My husband and I entered medigap in the past year. I did a lot of research beforehand. We are both on the Plan N and feel 100% confident with our choice. Your presentarion was TERRIFIC by yhe way. Great job!
@@FloridaNative59 I am in Florida as well. All my working years I’ve always had BCBS. I am thinking about staying with them and going with Florida Blue Plan N. They never had a “closed book” to deal with.
Outstanding video! I have participated in several Medicare seminars, and I will tell you that no one compared Plans G and N like you just did. Very helpful!
My wife and I, PA residents, chose Plan N when we first signed up for Medicare a few years ago, WITHOUT the invaluable info contained in this presentation, and we would chose it again every day of the week. My thinking then was spot-on with what was presented here. Thank you for validating our choice.
I’m an N, but I’m well off and don’t have a worry about small charges. Also I am a believer in insuring what you can’t afford and paying for what you can afford.
If well off and "a believer in insuring what you can’t afford and paying for what you can afford", it seems like an Advantage plan would be your lean. Your comment makes me curious.
@@gericbabcock7145 You have a good point, I suspect it's because of the fear of managed care denying treatment. I'm willing (and can afford) the predictable treatment of supplement insurance, and I can afford the $20 payments to see a doctor 50 times per years if something weird came up, but why not save $20-30 month when it seems unlikely.
@@blastum I've got to make the decision soon. I've got a healthy neighbor on a zero cost advantage plan with zero cost benefits and he thinks its great. His argument is, how will you ever spend more than what you save in the next 5-10 years over a G or N plan. The whole thing turns on what you expect your health to do 'in the future', when you can no longer qualify to switch. Then again, maybe we will get universal health coverage and any extra money spent will be wasted.
I'm going A B and N when it is my time to get on MC. My parents and brother love their MA plans, but I want more flexibility and I don't like my healthcare being micromanaged. Besides, I work in rehab and the coverage is terrible, especially for Occupational Therapy.
@@GiardiniMedicare I live in one of the eight states which prohibits Docs from billing excess charges so the only issue is the up to $20 copays and up to $50 max ER visit. When looking at the annual premium difference, I would need to visit a Doctor 15 times a year just to break even with plan G!!! Plan N is a no brainer!
So happy to come across your post. I was happy with F. Every year i would call her and ask if F is still the best. She said yes continue on F. She sold me F and I believed it, except this year. I researched a lot and gave up and stayed with F. I thank you for your analysis i will hope i can get N now.
Plan G and I’m getting it in 2 months. One big reason is the Bay Area sucks for getting appointments. You always have to schedule them with doctors two or months ahead of time. getting in the same week is impossible so most of the time I have to go to urgent care or the emergency room if I want to get in within the same week.
There's no way the doctor's office is going to segregate plan N vs plan G. YES, they'll segregate Medicare Advantage vs Traditional Medicare, but they're not going to know or care about N vs G because the compensation is identical.
Your rationale doesn’t make sense. The only reason in most cases to choose Plan G over Plan N is if you have some sort of chronic condition that necessitates many diagnostic doctor office visits per year which would cause you to have to pay many copays. Otherwise, a Plan N is a much better value over time.
I also live in the Bay Area (in SF). I joined One Medical and can be seen by an NP or PA within 24 hours (if not a weekend). There is an annual membership of $199. It's only $9/month if an Amazon Prime member. My former employer is a cooperate sponsor, so I have no membership fee. They work with most insurance and Medicare.
Excellent! I agree with Mr. Westfall's comment below here. That is the best comparison of Plan G and Plan N I have ever heard. I have a Plan N. But I would like to add something: if you have to undergo underwriting for a Plan N, it is amazingly easy to pass underwriting. You have to be close to death before you would fail underwriting. You are only asked if you are currently on very, very expensive medical treatment such as for cancer. The average person should not fear underwriting and would easily pass underwriting.
Thanks! As far as underwriting goes, I wouldn't say it's "amazingly easy." I do show real-world underwriting questions at the 7:22 minute mark in this video: ua-cam.com/video/tfVYpougjWM/v-deo.html
Your video explanations are outstanding, so clear. One reason people may chose G over N is based on their health...if they already have a lot of medical and ER visits or expect to so expect their copays may well be more than the monthly difference.. in a way, they are prepaying. And as one ages, the number of medical visits typically does increase. It is comforting to go to the doc or ER without worrying about the cost. My husband went on a plan F, the discontinued version of plan G, and is well ahead, and due to some existing medical issues, is very well ahead on savings.
@@thyslop1737 It's a Medigap plan, and the benefits are described on page 11 of this guide: www.medicare.gov/publications/02110-medigap-guide-health-insurance.pdf Just know if you are newly eligible for Medicare, you aren't eligible for Plan F
Many retirees have plenty of money. If I had more money, I'd go with G. Excess charges are rare today. They may not be in 10 or 20 years. But I think I'll be going with N. Hoping I'll go at least another 10 years with just going to doc once a year, but you never know. Health turns on a dime. Your example shows that it would take a lot of doc visits to even the costs up.
@@WhittyPics That is what I am concerned about. What plan N is good for now might not be the same terms in the future. Medicare already started to implement a telehealth and urgent care centers $20 co-payment for plan N .
@@ItsMe-rr9nh 98% of doctors take Medicare assignment, so excess charges are not anything to worry about. The doctors who charge excess charges are predominantly psychiatrists and podiatrists. Also, it really wasn’t that Medicare “snuck in” the $20 copay for urgent care centers and telehealth. That change came about because of Covid and the fact that so many people had to get services that way instead of doing regular office visits. As a result of this, Medicare allowed them to charge the $20 copy. There was nothing underhanded about it, just a response which came about due to the lockdowns and fear associated with Covid.
As a broker, I have zero concerns about excess charges. Unless you are going to the doctor 2+ times a month, N is a better value and has experienced lower rate increases compared to G. A recent industry white paper I got said carriers are expecting the price advantage for N over G to grow.
You are about the only agent that actually understands what non- participating provider is. As an administrator for providers I have looked into this for them a number of times. Providers have misconception that they will make an additional 15%. It is not a good business decision to go Non-participating. As your example is very telling, the provider would only receive an 8.5% more than the participating. Not worth the hassle explaining to the patient why you can charge this and the patient will certainly let their referring doctor know or they may look to move to a participating provider. The risk of losing business is too great for the providers business. However, most providers business people don't even understand it. Good job in explaining this.
What an outstanding comparison between these plans. You did a superb job and I am now very confident as I choose my Medigap plan. By the way my wife and I are on plan N. And we are quite happy with it.
I was going in wanting get plan g but after watching several videos it was better for me to get plan n. I would have had to pay way more in plan g monthly premiums vs the small copays with plan n. I just signed up and got plan n. Money per month only makes sense in my situation. Also got rx plan that has 0 to 6 dollars for no premium on that
SO MANY NUMBERS!! But you explained it perfectly! I’m in Plan F and love it. I’m telling my friends who are about to go on Medicare to choose Plan G because they see multiple doctors and have hospitalizations occasionally. I would rather pay a higher monthly premium than worrying about copays throughout the year. One and done. Thank you for the info!
Wow! Thanks for such a great explanation! I have my appointment today to chose my plan. After reviewing this video I believe N is a good plan for me !!!
I went through this exercise a year ago, and the information you present was definitely on my mind. In the end, I went with G because I can afford it. If money was a little tighter, I probably would have chosen N. The wild card in all this is that we have no idea what the Medigap universe is going to look like in ten years. If premiums become too crazy, the public is not going to stand for it.
Leaving my career in August and been educating myself for over a year now. Been in touch with a local broker and she is so G. To her credit it's all about the guaranteed issue for SEP. Yet I've been leaning towards N and now have a phone appt. with your Gwynn coming up ! Many thanks !
Great presentation and breakdown. We have recently selected plan N but were thinking of switching over to plan G. After watching, it makes more sense to stick with plan N. Thank you for your explanations and data.
Love your videos. I was already thinking of going with Plan N, and your explanation of excess charges has convinced me fully. Plan N it is. Thank you!!
What a great video on explaining Plan G & Plan N. You mentioned switching out of a Medigap plan at any open enrollment period for an Advantage plan if finances became an issue. Advantage HMO plan premiums are $0 cost per month. Advantage plans are guaranteed issue. That's important for people to know since the longer one lives the higher the monthly premiums become.
My Medicare is slated to start soon. I originally chose Plan G out of fear because I had a previous stint with cancer 6 years ago. I was concerned about what would happen to me financially if the cancer came back. I watched several videos on Plan G vs. Plan N. Then I changed to Plan N (while there was time to avoid medical underwriting). Your video has convinced me I made the right choice choosing. Plan N. You did a great job breaking down the differences between Plan G and Plan N. Thank you very much.
Great video. My husband and I are new to medicare and medigap plans effective 2024. We chose a Medigap Plan N. I just saw your video and now I understand this plan better and feel reassured we made the right decision going into 2025.
Your estimated savings projections are missing one important item: as we age, we will most likely need to visit doctor more often, thus there will be more copays with plan N. That would reduce savings of plan N in the long term.
While that is probably the case don't forget the difference in premium between N and G will continue to grow. In my state I would have to visit the doctor 24 times per year to break even. Six months in I have had only 4 co pays to pay, so I am on track for 8 visits for the year. N.B. I have had 13 claims this year already most of which were to deal with a shoulder problem. Most of the visits were physical therapy which does NOT attract a co-pay. Follow-up visits to a doctor often don't attract a co-pay, Co-pays are for when a doctor diagnoses a condition, treatments following initial diagnosis typically do not attract a co-pay. So yes you will get more medical attention as you age, but the number of visits that attract a co-pay will probably still be modest.
@@JeanPierreWhite - I didn’t know about what triggers the copays, thanks for the info. I still have 2 years to decide, so there still lots of learning to do. One thing I discovered is that plans often allow moving from plan G to plan N, but not vice versa.
So what's a 'worst case scenario ' dollar wise ( give or take) that can be charged out of pocket for plan N excess charge? Because the cost for a procedure is still locked in by a standard medicate charge. So how much is 15% more for a crazy heart or cancer procedure starting from what Medicare allows?
Hate to give an unspecific answer, but it's really impossible to answer. In theory it would probably be tens of thousands of dollars for long term chemotherapy or dialysis treatments. However, in reality, we have never seen anything close to this and as far as we know, neither have any of our other broker colleagues.
Thank you, the information was clear and informative. I was leaning toward Plan G but now think Plan N is an acceptable option based on my current needs and finances
I wanted N from the get go and my agent was very pushy and put me on G and said just change it next year. I've been trying to change to N and she was stalling by changing appointments on me. After 3 attempts I fired her and am in the process of looking for a new agent. Thank you for this great info!! I'm now very assured I'm making the right decision.
At first, while reading the comment, I thought, "You need a different agent." I am glad to hear that this is the route you are taking! If you find we work in your state and need some help changing to Plan N, just reach out to us via our website: gmedicareteam.com/
What do you mean fire her? Were you locked in with her once you started using her? Can't you just go to a different agent without letting her know? I am curious just because I was trying to decide if I should use a broker or just call insurance companies myself to sign up.
@@deborahann5552 she was a friend of sorts, so I gave her the benefit of the doubt. I was not locked in and changed when I had enough. You can chose any agent you like and at any time.
I almost DIDN'T like and subscribe because I don't want "The Secret of Plan-N" to be popularized...we'll loose the price advantage, LOL! (But I did like and subscribe).
Especially whereas a previous comment stated that he was going to be age 65 soon and has a shitload of health problems and is leaning towards plan N (He might regret that and in his situation most likely plan G will not be an option for him with all his health problems later on)
Plan N certainly sounds like the better option but you nailed it with the comfort of risk people feel and knowing what the fixed costs will be vs. the unknown. I think medical conditions can change on the dime - from relatively healthy to some hidden disease that suddenly requires more doctors/specialists and procedures. If the Guaranteed Issue Rights extended to Plan N, I could easily see how many people would stick with until Plan G would make more sense. But once in Plan N, it is long-term. Great explanation of it all! I'm in Illinois with the birthday rule but it doesn't matter if Plan N is excluded.
Thank you. This is very informative. I would like to choose N, but because of my recent diagnosis of osteoporosis I am wondering if it would be wise to go with G.
Depends on how often you think you may have to go to the doctor due to osteoporosis. I wouldn't say it certainly means you need Plan G, but you will have to decide the amount of out-of-pocket costs you are comfortable with!
Plan G sound better, just to avoid co-pays when visiting. Great comparison at the end, between Plan G and Plan N, about total potential lifetime cost differences. One thing that could be even more helpful, though this was great, would be: instead of just showing total potential savings after 25 years (age 90), also show at other points such as average life expectancy, or every 5 years. Thanks much.
Lots to consider. Great review. One difficulty is that you only choose once. After that you're not doing this kind of comparison btwn what 'could have been.' So in a way it's less a financial decision and more of a lifestyle/emotional one.
There is a lot to it, but it’s still possible for many people to change from one to the other if they can pass health underwriting. One of our upcoming videos will highlight that process
Just turned 65 and still in very good health. Will continue on my employer’s qualified health plan till I retire in a couple of years. Then, it’s on to Plan N for sure.
Talk to an agent to be sure you handle Part B correctly while you are still working. If you do nothing you may find yourself subject to a lifetime penalty on your Part B premium.
It seems to me a 10-year look-ahead is appropriate here: Two options presented to me in Iowa have a G premium $37/mo higher than a N. Applying your recently observed plan increases for both, in 10 years the difference widens to $98/mo. But the $20 office co-pay remains the same, unless legislation changes it! For me the choice is clear - and thanks for the explanation!
Just met with a Medicare advisor. He was pushing advantage plans. I kept asking for medigap info. He only gave me plan G options. I made an appointment with a different advisor
Love all the info! Very informative, just one suggestion: we older people need more time to look at things so could we see the pages of info & graphs more than your handsome face? I know, I know, I can pause and look, but it's helpful to ME to see what your talking about at the same time you're talking about it. When I pause I have no sound. I like to look at the info while it's being described. Thank you. 😊
I have heard F is now a closed plan, meaning no one can enroll in it moving forward....which means premiums for plan F are going to go up! The people in that plan will continue to age (which often includes greater likelihood of more frequent and/or more serious illness). No younger (likely healthier) people are entering the plan which will be the reason these premiums could go up a lot. My concern is that medicare can (and likely will) "close" ANY plan at any time with the same result. :/
@@TC-yi3ue The only people who may be able to choose Plan F now are those born before 1/1/1955 and have a MA plan cancelation, like me. But, it depends on state laws. In my state, because my MA is canceling, I now have a guaranteed issue for F and FHD, but have to pass underwriting for G or GHD.
If you move to another state or insurance drops are you still guaranteed plan insurance from another provider on plan N. Also I live in PA. There are no excess fees. Can I be excess fees when I am in another state
If you move with Plan N, you will get to keep your Plan N and you won't have guaranteed issue rights since you aren't losing coverage. Also, your insurance company can't drop you unless you don't pay your premiums, or the company itself goes bankrupt. If you don't pay your premiums, you wouldn't have guarantee issue rights, but the company going bankrupt would give you access to GI, but not for Plan N as you can see from Medicare.gov www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/medigap/ready-to-buy... Lastly, you could be charged excess charges outside of PA. Although, it is still very uncommon.
We went with Plan N and are very happy with it. I pay $83 a month and my husband $88. We looked at how much it would go up over the course of 10 years and Plan G would cost a whole lot more. We are located in Western Pennsylvania so no excess charges and the co-pays of $20 or less are not a problem.
Thank you. Best explanation thus far. My Aetna Medicare Advantage Plan is being discontinued in WA state, so it provides option to go to Medicare Supplemental Plan. I wanted Plan N but it sounded as though you said I am only eligible for Plan G. Is that correct? Sadly, the broker who enrolled me when I became eligible for Medicare never told me about Medigap Supplemental Plans. 😢
There may be companies in Washington that offer Plan N as guaranteed issue, but you may have to choose a Plan G initially. However, in Washington, you can change from Plan G to Plan N without health questions: www.insurance.wa.gov/sites/default/files/documents/what-you-need-to-know-medigap-plans_4.pdf The best bet is to connect with a broker licensed in Washington. We aren't, but if you use this link, we can connect you with someone: gmedicareteam.com/map/
I'm still thinking Plan Advantage. I think for 15 or 20 years, its likely that we will use medical care seldom (looking at our parents). However, after that, it would probably be nice to have plan G. That switchover thing is horrible. Can the difference in premium be put in an HSA for the next 20 years? Of course not, so being driven towards plan G for the same reason I never had a High Deductible Account when working -> too much risk before you can build up any decent balances in a HSA.
A couple things still leave me uneasy with plan N. The first is the assumption that the law of averages will apply to me or my spouse. I am in good health right now and my spouse is in fair health. I don’t know what the future holds, but family traits suggest that the average expenses may not apply for me and my household. The second is that in order to realize the payoff benefit, you must live out the 25 years on your chart. At a minimum based on age of eligibility at 65, one needs to live to be 90. I have no guarantee that I or my spouse will live that long. So plan G still looks to be a more stable choice over all. Just my two cents.
Thanks for your personal input! Those same reasons are why most people still choose Plan G. But to be precise, for the payoff benefits, I only showed the savings over 25 years and how they grow. The savings begin in year 1 for the majority of people who choose Plan N.
OK, I have N now and being offered G as well as an Advantage plan. I don't know if there are real actual policy coverage differences? I'm going to stick with N if no coverage differences. Thank you.
@@GiardiniMedicare I've been on Plan N for probably 7-8 yrs but an agent is trying to sell me on an Advantage plan. I did my research and I'm not going to let an insurance company control my choices so end of discussion. Thanks for your fine help.
Unless you are in a state with unique underwriting rules like a birthday rule or an anniversary rule, if you want to change from N to G, it will depend on your health and ability to pass medical underwriting. Plan G would likely save you money if you go to the doctor and ER many times throughout the year, but that is the risk you take when choosing a plan!
Not every doctor visit will attract a co-pay and not all co-pays are $20. One co-pay I had at my family doctor was $14. The co-pay is $20 or 20% of the medicare approved amount, whichever is smaller. If the medicare approved amount is less than $100 you pay less than $20. In the scenario you presented you might pay $200 in doctor co-pays and $250 in ER visits, worst case. One has to ask why would you visit the ER 5 times a year and all 5 times not get admitted? If that was the case the decision to go to the ER vs an urgent care facility is something you would have to ask yourself. In fact the $50 ER co-pay is designed to discourage unfettered use of the ER, which drives up medical costs and premiums. On a plan G a patient can visit the ER as many times as they want and not incur any expense personally other than the $240 annual deductible, this encourages abuse of the ER vs using an urgent care facility. This is one reason why Plan G premiums tend to go up more quickly than Plan N. Even if you are responsible in the utilization of the ER, the other people in the same risk pool as you might not be and you end up paying for their indiscretion.
@@jr38499 Correct. An "all you can eat" type of plan will encourage consumption. The small speed bump of a $20 co-pay is designed to make patients consider the need to see a doctor without it discouraging genuine need for care.
Outside of Medigap OEP, you would likely have to go through underwriting to make that switch in Texas. It is not one of the states with more lenient rules.
My wife and I have Plan N. I only see my primary care medical provider 1 time a year for the Medicare wellness check. My wife, who had open heart surgery in Nov, only sees a provider less than once a month. My sister, who is a year younger than my wife, and lives in the same area, pays $60 a month more for her Part G than my wife's Part N premium.
I live in PA, so without the fear of excess charges I’m leaning towards plan N, but if I see a Dr. in NJ for example, could they charge excess me charges?
GREAT video! I'm leaning towards N for the reasons stated within, but I'm having a bugger of a time trying to find historical supplement monthly premiums data for (in my case) Aetna and Blue Cross. Can anyone tell me where I can find this information?
There is no out-of-pocket limit for the copays. Most of those services should not require a $20 copay, but some of those services will be accompanied by an office visit, which would require a $20 copay. Here is the link to the document we talked about in the video with more details on the services that do and do not require copays with Plan N: www.cms.gov/Medicare/Health-Plans/Medigap/downloads/Plan_N_Guidance2.pdf
Very informative. Will probably go for plan N. It’s a per person decision right? Meaning my wife could do plan G if that’s to her advantage. What about MOOP advantages of plans K and L? Thanks very much!
Definitely a per-person decision, so yes, she can do what she thinks is right for her! Funny you mention Plan K and L since I'm making a video about them in the next couple of months, but long story short, we don't think they make much sense compared to Plan N.
If you haven't met the Part B deductible, you must pay towards that. If your deductible has been paid for the year, you wouldn't have charges for PT if they don't use one of the CPT codes discussed in the video.
There is no copay for physical therapy visits. The only exception is the first visit, if they evaluate your condition and establish a treatment plan then that first visit may attract a $20 co-pay. I had PT this year with plan N. Paid $20 for the visit to the orthopedic doctor, none of the PT visits had a co-pay. The doctor was quite smart. He set a follow-up visit after the planned PT sessions but told me, if you are doing well after the PT treatments cancel the follow-up with me. Which is what happened, he only wanted to see me again if PT failed.
I avoid doctors and hospitals at ALL cost, so I am 98% sure I will be choosing Plan N. If I can afford it, Im going to put into savings the difference in monthly premiums from Plan G to Plan N and that "cushion " will be there for any co pay I may end up having. This will be in addition to my small HSA account that I saved during my last year of employment. On that note, IF I had known years before about HSA accounts and had the option of getting one, I would have stashed a ton of money into it, because THAT would have greatly aided in my future helathcare needs.
Do you have a feel for why the percentage of people selecting plan N has diminished over the years? The chart you showed demonstrated fewer and fewer people choosing plan N over Plan G. Why the shift?
That chart is misleading. Actually, Plan N is growing in popularity across the country as more people become aware of its benefits and overall cost value. Unfortunately, too many agents still recommend the Plan G because it is easier to explain and they get paid higher commissions, so they don’t mention Plan N at all.
@@MaryBethMcCoy I don't understand your position. If you look at the chart in 2012 55.9% of subscribers chose a plan N vs a plan G, but by 2022 that percentage dropped to only 14.6%. I understand that some (maybe even many) agents fail to mention Plan N, but Cameron said in the video even after explaining both Plan G and Plan N more of his customers choose Plan G. It puzzles me why Plan N went from being slightly more popular to infrequently chosen. In addition the percentage of advantage plans has increased to the point now that Advantage is over half of the plans chosen today. So what that means is that Plan N is 14.6% of less than 50% of plans sold, so probably closer to 7% of all new enrollees each year. My fear is carriers will drop plan N due to lack of interest. The fact that agents get paid a percentage of the premium means the more expensive plans will be favored. In addition to the agents I'm sure the carriers would prefer subscribers choose a more expensive plan. Commissions for Advantage are even more lucrative. I suspect that carriers are incentivising the most profitable plans
Plan N finally saw a bump in enrollment percentage now in 2024, according to the most recently released data: www.telosactuarial.com/blog/med-supp-broker-sales-mix-2023-q4-review Plan G is more popular generally due to the fact that most brokers still focus on Plan G, and many consumers still prefer to not deal with the copays and other uncertainties with Plan N.
@@GiardiniMedicare That's great news. I'm glad to see that popularity is improving. I see some people are still buying plan F. That has to be very expensive, just because you can doesn't mean you should. Gosh.
The $191 example for excess charges was nice, but what if you have major surgery for $191,000? Instead of $10 excess charges would be more like $10,000. And, on the Medicare web site you can only search for participating providers, not non-participating providers.
We have never seen an example of an excess charge that is even close to that high of an amount, but we would love to see one if it exists. Thankfully, anyone worried about the "what ifs" of excess charges can just choose Plan G instead.
I’ve always chosen Plan G because I have MS. But I really only see my neurologist, every six months if things are going well. I’ve also had a stage three melanoma about 7years ago, so I have to see a dermatologist every 6 months. I see my GP every 6 months because of other common conditions such as blood pressure and cholesterol. However, if plan G and plan pay excess charges to participating providers, and all my providers are within the Riverside health system and under Riverside’s umbrella, wouldn’t I be just as well off with Plan N unless something happens and my yearly visits increase. How do I fill out a Plan N application to find out if they would even accept me now before re-enrollment time when I have to act?
Your logic is correct that Plan N could still work if you don't go to the doctor often due to your MS being under control, but of course, there is always a risk for the future! I'm unfamiliar with Riverside Health, but it looks like it is in Virginia. If you are also in Virginia, you likely don't have access to a unique birthday rule or another way to get Medigap coverage without health questions. I, unfortunately, can't think of a Medigap plan that would accept you with MS. We will talk more about the process of changing Medigap plans soon in a new video. Still, we could try to connect you with a broker in VA to see if there is a way for you to change that we aren't aware of.
@@GiardiniMedicare Thank you for answering so promptly! Is it worth it to even look into Plan N if you don’t think that Plan N would consider me with MS? I’ve never had any problem with Plan G, so maybe in my case it’s best not to mess with what’s working for a relatively small savings. You agree?
@@christinechristinem2131 Unless there is a Medigap company in Virginia that will accept MS that we are unaware of, there isn't much reason to consider Plan N in your case. Plan G is still a great option anyways!
My husband and I entered medigap in the past year. I did a lot of research beforehand. We are both on the Plan N and feel 100% confident with our choice. Your presentarion was TERRIFIC by yhe way. Great job!
What insurance company did you go with ?
@@FloridaNative59 Mitual of Omaha
Thanks @@joanclayton1181
@@FloridaNative59
I am in Florida as well. All my working years I’ve always had BCBS.
I am thinking about staying with them and going with Florida Blue Plan N. They never had a “closed book” to deal with.
Best video EVER on explaining Plan N! Great job!!
Thanks, Chris! Means a lot
Outstanding video! I have participated in several Medicare seminars, and I will tell you that no one compared Plans G and N like you just did. Very helpful!
Thanks for watching and thank you for the feedback!
Probably because no one has 30 minutes to waste at Medicare seminar to just go over plan g and n alone. They usually cover Medicare broadly
@@tioswift3676 ,
Have a good day!
My wife and I, PA residents, chose Plan N when we first signed up for Medicare a few years ago, WITHOUT the invaluable info contained in this presentation, and we would chose it again every day of the week. My thinking then was spot-on with what was presented here. Thank you for validating our choice.
Thanks for sharing your experience! Obviously we would have to agree that you both made a great choice.
Plan G for me. I have a condition that causes ER visits about 3 times a year. Your video has good information. Thank you.
Makes perfect sense to me! Thanks for watching
I’m an N, but I’m well off and don’t have a worry about small charges. Also I am a believer in insuring what you can’t afford and paying for what you can afford.
Definitely agree with the idea of not overinsuring yourself when possible
If well off and "a believer in insuring what you can’t afford and paying for what you can afford", it seems like an Advantage plan would be your lean. Your comment makes me curious.
@@gericbabcock7145 You have a good point, I suspect it's because of the fear of managed care denying treatment. I'm willing (and can afford) the predictable treatment of supplement insurance, and I can afford the $20 payments to see a doctor 50 times per years if something weird came up, but why not save $20-30 month when it seems unlikely.
@@blastum I've got to make the decision soon. I've got a healthy neighbor on a zero cost advantage plan with zero cost benefits and he thinks its great. His argument is, how will you ever spend more than what you save in the next 5-10 years over a G or N plan. The whole thing turns on what you expect your health to do 'in the future', when you can no longer qualify to switch. Then again, maybe we will get universal health coverage and any extra money spent will be wasted.
I'm going A B and N when it is my time to get on MC. My parents and brother love their MA plans, but I want more flexibility and I don't like my healthcare being micromanaged. Besides, I work in rehab and the coverage is terrible, especially for Occupational Therapy.
Before watching this I was firm plan G, now I’m seriously considering N. You explained all facets of the differences and choice factors very well.
Thanks for the feedback! Both options are excellent, but we are glad you have the chance to look at both, in depth before choosing.
@@GiardiniMedicare I live in one of the eight states which prohibits Docs from billing excess charges so the only issue is the up to $20 copays and up to $50 max ER visit. When looking at the annual premium difference, I would need to visit a Doctor 15 times a year just to break even with plan G!!! Plan N is a no brainer!
Plan N. Thanks for the awesome breakdown of the difference of the plans
Wow, that’s a very comprehensive analysis. Thank you!
So happy to come across your post. I was happy with F. Every year i would call her and ask if F is still the best. She said yes continue on F. She sold me F and I believed it, except this year. I researched a lot and gave up and stayed with F. I thank you for your analysis i will hope i can get N now.
Thank you so kindly for explaining the Plan N !!! Fabulous in common English
Thanks for watching!
I believe that Minnesota also does not have excess charges.
That's correct. I did include them on the map of States that don't allow excess charges at the 17:07 minute mark of the video
I would tend to lean towards plan N also
Plan G and I’m getting it in 2 months. One big reason is the Bay Area sucks for getting appointments. You always have to schedule them with doctors two or months ahead of time. getting in the same week is impossible so most of the time I have to go to urgent care or the emergency room if I want to get in within the same week.
There's no way the doctor's office is going to segregate plan N vs plan G. YES, they'll segregate Medicare Advantage vs Traditional Medicare, but they're not going to know or care about N vs G because the compensation is identical.
Your rationale doesn’t make sense. The only reason in most cases to choose Plan G over Plan N is if you have some sort of chronic condition that necessitates many diagnostic doctor office visits per year which would cause you to have to pay many copays. Otherwise, a Plan N is a much better value over time.
I also live in the Bay Area (in SF). I joined One Medical and can be seen by an NP or PA within 24 hours (if not a weekend). There is an annual membership of $199. It's only $9/month if an Amazon Prime member. My former employer is a cooperate sponsor, so I have no membership fee. They work with most insurance and Medicare.
Excellent! I agree with Mr. Westfall's comment below here. That is the best comparison of Plan G and Plan N I have ever heard. I have a Plan N. But I would like to add something: if you have to undergo underwriting for a Plan N, it is amazingly easy to pass underwriting. You have to be close to death before you would fail underwriting. You are only asked if you are currently on very, very expensive medical treatment such as for cancer. The average person should not fear underwriting and would easily pass underwriting.
Thanks! As far as underwriting goes, I wouldn't say it's "amazingly easy." I do show real-world underwriting questions at the 7:22 minute mark in this video: ua-cam.com/video/tfVYpougjWM/v-deo.html
Your video explanations are outstanding, so clear. One reason people may chose G over N is based on their health...if they already have a lot of medical and ER visits or expect to so expect their copays may well be more than the monthly difference.. in a way, they are prepaying. And as one ages, the number of medical visits typically does increase. It is comforting to go to the doc or ER without worrying about the cost.
My husband went on a plan F, the discontinued version of plan G, and is well ahead, and due to some existing medical issues, is very well ahead on savings.
All good points! At the end of the day, many people just want the highest level of coverage they can get
Plan N for us and absolutely no regrets. I do regret the years I paid for plan F before I switched.
Glad you could make the change. Either Plan G or Plan N are better than Plan F in our opinion
New to all of this. What is plan F?
@@thyslop1737 It's a Medigap plan, and the benefits are described on page 11 of this guide: www.medicare.gov/publications/02110-medigap-guide-health-insurance.pdf
Just know if you are newly eligible for Medicare, you aren't eligible for Plan F
I'm on plan N .. it:s great. The co pays that I pay far outweigh the premium you pay on plan G.
I also think the lower plan N premiums offset the copays - the copays aren't that large anyway.
Many retirees have plenty of money. If I had more money, I'd go with G. Excess charges are rare today. They may not be in 10 or 20 years. But I think I'll be going with N. Hoping I'll go at least another 10 years with just going to doc once a year, but you never know. Health turns on a dime. Your example shows that it would take a lot of doc visits to even the costs up.
Excess charges down the road is what made me get plan G. $20 co pay isn't a big deal
@@WhittyPics
That is what I am concerned about. What plan N is good for now might not be the same terms in the future. Medicare already started to implement a telehealth and urgent care centers $20 co-payment for plan N .
@@WhittyPics
$20 co-pay for now………
@@ItsMe-rr9nh 98% of doctors take Medicare assignment, so excess charges are not anything to worry about. The doctors who charge excess charges are predominantly psychiatrists and podiatrists. Also, it really wasn’t that Medicare “snuck in” the $20 copay for urgent care centers and telehealth. That change came about because of Covid and the fact that so many people had to get services that way instead of doing regular office visits. As a result of this, Medicare allowed them to charge the $20 copy. There was nothing underhanded about it, just a response which came about due to the lockdowns and fear associated with Covid.
As a broker, I have zero concerns about excess charges. Unless you are going to the doctor 2+ times a month, N is a better value and has experienced lower rate increases compared to G. A recent industry white paper I got said carriers are expecting the price advantage for N over G to grow.
Your presentation was excellent! Thank you.
You are about the only agent that actually understands what non- participating provider is. As an administrator for providers I have looked into this for them a number of times. Providers have misconception that they will make an additional 15%. It is not a good business decision to go Non-participating. As your example is very telling, the provider would only receive an 8.5% more than the participating. Not worth the hassle explaining to the patient why you can charge this and the patient will certainly let their referring doctor know or they may look to move to a participating provider. The risk of losing business is too great for the providers business. However, most providers business people don't even understand it. Good job in explaining this.
Thanks for the feedback! I've tried to research it as much as possible, so I'm glad it paid off😅
What an outstanding comparison between these plans. You did a superb job and I am now very confident as I choose my Medigap plan. By the way my wife and I are on plan N. And we are quite happy with it.
Thanks for the kind words and thanks for watching! I think you with both be happy with Plan N for years to come
I was going in wanting get plan g but after watching several videos it was better for me to get plan n. I would have had to pay way more in plan g monthly premiums vs the small copays with plan n.
I just signed up and got plan n. Money per month only makes sense in my situation. Also got rx plan that has 0 to 6 dollars for no premium on that
SO MANY NUMBERS!! But you explained it perfectly! I’m in Plan F and love it. I’m telling my friends who are about to go on Medicare to choose Plan G because they see multiple doctors and have hospitalizations occasionally. I would rather pay a higher monthly premium than worrying about copays throughout the year. One and done. Thank you for the info!
Wow! Thanks for such a great explanation! I have my appointment today to chose my plan. After reviewing this video I believe N is a good plan for me !!!
I went through this exercise a year ago, and the information you present was definitely on my mind. In the end, I went with G because I can afford it. If money was a little tighter, I probably would have chosen N. The wild card in all this is that we have no idea what the Medigap universe is going to look like in ten years. If premiums become too crazy, the public is not going to stand for it.
Thanks for sharing your experience! Your thought process seems sound to me, so I'm sure you made the right choice
Leaving my career in August and been educating myself for over a year now. Been in touch with a local broker and she is so G. To her credit it's all about the guaranteed issue for SEP. Yet I've been leaning towards N and now have a phone appt. with your Gwynn coming up ! Many thanks !
Great presentation and breakdown. We have recently selected plan N but were thinking of switching over to plan G. After watching, it makes more sense to stick with plan N. Thank you for your explanations and data.
Thanks for watching! What was making you think about changing to Plan G?
Love your videos. I was already thinking of going with Plan N, and your explanation of excess charges has convinced me fully. Plan N it is. Thank you!!
Awesome presentation, most in-depth and complete I have seen. Thank you very, very much!
Thanks for watching!
What a great video on explaining Plan G & Plan N. You mentioned switching out of a Medigap plan at any open enrollment period for an Advantage plan if finances became an issue. Advantage HMO plan premiums are $0 cost per month. Advantage plans are guaranteed issue. That's important for people to know since the longer one lives the higher the monthly premiums become.
Plan N …researched as much as possible…seems the best for me! Thanks for the info!
My Medicare is slated to start soon. I originally chose Plan G out of fear because I had a previous stint with cancer 6 years ago. I was concerned about what would happen to me financially if the cancer came back. I watched several videos on Plan G vs. Plan N. Then I changed to Plan N (while there was time to avoid medical underwriting). Your video has convinced me I made the right choice choosing. Plan N. You did a great job breaking down the differences between Plan G and Plan N. Thank you very much.
Thanks! nice job taking the time to look into it on your own. You very likely did make the right choice.
Great video. My husband and I are new to medicare and medigap plans effective 2024. We chose a Medigap Plan N. I just saw your video and now I understand this plan better and feel reassured we made the right decision going into 2025.
Glad it helped! Plan N is a great option
Your estimated savings projections are missing one important item: as we age, we will most likely need to visit doctor more often, thus there will be more copays with plan N. That would reduce savings of plan N in the long term.
Yes, it’s impossible to know
While that is probably the case don't forget the difference in premium between N and G will continue to grow. In my state I would have to visit the doctor 24 times per year to break even. Six months in I have had only 4 co pays to pay, so I am on track for 8 visits for the year.
N.B. I have had 13 claims this year already most of which were to deal with a shoulder problem. Most of the visits were physical therapy which does NOT attract a co-pay. Follow-up visits to a doctor often don't attract a co-pay, Co-pays are for when a doctor diagnoses a condition, treatments following initial diagnosis typically do not attract a co-pay.
So yes you will get more medical attention as you age, but the number of visits that attract a co-pay will probably still be modest.
@@JeanPierreWhite - I didn’t know about what triggers the copays, thanks for the info. I still have 2 years to decide, so there still lots of learning to do. One thing I discovered is that plans often allow moving from plan G to plan N, but not vice versa.
So what's a 'worst case scenario ' dollar wise ( give or take) that can be charged out of pocket for plan N excess charge? Because the cost for a procedure is still locked in by a standard medicate charge. So how much is 15% more for a crazy heart or cancer procedure starting from what Medicare allows?
Hate to give an unspecific answer, but it's really impossible to answer. In theory it would probably be tens of thousands of dollars for long term chemotherapy or dialysis treatments. However, in reality, we have never seen anything close to this and as far as we know, neither have any of our other broker colleagues.
Be aware that the 15% excess charge is applied to 95% of the medicare approved amount. So it ends up being less than 15% in practice.
Thank you, the information was clear and informative. I was leaning toward Plan G but now think Plan N is an acceptable option based on my current needs and finances
I wanted N from the get go and my agent was very pushy and put me on G and said just change it next year. I've been trying to change to N and she was stalling by changing appointments on me. After 3 attempts I fired her and am in the process of looking for a new agent. Thank you for this great info!! I'm now very assured I'm making the right decision.
At first, while reading the comment, I thought, "You need a different agent." I am glad to hear that this is the route you are taking! If you find we work in your state and need some help changing to Plan N, just reach out to us via our website: gmedicareteam.com/
What do you mean fire her? Were you locked in with her once you started using her? Can't you just go to a different agent without letting her know? I am curious just because I was trying to decide if I should use a broker or just call insurance companies myself to sign up.
@@deborahann5552 she was a friend of sorts, so I gave her the benefit of the doubt. I was not locked in and changed when I had enough. You can chose any agent you like and at any time.
Very educational, Plan N!
I almost DIDN'T like and subscribe because I don't want "The Secret of Plan-N" to be popularized...we'll loose the price advantage, LOL! (But I did like and subscribe).
haha appreciate it, Dale!
Especially whereas a previous comment stated that he was going to be age 65 soon and has a shitload of health problems and is leaning towards plan N (He might regret that and in his situation most likely plan G will not be an option for him with all his health problems later on)
Outstanding video! Very clear and informative!! Thanks.
I think plan N for me. Thanks for the info..
Leaning towards Plan N
Leaning heavily to Plan N. No one really factors in an HSA account in the decision process, especially if there is a decent balance there.
I chose Plan N and I'm glad I did. Your video confirmed my choice.
Great video with clear and concise information. Thank you!
I think I will probably choose Plan N.
Outstanding video. I have a meeting scheduled with you in a couple of weeks and this really helped me prepare for that.
Glad it helped! We look forward to helping you soon.
Great explanation! Thank you very much
This video is EXCELLENT. Thank you so much.
YEP N for us in 2 years..ill just make sure to avoid excess charges on not go that Doctor
Plan N certainly sounds like the better option but you nailed it with the comfort of risk people feel and knowing what the fixed costs will be vs. the unknown. I think medical conditions can change on the dime - from relatively healthy to some hidden disease that suddenly requires more doctors/specialists and procedures. If the Guaranteed Issue Rights extended to Plan N, I could easily see how many people would stick with until Plan G would make more sense. But once in Plan N, it is long-term. Great explanation of it all! I'm in Illinois with the birthday rule but it doesn't matter if Plan N is excluded.
Thank you. This is very informative. I would like to choose N, but because of my recent diagnosis of osteoporosis I am wondering if it would be wise to go with G.
Depends on how often you think you may have to go to the doctor due to osteoporosis. I wouldn't say it certainly means you need Plan G, but you will have to decide the amount of out-of-pocket costs you are comfortable with!
Plan G sound better, just to avoid co-pays when visiting. Great comparison at the end, between Plan G and Plan N, about total potential lifetime cost differences. One thing that could be even more helpful, though this was great, would be: instead of just showing total potential savings after 25 years (age 90), also show at other points such as average life expectancy, or every 5 years. Thanks much.
Good idea! Thanks. We will definitely do an updated video in the future so I'll keep that in mind
Nice job with the explaination!! Have 6 months before deciding.
Thanks! Are you leaning towards one?
Great video and explanation It brought back medical billing to me. Old medical office manager.
Extremely helpful video. I’m a few years away from 65 yet but always interested in such information
Lots to consider. Great review. One difficulty is that you only choose once. After that you're not doing this kind of comparison btwn what 'could have been.' So in a way it's less a financial decision and more of a lifestyle/emotional one.
There is a lot to it, but it’s still possible for many people to change from one to the other if they can pass health underwriting. One of our upcoming videos will highlight that process
Just turned 65 and still in very good health. Will continue on my employer’s qualified health plan till I retire in a couple of years. Then, it’s on to Plan N for sure.
Talk to an agent to be sure you handle Part B correctly while you are still working. If you do nothing you may find yourself subject to a lifetime penalty on your Part B premium.
It seems to me a 10-year look-ahead is appropriate here: Two options presented to me in Iowa have a G premium $37/mo higher than a N. Applying your recently observed plan increases for both, in 10 years the difference widens to $98/mo. But the $20 office co-pay remains the same, unless legislation changes it! For me the choice is clear - and thanks for the explanation!
Glad it helped! It does seem like a pretty straightforward choice when you put it that way, so hopefully, all goes as planned!
Great video. Thank you.
Happy I choose plan N for my
Husband. He has Dementia.
Just met with a Medicare advisor. He was pushing advantage plans. I kept asking for medigap info. He only gave me plan G options.
I made an appointment with a different advisor
Good call!
Highest commissions are granted when a Medicare advantage plan is sold. Run away fast from that agent!
Kudos!
Love all the info! Very informative, just one suggestion: we older people need more time to look at things so could we see the pages of info & graphs more than your handsome face? I know, I know, I can pause and look, but it's helpful to ME to see what your talking about at the same time you're talking about it. When I pause I have no sound. I like to look at the info while it's being described. Thank you. 😊
Thanks for the tip!
Definitely going with Plan N!!!
My wife and I are fortunate to get on plan F when it was available.
Is there a reason Plan G isn’t appealing as an alternative?
I have heard F is now a closed plan, meaning no one can enroll in it moving forward....which means premiums for plan F are going to go up! The people in that plan will continue to age (which often includes greater likelihood of more frequent and/or more serious illness). No younger (likely healthier) people are entering the plan which will be the reason these premiums could go up a lot. My concern is that medicare can (and likely will) "close" ANY plan at any time with the same result. :/
@@TC-yi3ue The only people who may be able to choose Plan F now are those born before 1/1/1955 and have a MA plan cancelation, like me. But, it depends on state laws. In my state, because my MA is canceling, I now have a guaranteed issue for F and FHD, but have to pass underwriting for G or GHD.
Planning to go to plan N in January. Yet, we'll see.
Good
If you move to another state or insurance drops are you still guaranteed plan insurance from another provider on plan N. Also I live in PA. There are no excess fees. Can I be excess fees when I am in another state
If you move with Plan N, you will get to keep your Plan N and you won't have guaranteed issue rights since you aren't losing coverage. Also, your insurance company can't drop you unless you don't pay your premiums, or the company itself goes bankrupt. If you don't pay your premiums, you wouldn't have guarantee issue rights, but the company going bankrupt would give you access to GI, but not for Plan N as you can see from Medicare.gov www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/medigap/ready-to-buy... Lastly, you could be charged excess charges outside of PA. Although, it is still very uncommon.
Plan N for me and I’m an agent!
We would agree! Thanks for watching
We went with Plan N and are very happy with it. I pay $83 a month and my husband $88. We looked at how much it would go up over the course of 10 years and Plan G would cost a whole lot more. We are located in Western Pennsylvania so no excess charges and the co-pays of $20 or less are not a problem.
That sounds like a pretty straightforward decision. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Thank you. Best explanation thus far. My Aetna Medicare Advantage Plan is being discontinued in WA state, so it provides option to go to Medicare Supplemental Plan. I wanted Plan N but it sounded as though you said I am only eligible for Plan G. Is that correct? Sadly, the broker who enrolled me when I became eligible for Medicare never told me about Medigap Supplemental Plans. 😢
There may be companies in Washington that offer Plan N as guaranteed issue, but you may have to choose a Plan G initially. However, in Washington, you can change from Plan G to Plan N without health questions: www.insurance.wa.gov/sites/default/files/documents/what-you-need-to-know-medigap-plans_4.pdf
The best bet is to connect with a broker licensed in Washington. We aren't, but if you use this link, we can connect you with someone: gmedicareteam.com/map/
What's up with Wisconsin and Minnesota?
Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Massachusetts don't standardize Medigap plans by the usual plan letters. www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/medigap/basics
I'm still thinking Plan Advantage. I think for 15 or 20 years, its likely that we will use medical care seldom (looking at our parents). However, after that, it would probably be nice to have plan G. That switchover thing is horrible. Can the difference in premium be put in an HSA for the next 20 years? Of course not, so being driven towards plan G for the same reason I never had a High Deductible Account when working -> too much risk before you can build up any decent balances in a HSA.
Nothing wrong with an advantage plans as long as you know the pros and cons compared to Medigap. They can be a great value for many people.
Plan n here !! 3 years no inceases for me !!
Hopefully the same is true for this year!
Hi there, can I ask you what company that you have?
@@ItsMe-rr9nh Atnea
I thank you!
Thanks, well worth watching.
A couple things still leave me uneasy with plan N. The first is the assumption that the law of averages will apply to me or my spouse. I am in good health right now and my spouse is in fair health. I don’t know what the future holds, but family traits suggest that the average expenses may not apply for me and my household. The second is that in order to realize the payoff benefit, you must live out the 25 years on your chart. At a minimum based on age of eligibility at 65, one needs to live to be 90. I have no guarantee that I or my spouse will live that long. So plan G still looks to be a more stable choice over all. Just my two cents.
Thanks for your personal input! Those same reasons are why most people still choose Plan G. But to be precise, for the payoff benefits, I only showed the savings over 25 years and how they grow. The savings begin in year 1 for the majority of people who choose Plan N.
OK, I have N now and being offered G as well as an Advantage plan. I don't know if there are real actual policy coverage differences? I'm going to stick with N if no coverage differences. Thank you.
There are minor differences between N and G that we talk about in the video, but there are large differences between Plan N and Medicare Advantage
@@GiardiniMedicare I've been on Plan N for probably 7-8 yrs but an agent is trying to sell me on an Advantage plan. I did my research and I'm not going to let an insurance company control my choices so end of discussion. Thanks for your fine help.
@@jimwilson684 Agreed. I see no reason for you to change the Plan N you are happy with.
Can I switch from N to G later on? - What if I go to the doctor or EC 10 times a year and the ER 5x a year?
Unless you are in a state with unique underwriting rules like a birthday rule or an anniversary rule, if you want to change from N to G, it will depend on your health and ability to pass medical underwriting. Plan G would likely save you money if you go to the doctor and ER many times throughout the year, but that is the risk you take when choosing a plan!
Not every doctor visit will attract a co-pay and not all co-pays are $20. One co-pay I had at my family doctor was $14. The co-pay is $20 or 20% of the medicare approved amount, whichever is smaller. If the medicare approved amount is less than $100 you pay less than $20.
In the scenario you presented you might pay $200 in doctor co-pays and $250 in ER visits, worst case. One has to ask why would you visit the ER 5 times a year and all 5 times not get admitted? If that was the case the decision to go to the ER vs an urgent care facility is something you would have to ask yourself. In fact the $50 ER co-pay is designed to discourage unfettered use of the ER, which drives up medical costs and premiums.
On a plan G a patient can visit the ER as many times as they want and not incur any expense personally other than the $240 annual deductible, this encourages abuse of the ER vs using an urgent care facility. This is one reason why Plan G premiums tend to go up more quickly than Plan N. Even if you are responsible in the utilization of the ER, the other people in the same risk pool as you might not be and you end up paying for their indiscretion.
Makes sense if people pay for Plan G, they will have a tendency to 'abuse' it more therefore cause plan G monthly premiums to increase.
@@jr38499 Correct. An "all you can eat" type of plan will encourage consumption. The small speed bump of a $20 co-pay is designed to make patients consider the need to see a doctor without it discouraging genuine need for care.
@@jr38499 That was essentially why Plan F is no longer available for new enrollees
Question? Can someone change from plan G to plan N without underwriting review in Texas?
Outside of Medigap OEP, you would likely have to go through underwriting to make that switch in Texas. It is not one of the states with more lenient rules.
@GiardiniMedicare Thanks much. Great content, keep it up!
@@kathleenepugh9495 Thanks for watching!
My wife and I have Plan N. I only see my primary care medical provider 1 time a year for the Medicare wellness check. My wife, who had open heart surgery in Nov, only sees a provider less than once a month. My sister, who is a year younger than my wife, and lives in the same area, pays $60 a month more for her Part G than my wife's Part N premium.
I live in PA, so without the fear of excess charges I’m leaning towards plan N, but if I see a Dr. in NJ for example, could they charge excess me charges?
They could in NJ since it's based on where the services are done
GREAT video! I'm leaning towards N for the reasons stated within, but I'm having a bugger of a time trying to find historical supplement monthly premiums data for (in my case) Aetna and Blue Cross. Can anyone tell me where I can find this information?
It will take a decent amount of time and effort, but I show how to do it in this video ua-cam.com/video/j66oGQqz2Mc/v-deo.htmlsi=OIo4zYBs-n7N12C4
I'm a higher maintenance person. Plan G is my go to. I would easily make up the plan cost difference in copays.
Make sense!
Is there a maximum out of pocket limit for part N co-pays? Are there co-pays for lab tests, scans or outpatient procedures with part N?
There is no out-of-pocket limit for the copays. Most of those services should not require a $20 copay, but some of those services will be accompanied by an office visit, which would require a $20 copay. Here is the link to the document we talked about in the video with more details on the services that do and do not require copays with Plan N: www.cms.gov/Medicare/Health-Plans/Medigap/downloads/Plan_N_Guidance2.pdf
Nice presentation, great info.
Very informative. Will probably go for plan N. It’s a per person decision right? Meaning my wife could do plan G if that’s to her advantage. What about MOOP advantages of plans K and L? Thanks very much!
Definitely a per-person decision, so yes, she can do what she thinks is right for her! Funny you mention Plan K and L since I'm making a video about them in the next couple of months, but long story short, we don't think they make much sense compared to Plan N.
Also what about all the other plans? ABC,etc??
On plan n do you have pay anything for physical therapy
If you haven't met the Part B deductible, you must pay towards that. If your deductible has been paid for the year, you wouldn't have charges for PT if they don't use one of the CPT codes discussed in the video.
There is no copay for physical therapy visits. The only exception is the first visit, if they evaluate your condition and establish a treatment plan then that first visit may attract a $20 co-pay.
I had PT this year with plan N. Paid $20 for the visit to the orthopedic doctor, none of the PT visits had a co-pay. The doctor was quite smart. He set a follow-up visit after the planned PT sessions but told me, if you are doing well after the PT treatments cancel the follow-up with me. Which is what happened, he only wanted to see me again if PT failed.
I [age 68] go to Dr maybe 5 times a year and that includes eye dr so I think N will be for me unless they are very close in price.
I avoid doctors and hospitals at ALL cost, so I am 98% sure I will be choosing Plan N. If I can afford it, Im going to put into savings the difference in monthly premiums from Plan G to Plan N and that "cushion " will be there for any co pay I may end up having. This will be in addition to my small HSA account that I saved during my last year of employment. On that note, IF I had known years before about HSA accounts and had the option of getting one, I would have stashed a ton of money into it, because THAT would have greatly aided in my future helathcare needs.
Sounds like Plan N makes perfect sense
I avoid doctors and hospitals as well. Was leaning towards plan G, but plan N sounds like it might be a better choice. Plan on retiring next June.
Plan N or plan G versus advantage plan?
We will be publishing that video in the fall! Need more details about 2025 prices to be released first.
I'm researching bc moving into area that doesn't use my current plan. I'm thinking about all the info in the video
Do you currently have a Medicare Advantage plan or a Medigap plan?
Very comprehensive comparison.
Should we go for a company with attend age premium or community based premium?
I am based in NJ.
Depends on the pricing for the actual plans in your area. Most of your options will be attained age in NJ, so that will likely be the way to go.
@@GiardiniMedicare
Thanks for quick response and guidance.
How does plan N work with plan D?
Part D is separate prescription drug coverage independent of Plan N. It would work the same as with Plan G.
@GiardiniMedicare I got mine free signing up directly through the Medicare.gov website
Wish my agent had filled me in on this years ago.
Do you have a feel for why the percentage of people selecting plan N has diminished over the years? The chart you showed demonstrated fewer and fewer people choosing plan N over Plan G. Why the shift?
That chart is misleading. Actually, Plan N is growing in popularity across the country as more people become aware of its benefits and overall cost value. Unfortunately, too many agents still recommend the Plan G because it is easier to explain and they get paid higher commissions, so they don’t mention Plan N at all.
@@MaryBethMcCoy I don't understand your position. If you look at the chart in 2012 55.9% of subscribers chose a plan N vs a plan G, but by 2022 that percentage dropped to only 14.6%. I understand that some (maybe even many) agents fail to mention Plan N, but Cameron said in the video even after explaining both Plan G and Plan N more of his customers choose Plan G. It puzzles me why Plan N went from being slightly more popular to infrequently chosen.
In addition the percentage of advantage plans has increased to the point now that Advantage is over half of the plans chosen today. So what that means is that Plan N is 14.6% of less than 50% of plans sold, so probably closer to 7% of all new enrollees each year. My fear is carriers will drop plan N due to lack of interest.
The fact that agents get paid a percentage of the premium means the more expensive plans will be favored. In addition to the agents I'm sure the carriers would prefer subscribers choose a more expensive plan. Commissions for Advantage are even more lucrative.
I suspect that carriers are incentivising the most profitable plans
Plan N finally saw a bump in enrollment percentage now in 2024, according to the most recently released data: www.telosactuarial.com/blog/med-supp-broker-sales-mix-2023-q4-review
Plan G is more popular generally due to the fact that most brokers still focus on Plan G, and many consumers still prefer to not deal with the copays and other uncertainties with Plan N.
@@GiardiniMedicare That's great news. I'm glad to see that popularity is improving.
I see some people are still buying plan F. That has to be very expensive, just because you can doesn't mean you should. Gosh.
The $191 example for excess charges was nice, but what if you have major surgery for $191,000? Instead of $10 excess charges would be more like $10,000. And, on the Medicare web site you can only search for participating providers, not non-participating providers.
We have never seen an example of an excess charge that is even close to that high of an amount, but we would love to see one if it exists. Thankfully, anyone worried about the "what ifs" of excess charges can just choose Plan G instead.
@@GiardiniMedicare Or G-HD
I’ve always chosen Plan G because I have MS. But I really only see my neurologist, every six months if things are going well. I’ve also had a stage three melanoma about 7years ago, so I have to see a dermatologist every 6 months. I see my GP every 6 months because of other common conditions such as blood pressure and cholesterol. However, if plan G and plan pay excess charges to participating providers, and all my providers are within the Riverside health system and under Riverside’s umbrella, wouldn’t I be just as well off with Plan N unless something happens and my yearly visits increase. How do I fill out a Plan N application to find out if they would even accept me now before re-enrollment time when I have to act?
Your logic is correct that Plan N could still work if you don't go to the doctor often due to your MS being under control, but of course, there is always a risk for the future! I'm unfamiliar with Riverside Health, but it looks like it is in Virginia. If you are also in Virginia, you likely don't have access to a unique birthday rule or another way to get Medigap coverage without health questions.
I, unfortunately, can't think of a Medigap plan that would accept you with MS. We will talk more about the process of changing Medigap plans soon in a new video. Still, we could try to connect you with a broker in VA to see if there is a way for you to change that we aren't aware of.
@@GiardiniMedicare Thank you for answering so promptly! Is it worth it to even look into Plan N if you don’t think that Plan N would consider me with MS? I’ve never had any problem with Plan G, so maybe in my case it’s best not to mess with what’s working for a relatively small savings. You agree?
@@christinechristinem2131 Unless there is a Medigap company in Virginia that will accept MS that we are unaware of, there isn't much reason to consider Plan N in your case. Plan G is still a great option anyways!
excellent info /thanks
Thanks for watching