Medicare Supplement Plan N in California
Medicare Supplement Plan N in California
A Medicare Supplement Plan N in California covers the same hospital costs as Plan G and most of the same medical costs, at a lower monthly premium. In exchange, you pay small copays for office and emergency room visits, and you are responsible for Part B excess charges if a doctor bills them.
Like every Medigap letter, Plan N is federally standardized: a Plan N from one company covers the same things as a Plan N from any other, and only the price differs. People comparing Medigap Plan N cost in California are usually deciding whether the premium savings over Plan G are worth the copays, which is a math question about how often they see a doctor.
What you pay with Plan N
| Part A (hospital) deductible | You pay $0. Plan N pays it. |
|---|---|
| Part B deductible | You pay $283 per year (2026 amount), once. |
| Office visits | You pay a copay of up to $20 per visit. |
| Emergency room visits | You pay a copay of up to $50 for a visit that does not lead to a hospital admission. The copay is waived if you are admitted. |
| Part B coinsurance (the 20 percent) | You pay $0 apart from the visit copays above. |
| Part B excess charges | You pay them. Plan N does not cover excess charges, which a doctor who does not accept Medicare assignment may bill above the Medicare approved amount. |
| Monthly premium | Paid to the insurance company, usually lower than Plan G for the same person. See the California price ranges below. |
Plan N does not include drug coverage, so most people pair it with a standalone Part D plan. See the 2027 California Part D plans, all 10 with premiums and deductibles.
What Plan N covers
These are the standardized benefits from the federal Medigap chart, for this letter only. They are the same at every insurance company.
- Part A coinsurance and hospital costs (up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits are used): 100%
- Part B coinsurance or copayment: 100%*
- Blood (first 3 pints): 100%
- Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment: 100%
- Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance: 100%
- Part A deductible: 100%
- Part B deductible: Not covered
- Part B excess charges: Not covered
- Foreign travel emergency (up to plan limits): 80%
- Out-of-pocket limit: N/A
What Plan N costs in California
Coverage is identical statewide; the price is not. Premiums are set by each carrier for each ZIP code and age. The range below is the general statewide picture from the state rate guide, across the California ZIPs we checked. For your exact price, ask us for a quote; we would rather quote you than publish a range we have not verified.
| Annual premium range at age 65, statewide | Per month, for comparison | Companies in the guide |
|---|---|---|
| $1,369 to $3,331 per year | About $114 to $278 per month | 18 |
Ranges across 8 California ZIPs checked in the California Department of Insurance 2026 Medicare Supplement Rate Guide, individual, non-tobacco, at age 65, checked October 2026. Guide survey rates, not quotes. Your own premium depends on the carrier, your exact age, ZIP code, and tobacco use, and carriers file new rates over time.
Who Plan N fits
A good fit if
- You want Medigap coverage and doctor freedom, but a lower monthly premium than Plan G.
- You see a doctor a handful of times a year, so the office copays add up to less than the premium savings.
- Your doctors accept Medicare assignment, so excess charges are unlikely. We can help you check.
Think twice if
- You see specialists often. The $20 copays can quietly erase the premium savings; run the comparison on the plan g vs plan n page.
- A key doctor does not accept assignment and bills excess charges, which Plan N leaves with you and Plan G covers.
- You want the fewest possible bills to think about. Plan G is the simpler plan.
Carriers that sell Plan N in California
These are some of the carriers that sell Medicare Supplement plans in California. Because the benefits for this letter are standardized, the same Plan N policy covers the same things at every carrier on this list; carriers differ on premium, household discounts, rate increase history, and service.
| Carrier |
|---|
| Aetna |
| Anthem Blue Cross |
| Blue Shield of California |
| HealthSpring (Cigna) |
| Humana |
| Mutual of Omaha |
| UnitedHealthcare (AARP) |
Compare the other plans
The most complete coverage for people new to Medicare, no visit copays.
High Deductible Plan GEven lower premiums, with a $3,050 deductible first in 2027.
Plan G vs Plan NThe head to head comparison, with the California break-even math.
Back to the full comparison: Medicare Supplement plans in California.
Questions about Plan N in California
What does Medicare Supplement Plan N cover in California?
Plan N covers the Part A hospital deductible, Part A and Part B coinsurance, the first 3 pints of blood, hospice coinsurance, skilled nursing facility coinsurance, and 80 percent of foreign travel emergency costs, up to plan limits. It does not cover the Part B deductible or Part B excess charges, and you pay copays of up to $20 for office visits and up to $50 for emergency room visits that do not lead to admission.
How much is Plan N in California?
It depends on the carrier, your age, and your ZIP code. Across 8 California ZIPs checked in the California Department of Insurance 2026 Medicare Supplement Rate Guide, Plan N annual premiums at age 65 ranged from $1,369 to $3,331 for an individual, non-tobacco policy (about $114 to $278 per month, 18 companies in every ZIP table checked). Guide survey rates, not quotes. The pricing section below shows the statewide range, and we can quote your exact age and ZIP at no cost.
What are Part B excess charges, and why do they matter on Plan N?
Most doctors accept Medicare assignment, which means they take the Medicare approved amount as payment in full. A doctor who does not accept assignment can bill up to 15 percent more than that amount, and that extra is an excess charge. Plan G pays excess charges; Plan N does not, so on Plan N the extra would be your bill. Whether your doctors accept assignment is one of the first things to check before choosing Plan N.
Can I switch from Plan N to Plan G later?
Sometimes. Plan G is richer than Plan N, so moving up is not protected by the California Birthday Rule, which only covers switches to a plan with equal or lesser benefits. Outside your first six months on Part B and other guaranteed issue windows, a switch from N to G usually requires health questions (medical underwriting). Moving the other way, from G to N, is a downgrade the Birthday Rule does protect.
Check Plan N prices for your ZIP
Call or text, Mon to Thu 9 AM to 8 PM, Fri 9 AM to 3 PM, Sat 9 AM to 2 PM PT
Talk through Plan N with Eric. We will price it for your exact age and ZIP, check your doctors the Medigap way (any provider who accepts Medicare), and compare it honestly against the other letters, at no cost to you.
Written by Eric Ullrich, licensed Medicare insurance agent, CA license #4551902, NPN 22200900. Last reviewed October 27, 2026. Medigap benefits on this page follow the federally standardized plan chart published by Medicare.gov. Sources: Medicare.gov, Compare Medigap plan benefits, California Department of Insurance, Medicare Supplement Rate Guide. Verify plan details with the carrier or at Medicare.gov before enrolling.