Medicare Supplement Plan N in Texas: Cost and Coverage

Texas is a large and varied insurance market, but Plan N prices are more consistent across the state than you might expect. In our review of rates from the Gulf Coast, South Texas, West Texas, the Panhandle, and North Texas, average county premiums stayed within a relatively narrow range of $150 to $162 per month.

The larger price difference appeared inside each county. Depending on the insurance company, the same standardized Plan N coverage ranged from approximately $90 to $279 per month. That makes carrier comparison especially important for Texans considering this plan.

Plan N helps cover the major hospital and medical costs left by Original Medicare while leaving you responsible for some limited cost-sharing. You will pay the annual Medicare Part B deductible, up to $20 for certain office visits, up to $50 for an emergency room visit that does not result in an inpatient admission, and any Part B excess charges.

In return, Plan N often provides a lower-premium way to keep Original Medicare’s nationwide provider access. You can receive care from any doctor or hospital in the United States that accepts Medicare without relying on a Texas-specific provider network.

Key Takeaways

• The average Plan N premium across our 20 Texas county samples is approximately $156 per month.
• County averages are relatively close, but prices between insurance companies can differ by more than $100 per month.
• Plan N covers the Part A hospital deductible and most Medicare coinsurance costs.
• Members remain responsible for the $283 Part B deductible in 2026, certain copays, and Part B excess charges.
• Every Plan N policy provides the same standardized medical benefits, making company pricing and rate history especially important in Texas.

How Does Medicare Supplement Plan N Work in Texas?

Plan N works alongside Original Medicare rather than replacing it. When you receive a Medicare-approved service, Medicare processes the claim and pays its portion first. Your Plan N policy then helps pay many of the deductibles and coinsurance costs that remain.

Plan N does not have its own provider network. You can use the policy with any doctor or hospital in the United States that accepts Medicare. This can be useful in Texas, where someone may receive routine care locally but travel to Dallas, Houston, Austin, or another state for specialized treatment.

You will continue paying your Medicare Part B premium along with your monthly Plan N premium. You are also responsible for the annual Part B deductible, up to $20 for certain office visits, and up to $50 for an emergency room visit that does not result in an inpatient admission.

Plan N does not cover Part B excess charges. These can occur when a provider accepts Medicare patients but does not accept Medicare assignment. Before receiving non-emergency care, you can ask whether the provider accepts Medicare assignment to help avoid this cost.

Plan N also does not include outpatient prescription drug coverage, so most beneficiaries enroll in a separate Medicare Part D plan.

What Does Medicare Supplement Plan N Cover in Texas?

Plan N benefits do not change as you travel across Texas. A policy purchased in Beaumont provides the same standardized medical benefits as one purchased in Amarillo, San Angelo, or Brownsville.

Original Medicare generally pays first for approved services. Plan N then pays the eligible deductibles and coinsurance included in its standardized benefits.

Because the core coverage is identical between companies, a higher Plan N premium does not purchase additional standardized medical benefits. The differences between Texas insurers are primarily their prices, discounts, financial strength, customer service, and rate histories.

What Does Medicare Supplement Plan N Not Cover in Texas?

Plan N covers many of Original Medicare’s largest gaps, but it does not eliminate every out-of-pocket expense.

Part B excess charges can occur when a provider accepts Medicare patients but does not accept Medicare assignment. Plan N does not place a cap on your total annual excess-charge exposure beyond the limits already imposed by Medicare.

Before scheduling non-emergency care, ask whether the provider accepts Medicare assignment. This is especially worth checking when seeing a new specialist or traveling to another part of Texas for treatment.

Plan N also does not include routine dental, vision, hearing, or pharmacy coverage. Those benefits must be purchased separately if you want them included in your overall coverage.

Is Medicare Supplement Plan N a Good Fit for You?

Plan N may work well if you want protection from Original Medicare’s largest expenses but do not mind paying a portion of smaller, more predictable costs yourself.

It may be worth considering if you:

• Find a Plan N premium that is meaningfully lower than Plan G
• Are comfortable paying occasional office and emergency room copays
• Confirm that your doctors accept Medicare assignment
• Want access to Medicare providers throughout Texas and across the country
• Prefer strong hospital coverage without paying for every available Medigap benefit

The premium difference deserves a close look. Our Texas rate study found that Plan N prices can differ by more than $100 per month between companies in the same county. A well-priced Plan N policy may provide enough annual savings to offset several office visit copays.

Plan N may be less appealing if the premium is close to Plan G, you do not want to check Medicare assignment, or you prefer to eliminate as much cost-sharing as possible.

Rather than choosing based only on how often you visit the doctor, compare the annual premiums and consider the costs you would still be responsible for under each plan.

How Much Does Medicare Supplement Plan N Cost in Texas?

Plan N premiums in Texas can vary significantly even though every policy provides the same standardized medical benefits. The insurance company you select may have a greater effect on your premium than the county where you live.

To see how pricing changes across the state, we reviewed Plan N rates in 20 Texas counties. Every quote uses the same applicant profile: a 65-year-old female who does not use tobacco.

For each ZIP code, we averaged 21 standard Plan N rate options. Household discounts and other conditional savings were not applied.

What the Texas Rates Tell Us

The average across these 20 county samples is approximately $156 per month. County averages are relatively close, ranging from $150 in Hays and Potter counties to $162 in Grayson and Ellis counties.

That narrow county range is only part of the story. Within individual counties, standard Plan N premiums range from approximately $90 to as much as $279 per month.

In other words, moving from one sampled county to another changes the average by no more than $12. Choosing a different insurance company in the same county could change the monthly premium by well over $100.

That is an important distinction because Plan N benefits are standardized. A $200 Plan N policy does not provide more core medical coverage than a $100 Plan N policy. Both cover the same Medicare-approved expenses and leave the member responsible for the same Plan N cost-sharing.

The differences between companies are generally found in:

• Monthly premium
• Household and payment discounts
• Financial strength
• Customer service
• Additional member programs
• Rate increase history
• Underwriting requirements

Why Some Texas Plan N Rates Are Much Higher

Insurance companies do not all price risk the same way. One company may offer an attractive rate to someone turning 65, while another may be more competitive for an older applicant or someone applying outside open enrollment.

Texas insurers may also use different rating methods. Depending on the policy, your premium may be based on your age when you enroll, your current age, or a broader community rate. Companywide rate increases can still occur regardless of the rating method.

Your actual Plan N premium may be affected by:

• Age: Starting premiums generally vary by the applicant’s age.
• Sex: Some companies use different rates for male and female applicants.
• ZIP code: Insurers may divide Texas into separate rating areas.
• Tobacco use: Tobacco users may pay a higher premium.
• Household eligibility: Living with another adult or policyholder may qualify you for a discount.
• Enrollment timing: Medical underwriting may apply outside an open enrollment or guaranteed-issue period.
• Payment method: Some companies offer a small discount for automatic bank withdrawals.

How Popular Is Plan N in Texas?

Plan N covered approximately 77,900 Texans in 2024, representing about 8% of the state’s Medicare Supplement enrollment. That placed it behind Plans G and F.

Plan F’s enrollment remains substantial because existing policyholders may keep it, although it is unavailable to people who became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. Among plans available to newer beneficiaries, Plan N remains a leading alternative to Plan G.

Its appeal is straightforward: you may receive a lower monthly premium in exchange for office and emergency room copays and no coverage for Medicare Part B excess charges.

Enrolling in Plan N in Texas

To purchase Plan N, you must be enrolled in both Medicare Part A and Part B.

Your best opportunity to enroll is generally your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period. For most Texans, it begins when they are at least 65 and enrolled in Medicare Part B. During this period, insurers must offer every Medigap plan they sell without using your health history to determine eligibility.

After that window closes, an insurer may ask health questions, charge a different premium, or decline an application unless you qualify for a guaranteed-issue right.

Rules for Texans Under 65

Texas provides different protections depending on how you qualify for Medicare:

• If you qualify before 65 because of a disability, your initial guaranteed enrollment protection generally applies only to Plan A.
• If you qualify because of ALS or end-stage renal disease, you may buy any Medigap plan offered during your six-month open enrollment period, including Plan N.
• If you initially qualify before 65, you receive another six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period when you turn 65.

Medigap does not use the October 15–December 7 Medicare Annual Enrollment Period. Before replacing existing coverage, confirm that you can qualify for the new policy and know its approved effective date.

Final Thoughts

Plan N can be a strong middle-ground option for Texans who want broad Medigap protection without paying the higher premium that often comes with Plan G.

The tradeoff is straightforward: you keep responsibility for the Part B deductible, certain office and emergency room copays, and any Part B excess charges. In return, Plan N may offer meaningful premium savings.

Our Texas rate study also found that prices varied more between insurers than between many counties. Before enrolling, compare the same Plan N benefits from several companies and weigh the annual premium savings against the costs you could pay when receiving care.

If the savings over Plan G are small, Plan G’s added predictability may be worth considering. If the difference is substantial and your providers accept Medicare assignment, Plan N may provide the better overall value.