you reach its yearly deductible, which is $2,950 in 2026. Until then you pay your own Medicare costs. After that, the plan pays 100 percent of covered services for the rest of the year. The monthly premium is a fraction of what regular Plan G costs, which is the whole appeal. It does not cover the Medicare Part B deductible.
It tends to fit people who are healthy, have savings set aside and mostly want protection against a large hospital bill. It fits worse for anyone who expects frequent care, because the deductible resets every January. If you are weighing it, a simple exercise helps: add the premium savings over a year, then compare that with the deductible you could face. We are glad to run that math for your age.
How the three compare
| What to look at | Plan G | Plan N | High Deductible G |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part A deductible | Covered | Covered | Covered after plan deductible |
| Part B deductible | You pay | You pay | You pay |
| Office visit copays | None | Up to $20 at some visits | None after plan deductible |
| Emergency room copay | None | Up to $50 if not admitted | None after plan deductible |
| Part B excess charges | Covered | Not covered | Covered after plan deductible |
| Plan deductible | None | None | $2,950 in 2026 |
| Monthly premium | Higher | Lower | Lowest |
Premiums depend on your age, the carrier and how that carrier prices, which is why we do not list dollar amounts here. Rates can change without notice. Our page on how Maryland Supplement pricing works explains what sits behind them.
What none of these plans do
A Medigap plan does not include prescription drug coverage, dental, vision or hearing, and it only works alongside Original Medicare. If you are in a Medicare Advantage plan, a Supplement plan is not part of that arrangement. Drug coverage comes from a separate Part D plan, and we can help you pair the two.
Because a Supplement plan follows Original Medicare, it does not use a provider network. Any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare can see you. That is why Bethesda residents who see specialists across Montgomery County and Washington often like it. If you want to know where our local hospitals and clinics fit in, see our Bethesda resources page.
Ready to see which letter makes sense for you? Call (410) 896-1212 and we will go through it together. Learn when you can buy without health questions on our enrollment windows page.
Not sure which letter fits