Medicare Plan N vs Plan G

Medicare Plan N has the same great coverage benefits as Medicare Plan G, except it requires you to make a copayment of up to $20 for some office visits. However, the monthly premium cost of Medigap Plan N usually costs $20 less.

Furthermore, Medicare Supplement Plan N requires you to make up to $50 copayment for emergency room visits that do not result in an inpatient admission. In other words, if you go to the emergency room and get discharged without being admitted as an inpatient, you can pay up to a $50 copayment.

Original Medicare Parts A and B only cover 80% of hospital and medical bills. Medigap Plan N pays the 20% coinsurance not covered by Parts A and B. Medigap Plan N is another name for Medicare Supplement Plan N. 

Moreover, Medicare Plan N is a standardized plan with the same coverage benefits for all insurance carriers. In other words, all Medicare Insurance Companies who offer Plan N, such as Aetna, Mutual of Omaha, and UnitedHealthcare (AARP), provide you with the same coverage benefits.

Medigap Plan N provides the same standard coverage benefits, no matter where you purchase the plan. In other words, Medigap plan N has the same coverage regardless of which insurance company you choose. All Medigap Plan N policies include the following benefits:

• Inpatient Hospital Coverage (Part A)
• Outpatient Medical Coverage (Part B)
• First 3 pints of blood
• Skilled Nursing Facility Care
• Foreign Travel Emergency

Plan N covers inpatient care in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, hospice care, and home health care. Before you receive any Medicare Part A benefits, you must pay the Part A deductible cost of $1484 in 2021. One of the many benefits of Plan N includes paying your $1484 Part A deductible. Furthermore, Plan N also covers the following:

• Original Medicare covers the first 20 days of skilled nursing. After that, Plan N pays $185.50 coinsurance in 2021 up to 100 days. These 80 days of skilled nursing totals $14,840 in benefits.
• Original Medicare covers the first 60 days in a Long-Term Care Hospital (LTCH). After that, Plan N pays $371 coinsurance in 2021 between days 61 through 90. These 30 days in an LTCH will total $11,130 in benefits.
• Your first 3 pints of blood are covered when a hospital buys you blood.

Plan N covers Medicare Part B outpatient medical services at any hospital or medical facility for less than 24 hours. Furthermore, Plan N covers outpatient preventive services, such as cardiovascular disease screenings. Moreover, Plan N covers the following:

• Plan N pays 20% coinsurance cost after you pay the $203 Part B deductible in 2021 for outpatient knee replacement.
• Likewise, after you pay the $203 Part B deductible in 2021, Plan N pays 20% coinsurance cost for an endoscopy to diagnose medical conditions in your esophagus.
• Plan N also covers your 20% coinsurance for chemotherapy as an outpatient in a doctor’s office after you pay up to $20 copay.

Medigap Plan N has the same coverage benefits as Plan D, except there are no copayments. When you step up to Plan D, you will not pay a $20 copayment for outpatient doctor visits, nor will you spend a $50 copayment for emergency room visits. 

Alternatively, you can step down to a more affordable Plan M, which only covers 50% of Part A Deductible. For example, if a doctor admits you to the hospital, you must first pay $742 (half of Part A deductible in 2021) before Medicare covers your hospital bills. You can use the Medigap Benefits Chart to compare all Medigap plans.

To be eligible for any Medicare Supplement Plan, including Plan N, you must have Medicare Part A and Part B. If you have not signed up, discover how you can apply for Medicare. You can sign up for Medicare Part A and Part B during your 7-month Initial Enrollment Period. 

You are first eligible for Medicare when you turn age 65. However, if you did not sign up when you were first eligible, you can sign up during the General Enrollment Period between January 1 – March 31 each year.

Medicare General Enrollment Period

When you enroll in Medicare outside of your 7-month Initial Enrollment Period, Medicare Supplement insurance companies will ask you health questions. Moreover, Medigap insurance underwriting can deny coverage based on health conditions. Furthermore, the Medigap insurance provider may charge you more based on the underwriting interview. Thus, the best time to buy a Medigap plan is when you first become eligible.

Medicare Supplement Plan N could be a lower-cost alternative to Plan G. However, anyone with health conditions who regularly visit the doctor could save more money with Plan G. 

Alternatively, healthy seniors may consider stepping down coverage to a more affordable Plan M. In addition to coverage differences on these Medigap Plans, the monthly premium costs will vary with each Medigap insurance provider. Therefore, it is best to use a Medicare insurance broker to shop and save. 

At Senior Healthcare Direct, you can shop and save on Medigap plans with the Top 10 Supplement insurance companies by calling 1-855-368-4717.