The short version

If you are approaching 65 in Charlotte or anywhere in North Carolina and weighing a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy, Plan G and Plan N are two of the most commonly compared options. Both work only alongside Original Medicare (Part A and Part B), and both are standardized by the federal government, so a Plan G is a Plan G and a Plan N is a Plan N regardless of which insurance company sells it. The real decision comes down to a trade-off: Plan G gives you near-total predictability for a higher monthly premium, while Plan N gives you a lower premium in exchange for a few small copays and one specific gap in coverage. Neither is universally "best" — the right choice is genuinely individual.

What "standardized" actually means

Medigap plans are standardized by letter. A policy with a given letter offers the same core benefits no matter which company sells it or where in North Carolina you live. Because the benefits inside a letter are identical, the things that actually differ between two companies' versions of the same plan are the price and the company's service and pricing approach. That is an important point for shopping: two Plan G policies cover exactly the same things, so comparing them is largely about premium and the carrier behind the policy.

Plan G — the near-complete coverage option

Plan G covers essentially everything on the standardized Medigap chart except the Part B deductible. That includes:

  • The Part A hospital deductible (which is $1,736 per benefit period in 2026)
  • Part A and Part B coinsurance and copays
  • The first 3 pints of blood
  • Skilled nursing facility coinsurance
  • Hospice coinsurance
  • Part B excess charges (100%)
  • Foreign-travel emergency care, up to plan limits

Once you pay the one Part B deductible for the year — $283 in 2026 — Plan G typically leaves very little else out of pocket for Medicare-covered services. That predictability is why many people who want to "set it and forget it" gravitate toward Plan G. The trade-off is a higher monthly premium than Plan N.

Plan N — the lower-premium option with small copays

Plan N usually carries a lower monthly premium than Plan G. In exchange, you take on some modest cost-sharing at the point of care. Plan N pays 100% of the Part B coinsurance except:

  • A copay of up to $20 for some office visits
  • A copay of up to $50 for emergency-room visits that do not result in an inpatient admission (if you are admitted, that ER copay generally does not apply)

There is one more important difference: Plan N does not cover Part B excess charges. An excess charge can happen when a provider does not accept Medicare "assignment" — meaning they have not agreed to the Medicare-approved amount as full payment — and they are allowed to bill up to 15% above that approved amount. Under Plan N, you could owe that excess yourself; under Plan G, it is covered in full. In practice, many providers accept assignment, but if you see specialists who do not, this gap matters.

Like Plan G, Plan N does not cover the Part B deductible either, so you will pay that $283 (in 2026) out of pocket before your other coverage kicks in.

Plan G vs. Plan N side by side

Where they are the same

  • Both work only with Original Medicare (never with a Medicare Advantage plan)
  • Both are standardized, so same-letter benefits are identical across companies
  • Both leave the Part B deductible ($283 in 2026) for you to pay
  • Both cover the Part A deductible, hospital and skilled-nursing coinsurance, hospice coinsurance, blood, and foreign-travel emergency care up to plan limits

Where they differ

  • Premium: Plan G is generally higher; Plan N is generally lower.
  • Office and ER copays: Plan G has none; Plan N has up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for certain ER visits.
  • Part B excess charges: Plan G covers them 100%; Plan N does not.

A simple way to think about it: Plan G trades a higher premium for almost no surprises. Plan N trades small, occasional copays and some exposure to excess charges for a lower premium. If you rarely visit the doctor and want the lowest fixed cost, Plan N can appeal. If you value knowing that, for Medicare-covered services, your out-of-pocket beyond premiums is essentially limited to the one Part B deductible ($283 in 2026), Plan G may be worth the higher premium. Your own doctors, budget, and comfort with occasional copays should drive the decision.

The enrollment window that protects you

Timing matters more than most people realize. Your one-time Medigap Open Enrollment Period lasts 6 months and starts when you are 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. During that window you have a guaranteed-issue right: insurers cannot ask health questions, cannot turn you down, and cannot charge you more based on your health. Outside that window, in most cases insurers can use medical underwriting — they can ask about your health and can deny you, charge more, or impose waiting periods for pre-existing conditions. So if you are leaning toward any Medigap plan, the cleanest time to enroll is during that first 6-month window. North Carolina generally follows the federal Medigap rules, but state details can change, so it is worth confirming your specific situation before you decide.

A note on Medicare Advantage

Medigap and Medicare Advantage cannot be used together — Medigap only works with Original Medicare. If you choose Medicare Advantage at 65 and later want to move to Original Medicare plus a Medigap policy, getting that Medigap policy is not guaranteed unless a specific guaranteed-issue right applies (for example, certain first-year "trial rights"). Otherwise it can be subject to underwriting. That is one more reason to think carefully about the Plan G vs. Plan N decision — and the Medigap-vs.-Advantage decision — up front rather than assuming you can easily switch later.

How The Jordan Insurance Agency helps

Choosing between Medigap Plan G and Plan N is exactly the kind of decision where working with an experienced, full-time, licensed and certified independent agent pays off — and it costs you nothing, because the carrier pays the agent and your premium is the same whether you enroll on your own or with help. The Jordan Insurance Agency is an independent agency based in Charlotte, North Carolina, serving clients across the state. Because we represent multiple carriers, complete annual AHIP and carrier certifications, and carry E&O coverage, we can compare identical Plan G or Plan N benefits across companies so you are shopping on price and service rather than guessing. We also review your plan every year at renewal, watch for changes that affect you, and make sure you understand the trade-offs — the copays, the excess-charge gap, and the enrollment windows — before you commit. If you are approaching 65 and want a calm, plain-English walk-through of your options, reach out to The Jordan Insurance Agency and we will help you decide with confidence.

Plan availability & disclaimer

We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options. The Jordan Insurance Agency is not connected with or endorsed by the United States government or the federal Medicare program.