Medicare Supplement Plan F: What It Is and How It Works

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What Is Medicare Supplement Plan F?

Medicare Supplement Plan F is a Medigap plan only available to people who qualified for Medicare before Jan. 1, 2020. Plan F has historically been the highest-enrolled Medigap plan in the United States and covers the $240 annual Part B deductible. If you qualify, you might consider Plan F. Otherwise, look at its closest cousin, Plan G.

Key Takeaways

• Medicare Supplement Plan F is only available to people who became eligible for Medicare before Jan. 1, 2020.
• If you haven’t yet enrolled in Medicare but qualified before January 2020, you might be able to buy Plan F now, depending on your situation.
• Medigap Plan F is generally more expensive than most other plans.
• Plan G is a similar alternative to Plan F, but it doesn’t cover the Part B deductible.

How Plan F Works

Private insurers sell this medicare supplement policy to help people cover the out-of-pocket costs of Original Medicare, which consists of Part A and Part B. Plan F stands out because it covers both Part A and Part B deductibles. In 2024, that’s $1,872. Most Medigap plans only cover Part A, either partially or fully.

Private insurance companies offer Plan F in exchange for a monthly premium. Each insurance company sets its own Plan F price, or the premium you pay monthly. However, the coverage provided by one insurer is basically the same as that of other insurers. Plan F will also be the same in one state as another.

Plan F Part A Benefits

• Part A deductible
• Part A coinsurance and hospital costs
• Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment
• Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance

Plan F Part B Benefits

• Part B coinsurance or copayment
• Part B deductible
• Part B excess charge

Other Plan F Benefits

• 80% of foreign travel emergency (to plan limits, generally around $50,000-lifetime limit)
• Blood benefit (first 3 pints)

What Plan F Doesn’t Cover

Plan F doesn’t cover medications and anything not specifically listed above, such as dental, vision, gym memberships, and other Medicare Advantage benefits. However, some Medigap insurers may offer extra coverage in some states or situations.

Note

Plan F is unavailable in Massachusetts and Wisconsin, which have their own Medigap plan types. A Minnesota-specific Plan F version is available if you were eligible for Medicare before Jan. 1, 2020.

Types of Plan F

Two types of Plan F are available, which differ primarily in availability and costs. In the past, Plan F was a required plan and thus was widely available. If an insurer offered plans other than Plan A in a region, it also had to provide Plan F (or Plan C) to those new to Medicare before 2020.

Plan F

On average, Plan F is one of the most expensive Medigap plans. This may partly be due to its expansive coverage and the dwindling market of enrollees.

Insurers set Plan F rates based on factors such as:

• Age
• Sex (male or female)
• Marriage status
• Tobacco use
• Discounts for automatic payments or same-household enrollees
• Location

High-Deductible Plan F

High-Deductible Plan F helps reduce the cost of the Plan F coverage. It comes with a significant deductible to meet before your coverage kicks in.

In 2024, the annual deductible amount for High-Deductible Plan F is $2,800. You must first pay $2,800 for your coinsurance, copayments, and deductibles before the policy starts paying for covered services. You’ll also pay a separate $250 for foreign travel emergency care.

Part A and Part B premiums don’t count toward meeting the deductible. But the deductible offsets Plan F’s more comprehensive coverage, so you’ll find that premiums are lower if you choose a High-Deductible Plan F.

Plan F vs. Plan G

The major difference is that Plan G does not cover the Part B deductible, while Plan F does. This is another reason Plan F premiums can be more expensive than Plan G.

People new to Medicare on or after Jan. 1, 2020, can buy Plan G but can’t buy Plan F.

Aside from the Plan B deductible, Plan F and Plan G provide the same comprehensive financial coverage and offer high-deductible options. Both plans cover Medicare Part B excess charges.

Like Plan F, Plan G must be offered by any insurer offering plans other than Plan A. Plan G is historically the second-most-popular Medigap plan Medicare beneficiaries choose, after Plan F.

Pros and Cons of Plan F

• Comprehensive coverage
• Covers Part B annual deductible
• Widely available

• Hard to qualify
• More expensive than other plans
• High possible rate increases

Plan F Pros Explained

• Comprehensive coverage: Plan F is one of the most comprehensive Medigap plans, leaving you primarily responsible for Part A and Part B premiums, as well as drug coverage costs.
• Covers Part B annual deductible: Plan F covers Original Medicare’s annual deductible, which no other plan offers other than Plan C. Plan C also isn’t available to those who became eligible for Medicare by Jan. 1, 2020, or later.
• Widely available: As this is a required plan for private companies offering coverage, many insurers across states offer Plan F—but only to those who qualify.

Plan F Cons Explained

• Hard to qualify: Newly eligible Medicare recipients likely won’t qualify for Plan F, and switching to Plan F can be challenging even if it’s possible to switch plans.
• More expensive: Plan F is one of the more expensive Medigap plans available.
• High possible rate increases: Future rate increases may be high as the insured pool dwindles for Plan F due to fewer people qualifying for the coverage.

Qualifications for Plan F

To get Plan F, you must have Medicare Part A and B. You must have become eligible for Medicare due to age, disability, or end-stage renal disease before Jan. 1, 2020.

Plan F is not part of Medicare Advantage. Medicare Advantage is a private insurance alternative to Original Medicare and is separate from Medigap plans like Plan F.

Plan F is also not generally available to those with lower-benefit plans who can switch Medigap plans in a state where switching is allowed.

Plan F Costs

As mentioned, Plan F is one of the more expensive plans. A High-Deductible Plan F can save money on premiums, but you may find less availability. Insurers aren’t required to offer High-Deductible Plan F.

If you choose High-Deductible Plan F, you must pay your premiums and meet a $2,800 deductible before the plan’s coverage kicks in, increasing overall possible costs.

Buying Plan F

For most people, the best time to buy a Medigap plan is during your initial Medigap enrollment period. You can get Medicare Supplement plans without underwriting in the first six months of becoming eligible for Medicare and in a few other specific circumstances.

Although some people qualified for Medicare before 2020, they might not sign up until later and could still qualify for Plan F guaranteed issue rights in some circumstances. This might happen if they had another form of coverage or lived outside the U.S. when they turned 65.

For example, if you or your spouse have employer coverage, you can wait until retirement or until you lose your health insurance, if that happens first. When your employer coverage ends, you can sign up for Part B without paying a late enrollment penalty. After signing up for Part B, you’ll have six months to buy a Medigap (including Plan F) policy.

Switching to Plan F

If you live in a state with the “birthday rule” that allows you to change Medigap plans or apply to Medigap without underwriting, you likely can’t switch to Plan F from another plan.

You can typically switch from Plan F to a plan with fewer benefits—which is pretty much any other plan. You can switch insurers or choose between a high-deductible Plan F and a non-high-deductible Plan F.

Insurance companies can’t sell you a Medigap policy if you have Medicare/Medicaid.

Is Plan F a Good Deal?

To determine whether Plan F is a good deal, add up 12 months of premiums for Plan F. Then compare that price against Plan G plus the cost of the Part B deductible.

Sample Plan Comparison

Here are sample prices to demonstrate how to compare plans.

As you can see, Plan G is cheaper than Plan F, although you must pay the Part B deductible out of pocket.

However, Plan F is potentially less expensive than High-Deductible Plan F in terms of overall costs if you end up needing significant medical care. In that case, your out-of-pocket costs could end up outweighing the extra premium costs of regular Plan F.

While Plan F’s coverage may sound good, carefully compare costs annually. Shop carefully for pricing, particularly if you must qualify for Plan F due to the insurer’s underwriting.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What Is the Cost of Medicare Supplement Plan F?

Medicare Supplement Plan F can be one of the most expensive Medigap plans, but is fairly similar to Plan G. In Connecticut, for example, Plan F costs ranged between $260 and $415. Plan G costs ranged between $220 and $430. Another widely available plan, Plan N, ranged between $156 and $450.

What Is the Difference Between Medicare Supplement Plan F and G?

Medigap Plan F and Plan G differ because Plan F covers the Part B deductible, while Plan G does not. In 2024, the Part B deductible is $240. For this reason, Plan F tends to be more expensive than Plan G, but pricing differs by insurer. In addition, Plan F is not available to those who qualify for Medicare after Jan. 1, 2020.

Why Was Medicare Supplement Plan F Discontinued?

Medicare Plan F was discontinued in 2020 because Section 401 of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) prohibits selling Part B deductible-covering Medigap plans to newly eligible Medicare beneficiaries. The goal was to help reduce physician visits.

The Bottom Line

Plan F is a comprehensive plan that covers most costs associated with your Medicare coverage and is widely available in most states—to those who qualify to buy it. Unless you choose High-Deductible Plan F, Plan F can have a more expensive premium than many other plans. However, limited availability to people recently qualifying for Medicare makes Plan F less accessible. Plan G is a similar alternative to Plan F that people new to Medicare can buy.

1. Congressional Research Service. “Medigap: Background and Statistics.” Page 10
2. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. “2024 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles.”
3. Medicare.gov. “Compare Medigap Plan Benefits.”
4. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. “F, G & J Deductible Announcements.”
5. Missouri Department of Commerce & Insurance. “Missouri Medigap Shopping Guide.”
6. Medicare.gov. “When Can I Buy a Medigap Policy?”
7. State of Connecticut. “Monthly Medicare Supplement rates for Standardized Plans.”
8. Congressional Research Service. “Medigap: Background and Statistics.” Page 42

Medicare Supplement open enrollment only happens once, according to federal guidelines. Don’t miss out on your chance to buy a Medigap plan.

Medicare Advantage open enrollment happens every year from January 1 through March 31. Use the time before open enrollment begins to research and compare your options.

A Health Savings Account (HSA) is an account for individuals with high-deductible health plans to save for medical expenses that those plans do not cover.

A health maintenance organization (HMO) is a health insurance plan that provides health services through a network of doctors for a monthly or annual fee.

Health insurance is a type of contract in which a company agrees to pay some of a consumer's medical expenses in return for payment of a monthly premium.

A high-deductible health plan is health insurance with a high minimum deductible for medical expenses that must be paid before insurance coverage kicks in.

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