Medicare Supplement Plan F

If Original Medicare is the movie, Medicare Supplement Plan F (a.k.a. Medigap Plan F) is the director’s cut where
all the annoying “extra fees” scenes get edited out. It’s famous for being the most comprehensive standardized
Medigap planso comprehensive, in fact, it became too good at covering one particular cost… and that’s why it’s not
available to everyone anymore.

In this guide, we’ll break down what Plan F covers, who can still buy it, how it compares to Plan G, what the
high-deductible version means, and how to shop smart so you don’t accidentally overpay for peace of mind.

What Medicare Supplement Plan F Actually Is

Plan F is a Medicare Supplement Insurance policy (Medigap). It works alongside
Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) to help pay for many out-of-pocket costs that Medicare
doesn’t fully coverthings like deductibles, coinsurance, and certain extra charges.

One important “Medigap reality check”: Plan letters are standardized in most states. That means a
Plan F from one company must provide the same core benefits as Plan F from another company. So when you compare Plan
F policies, you’re mostly comparing price, rate history, discounts, customer experience, and underwriting rules
not the underlying benefit package.

Who Can Still Buy Plan F (The “Before 2020” Rule)

Plan F has a gatekeeper. If you became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020, you
generally can’t buy Plan F. The reason: plans sold to people “new to Medicare” after that date
aren’t allowed to cover the Part B deductible.

If you’re eligible, you may still be able to buy Plan F

You may be able to purchase Plan F if you were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020
(even if you didn’t enroll right away). And if you already have Plan F, you generally can keep it.

If you’re not eligible, Plan G is the usual Plan F “twin”

For people new to Medicare after the 2020 change, Plan G often becomes the closest alternative in
terms of coverage. It’s extremely similar to Plan F, with one headline difference we’ll get into below.

What Plan F Covers (And Why People Love It)

Plan F is designed to cover nearly all Medicare-approved cost-sharing under Part A and Part B. In plain English:
if Medicare approves the service, Plan F usually steps in and pays what you would otherwise owe (within the plan’s
rules).

Here’s what standard Plan F typically helps pay for:

• Part A hospital coinsurance (including coverage for up to 365 additional hospital days after Medicare benefits are used up)
• Part A deductible (for example, $1,736 in 2026 for each benefit period)
• Skilled nursing facility (SNF) coinsurance
• Part A hospice coinsurance/copayments
• Part B coinsurance or copayments (usually the 20% you’d otherwise pay for Medicare-approved services)
• Part B deductible (for example, $283 in 2026)
• Part B excess charges (when allowed and when a provider doesn’t accept Medicare assignment)
• First 3 pints of blood
• Foreign travel emergency coverage (limited benefit; details below)

A quick “real life” example (with normal-human math)

Imagine you have Original Medicare plus Plan F. You have a hospital stay, follow-up rehab care, and outpatient
tests. Medicare pays its share first. Many of the common deductibles and coinsurance amounts that would normally
land in your lap are instead paid by Plan Fso you can focus on recovering, not playing “Guess That Medical Bill.”

What Plan F Does Not Cover

Plan F is comprehensive, but it’s not a magical healthcare vacuum that absorbs every cost in America. You should
still expect to pay for:

• Your Medicare Part B premium (the monthly premium you pay for Part B)
• Prescription drugs (that’s generally Part D territory)
• Dental, vision, and hearing (routine services are not covered by Medigap)
• Long-term care (custodial care, assisted living, etc.)
• Non-Medicare-approved services (if Medicare doesn’t approve it, Medigap typically won’t either)

Also: you generally can’t have Medigap and Medicare Advantage at the same time. Medigap is meant
to supplement Original Medicare, not replace it.

Foreign Travel Emergency Coverage (Helpful, But Not a World Passport)

Plan F includes a foreign travel emergency benefit that can be valuable if you travel abroad. The coverage is
limited and typically works like this:

• It can pay 80% of billed charges for certain medically necessary emergency care outside the U.S.
• You generally pay a $250 deductible for the year before the benefit applies.
• The emergency care must generally begin within the first 60 days of your trip.
• There’s a $50,000 lifetime maximum on this benefit.

Translation: it can soften the financial blow of a true emergency, but it’s not the same as a full travel medical
insurance policy.

Plan F vs Plan G: The “Same Sandwich, One Missing Pickle” Comparison

The most common comparison is Plan F vs Plan G. In most states, the practical difference is:
Plan G does not cover the Part B deductible. Otherwise, they’re very similar in how they treat most
Medicare-approved cost-sharing.

Use the “premium difference test”

If you’re eligible for Plan F, a simple way to compare value is to look at the premium difference between Plan F
and Plan G in your area.

Example (hypothetical numbers for illustration):

• Plan F premium: $210/month
• Plan G premium: $180/month
• Difference: $30/month = $360/year
• 2026 Part B deductible: $283/year

In that scenario, you’d pay about $360 extra per year for Plan F to avoid paying the $283 Part B deductibleso Plan
G could be the better value on paper by roughly $77, assuming everything else stays equal.

But real life is messier (like a toddler with spaghetti). Premiums vary by insurer, zip code, age, tobacco status,
discounts, and how the plan is rated. Plus, some people prefer Plan F’s “virtually no bills for Medicare-approved
services” feelingeven if the math isn’t perfect.

Where Plan N fits in

Plan N is often considered by people who want lower premiums and don’t mind some cost-sharing (like certain copays).
Plan N generally doesn’t cover Part B excess charges, and it may have copays for some office or ER visits (rules
vary). It can be a strong option for people who don’t see providers frequently and want to keep premiums down.

High-Deductible Plan F: Lower Premiums, More “Skin in the Game”

In some states, you may find a High-Deductible Plan F option. It provides the same benefits as
standard Plan Fbut your policy doesn’t pay anything until you’ve met a yearly deductible.

For 2026, the high-deductible amount for Plans F (and certain related plans) is $2,950. That’s
the out-of-pocket amount you’d pay for Medicare-covered cost-sharing (excluding premiums) before the plan starts
paying benefits.

Think of it like this: high-deductible Plan F is for people who want a “catastrophic safety net” with lower monthly
premiumsand who are comfortable paying more out of pocket in years when healthcare use is higher.

How Plan F Pricing Works (Why Your Neighbor Pays Less… Probably)

Even though Plan F benefits are standardized, premiums are not. Insurance companies use different pricing methods,
and that affects how your rate might change over time.

Three common Medigap rating styles

1. Community-rated: Everyone pays the same premium regardless of age (though premiums can rise due to inflation and other factors).
2. Issue-age-rated: Your premium is based on your age when you buy the policy. It won’t increase just because you get older, but it can increase for other reasons.
3. Attained-age-rated: Your premium is based on your current age and can increase as you age (plus other increases).

Discounts can matter more than people expect

Many insurers offer discounts (like household discounts, non-tobacco rates, electronic payment discounts, or
“pay annually” discounts). Two identical Plan F policies can have noticeably different price tags after discounts.
Always ask what discounts apply and whether they can be removed later.

When to Buy Plan F: Timing Is Half the Battle

Your best chance to buy any Medigap plan (including Plan F, if you’re eligible) is during your
Medigap Open Enrollment Period. Under federal rules, it’s a one-time six-month window that starts
the first month you have Medicare Part B and you’re 65 or older.

During that window, insurers generally can’t use medical underwriting to deny you or charge you more because of
health conditions. Outside that window, you may face underwriting unless you qualify for a guaranteed issue right.

Guaranteed issue rights (the “special pass” situations)

There are limited situations where you may have the right to buy certain Medigap plans without underwritingoften
tied to losing other coverage, plan changes, or moving out of a plan’s service area. Rules can be state-specific,
so your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) or state insurance department can be extremely helpful.

Important state note

If you live in Massachusetts, Minnesota, or Wisconsin, Medigap plans are standardized differently,
so you’ll see different plan structures than the classic A–N letter set.

How to Shop for Plan F Without Getting a Headache

Shopping for Medigap can feel like buying a car when every dealer swears their cupholders are “premium.” Here’s a
cleaner approach.

1) Start with the benefits (then stop)

If it’s Plan F, the benefits are standardized in most states. Don’t let anyone sell you “extra Plan F benefits.”
That’s like promising you “extra alphabet” in the alphabet.

2) Compare premiums and rate history

Ask: how has this policy’s premium changed over the past few years? A low intro premium that jumps later can cost
more than a slightly higher premium that grows slowly.

3) Confirm the pricing method

Community-rated, issue-age-rated, and attained-age-rated structures can lead to different long-term costs. The best
option depends on your age, budget, and how long you expect to keep the policy.

4) Check underwriting rules before you switch

If you already have a Medigap policy and want to change, don’t cancel your existing plan until your new coverage is
approved and active. In many cases, switching later can trigger underwriting.

5) Pair it with Part D if you want drug coverage

Since Medigap doesn’t cover outpatient prescription drugs, many people combine Medigap with a standalone
Part D plan to avoid big pharmacy costs.

Frequently Asked Questions About Plan F

Does Plan F cover the Part A deductible?

Yesstandard Plan F covers the Part A deductible. For example, the Part A inpatient hospital deductible is
$1,736 in 2026 per benefit period.

Does Plan F cover Part B excess charges?

YesPlan F covers Part B excess charges (where applicable). Excess charges can happen when a provider doesn’t accept
Medicare assignment and is allowed to bill above the Medicare-approved amount, up to certain limits.

Is Plan F “no out-of-pocket costs”?

For many Medicare-approved services, Plan F can leave you with little or no cost-sharing. But you still pay your
premiums (Part B premium and Plan F premium), and Plan F doesn’t cover everything (like dental or drugs).

If I’m eligible for Plan F, is it automatically the best?

Not automatically. Plan F is the most comprehensive, but it often has higher premiums. Many people compare it to
Plan G and use the premium difference test to see which is a better fit.

Bottom Line: Who Plan F Makes Sense For

Medicare Supplement Plan F is often a great fit for people who (1) are eligible to buy it, (2) value predictable
costs, and (3) prefer the simplicity of fewer surprise bills for Medicare-approved services. If you want “maximum
coverage” and you’re willing to pay for that comfort, Plan F has historically been the gold standard.

If you’re cost-sensitiveor if Plan F premiums are significantly higher in your areaPlan G (or sometimes Plan N)
can deliver a very similar experience with potentially better long-term value.

of Experiences: What Plan F Feels Like in Real Life

Let’s talk about the part nobody puts in the glossy brochure: the lived experience of having (or shopping for)
Medicare Supplement Plan F. These are composite, real-world-style stories based on common situations people report
when they choose Plan Fbecause sometimes you don’t know what you want until you picture yourself holding the bill.

Experience #1: “I wanted healthcare to be boring again.”
Patricia, 71, described her goal as “boring healthcare.” Not “cheap,” not “fancy”just boring. She was tired of
opening envelopes that looked like invoices from a spaceship (EOBs, provider statements, adjustments, and the
occasional “this is not a bill” note that absolutely feels like a bill). With Plan F, her routine became
predictable: she’d show her Medicare card and her Medigap card, most Medicare-approved services processed smoothly,
and she stopped budgeting for surprise coinsurance. The emotional benefit wasn’t smallit was the calm of knowing
that a bad health month wouldn’t automatically become a bad money month.

Experience #2: The “Plan G math” conversation with a twist.
Ray, 68, was eligible for Plan F and nearly bought it automaticallyuntil his daughter (an accountant, which is a
personality type) asked one question: “How much more is Plan F per month than Plan G?” They compared quotes, and
the Plan F premium was about $35 higher monthly. Ray realized he’d pay about $420 more per year to avoid paying the
Part B deductible once. He chose Plan G instead, kept the savings, and mentally labeled the deductible as his
annual “membership fee for staying out of the billing drama.” His takeaway: Plan F can be amazing, but you should
still run the numbers because peace of mind shouldn’t come with surprise overpayment.

Experience #3: High-deductible Plan F is not “Plan F Lite.” It’s “Plan F Later.”
Denise, 66, wanted the comfort of Plan F-style coverage but didn’t love the premiums. High-deductible Plan F
looked temptinglower monthly cost, same benefits after the deductible. What helped her decide was thinking in
scenarios: “What happens in a healthy year? What happens in a surgery year?” In a low-use year, she came out ahead
because she mostly paid premiums and very little out of pocket. In a high-use year, she needed to be prepared to
cover costs until the deductible was met. She set aside savings monthly like a “healthcare rainy-day fund.” Her
best advice: if you choose high-deductible Plan F, don’t just hope you’ll stay healthyplan like you might not.

Experience #4: Switching later can be harder than people expect.
One of the most common “wish I knew” moments comes from people who start with one Medigap plan and later want to
switch. Some assume Medigap works like a phone plan: cancel anytime, upgrade anytime, no questions asked. But
outside protected enrollment windows, switching can involve medical underwriting in many places. That’s why people
who love Plan F often say the best “experience” isn’t just having itit’s choosing wisely at the beginning, when
you have the strongest buying protections. Even if you don’t pick Plan F, the lesson is the same: your initial
decision deserves an extra hour of attention, because it can shape your options later.

In the end, Plan F is less about chasing perfection and more about buying simplicity. For the right person, it’s
the insurance equivalent of noise-canceling headphones: you pay more, but you get to ignore a lot of irritating
background static.