Medicare Supplement Plan F

Medicare Supplement Plan F is a Medigap plan that helps pay Original Medicare out-of-pocket costs such as deductibles, coinsurance and copayments. Before it was phased out in 2020, it provided the most comprehensive supplemental benefits of any Medigap policy.

Original Medicare — Medicare Part A and Part B — does not cover all your hospitalization or medical services. You have to pay a portion of the expenses. Your share is called your “out-of-pocket costs.” Medicare Supplement Plan F and other Medigap policies help pay your costs.

To purchase a Medicare Supplement Plan F, you first had to be enrolled in both Medicare Part A and Part B.

Medicare Supplement Plan F, just like all Medigap plans, is sold by private insurers. These companies can set their own prices for Medigap policies.

You pay a monthly premium for any Medicare Supplement policy. Monthly premium costs for Medicare Supplement Plan F vary based on several factors, including the state and county you live in, age, sex and sometimes tobacco usage.

During the time they were being issued, Medicare Supplement Plan F had high-deductible versions that were also available in some states.

People who purchased these high-deductible options had to pay Original Medicare deductibles, coinsurance and copayments until they hit the amount of their deductible. In 2023, you have to pay $2,700 out of your own pocket before your F coverage kicks in.

Medicare Supplement Plan F is no longer available to people newly eligible for Medicare. You had to be eligible to enroll in Medicare before January 1, 2020, to purchase a policy.

You may be able to apply for a Medicare supplement plan if you were eligible for Medicare Part A before January 1, 2020, and if a company offers the plan. Insurance companies do not have to sell all Medigap policies.

People who had a Medicare Supplement Plan F prior to the phase out can generally keep their plan.

Medigap Plan G now provides the most comparable level of benefits to Medicare Supplement Plan F.

Medigap Plan G also offers a high-deductible version in some states. You have to pay $2,700 in out-of-pocket costs before Plan G pays anything in 2023.

Eight Medigap plans are currently available, but none cover your Medicare Part B deductible. You should compare all available Medicare Supplement plans in your area to determine the best one for your health and financial needs before purchasing one.