Is the Medicare Supplement plan F worth it?
Medicare Supplement Plan F is generally not worth it for most people today because its higher monthly premiums usually outweigh the cost of covering the Part B deductible yourself.
✅ Plan F Overview
- Maximum coverage: Covers 100% of out-of-pocket gaps, including both Part A and Part B deductibles.
- Eligibility restriction: Only available if you were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020.
- Aging pool risk: Premiums rise faster over time because no new, younger members can enroll.
📊 Plan F vs. Plan G Comparison
| Feature | Medigap Plan F | Medigap Plan G |
|---|---|---|
| Part B Deductible ($283 in 2026) | Covered 100% | Paid out-of-pocket by you |
| Monthly Premium | Higher ($150 – $250+) | Lower ($100 – $200+) |
| New Enrollee Eligibility | Closed since 2020 | Open to everyone |
💡 Recommendation Strategy
- Calculate the difference: Subtract the annual Plan G premium from the annual Plan F premium.
- Evaluate the savings: If Plan F costs more than $283 extra per year compared to Plan G, Plan F loses you money.
- Switch consideration: Plan G offers nearly identical coverage minus the small Part B deductible, making it the better long-term financial value.
What are the disadvantages of plan F?
The main disadvantages of Medicare Supplement Plan F are its closure to new enrollees, higher and faster-rising monthly premiums, and lack of extra out-of-pocket benefits.
Key Disadvantages
- Closed to New Enrollees: You cannot buy Plan F unless you were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020.
- Shrinking and Aging Pool: Because no new (typically younger and healthier) members can join, the existing pool of enrollees is aging. This often leads to faster-accelerating annual rate increases compared to open plans.
- Higher Monthly Premiums: It offers "first-dollar" coverage—meaning it covers everything, including the Part B deductible—which makes its upfront monthly cost higher than alternatives like Plan G or Plan N.
- No Extra Benefits: Like other Medigap plans, it does not cover prescription drugs, dental, vision, or hearing care.
- Risk of Overpaying: Because it covers the Part B deductible ($283 in 2026), you may pay a much higher annual price difference in premiums than the actual cost of that deductible.
Why is Medicare Supplement plan F being discontinued?
Medicare Supplement Plan F is being phased out for new beneficiaries due to the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA), which prohibits selling "first-dollar" coverage that pays the Medicare Part B deductible.
Why the Law Changed
- Preventing Overuse: Congress aimed to reduce unnecessary medical care and doctor visits that happen when patients have zero out-of-pocket costs for initial services.
- Controlling Costs: Studies suggested that having people pay a small initial amount (like the Part B deductible) encourages more mindful use of healthcare resources and lowers overall system costs.
Who is Affected
- New Enrollees: Anyone who became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020, cannot buy Plan F or Plan C.
- Grandfathered Members: If you were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020, you can keep your Plan F or enroll in it if you meet eligibility requirements. However, premiums for remaining members may rise faster over time.
Should I keep Medicare Supplement plan F?
You should consider switching from Medigap Plan F to Plan G if the annual premium difference is greater than the cost of the Part B deductible.
Why Consider Leaving Plan F
- Closed Enrollment Pool: Plan F is closed to new beneficiaries who became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020.
- Rising Premiums: Because no young, healthy members are entering the pool, the existing group ages, causing premiums to increase faster than newer plans like Plan G.
- The Math: The only difference between Plan F and Plan G is that Plan F covers the Medicare Part B deductible ($283). If your Plan F costs more than $283 per year over a Plan G quote, you are overpaying.
Key Factors Before You Switch
- Medical Underwriting: Unlike your initial open enrollment window, switching Medigap plans later in life usually requires answering health questions. Pre-existing conditions might affect your ability to qualify or get the best rate.
- Check State Rules: Some states offer annual "birthday rules" or specific windows that let you switch Medigap policies without medical underwriting.
- Explore Alternatives: Plan G offers identical coverage minus the Part B deductible, while Plan N offers even lower premiums with small copayments for certain visits.
What is the average monthly premium for Medicare Plan F?
The average monthly premium for Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Plan F generally ranges from $150 to $300+, with an overall national average around $185 to $230 per month.
Cost Breakdown and Factors
- Age Variations: Premiums typically start around $150 to $166 monthly for someone turning 65, but can increase to $250–$480+ per month as a beneficiary reaches their 80s and 90s.
- High-Deductible Plan F: If you choose the high-deductible version of Plan F, the average monthly premium is much lower—typically between $50 and $83 per month—though you must meet a $2,950 annual deductible (in 2026) before benefits kick in.
- Geographic Differences: Costs vary wildly depending on where you live. For instance, monthly rates can average near $100 in lower-cost states like Maine, but exceed $400 in higher-cost areas like New York.
- Other Cost Influencers: Your exact premium is also determined by your gender, tobacco use, the specific private insurance carrier you choose, and their pricing model (community-rated, issue-age-rated, or attained-age-rated).
Important Eligibility Note
Medigap Plan F is only available to individuals who were eligible for Medicare prior to January 1, 2020. If you became eligible for Medicare on or after that date, you cannot purchase Plan F, though popular alternatives like Plan G offer similar comprehensive coverage minus the Part B deductible.
NO MORE Medicare Plan F (Why You Should Change Plans)
What is better, plan G or plan F?
Plan G is usually the better and more cost-effective choice for most people, and it is the only option available if you became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020.
Key Differences in Coverage
- The Part B Deductible: Plan F covers the annual Medicare Part B deductible ($283 in 2026), while Plan G does not. You must pay this deductible out of pocket with Plan G before coverage kicks in.
- All Other Benefits: Both plans offer identical coverage for everything else, including Part A hospital coinsurance, skilled nursing facility care, and foreign travel emergencies.
- Eligibility: Plan F is closed to new enrollees who first became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. Plan G is open to all beneficiaries.
Cost Comparison
- Premiums: Plan F generally has higher monthly premiums because it provides "first-dollar" coverage (paying for the Part B deductible). Plan G typically has lower monthly premiums.
- Which saves more? Even if you are eligible for both (meaning you qualified for Medicare before 2020), Plan G is often the better financial deal. If the difference in annual premiums between Plan F and Plan G is more than the cost of the Part B deductible ($283), you save money by choosing Plan G. Furthermore, because Plan F's risk pool is aging and closed to new members, its premiums tend to rise faster over time.
What is the number one rated Medicare Supplement plan?
There is no single nationally designated "number one" Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan, because coverage types are standardized by the federal government, but Plan G is currently the most popular and comprehensive plan available to new enrollees.
Standardized Benefits vs. Insurance Companies
Because Medigap benefits are strictly regulated, a Plan G or Plan N from one private insurer offers the exact same basic medical coverage as the same letter plan from another. Instead of a single top plan, major financial and research publications rank the best insurance companies that sell these plans:
- State Farm: Ranked as best overall by NerdWallet for low customer complaint rates and slow price increases.
- AARP / UnitedHealthcare: Ranked as best for availability and enrollment size, covering all 50 states.
- Blue Cross Blue Shield: Top-rated by Forbes Advisor for extra coverage perks and wellness programs.
- Mutual of Omaha: Known for high financial strength and competitive rates.
Popular Plan Options
- Plan G: Covers nearly all out-of-pocket costs for Medicare Parts A and B, except for the annual Part B deductible. (Note: Plan F offered slightly more coverage by paying that deductible, but it is closed to anyone newly eligible for Medicare after January 1, 2020).
- Plan N: Offers lower monthly premiums in exchange for small copays during doctor or emergency room visits.
Can I switch from plan F to plan G without underwriting?
In most states, switching from Medicare Supplement Plan F to Plan G requires medical underwriting, meaning you must answer health questions and could be denied or charged more based on your health history.
Exceptions Where Underwriting Is Not Required
You can bypass medical underwriting and switch without health questions only under specific conditions:
- State "Birthday Rules" or Anniversary Rules: Some states (such as California, Oregon, and a few others) have special rules allowing you to switch to a plan with equal or lesser benefits (like moving from Plan F to Plan G) without health questions during a specific window around your birthday or policy anniversary.
- Guaranteed Issue Rights: If you experience certain life events—such as losing secondary employer coverage, moving outside your plan's service area, or being misled when you first enrolled—you get a protected window to switch without health checks.
- Trial Right Periods: If you dropped a Medigap plan to join a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time and want to switch back within 12 months, you have a guaranteed right to do so.
- Specific Carrier Policies: A small number of insurance companies occasionally permit internal downgrades or specific transitions without health reviews, though this is rare.
How much does Medicare Supplement F cost?
Medigap Plan F average monthly premiums generally range from $130 to $250+, depending heavily on your age, location, and the private insurance company you choose.
Cost Breakdown
- Standard Plan F: Averages roughly $150 to $230+ per month for a 65-year-old, but can scale up significantly for older enrollees (reaching $400+ per month at advanced ages).
- High-Deductible Plan F: Offers lower monthly premiums (often $35 to $90 per month), but requires you to pay a deductible of $2,950 in 2026 before the plan begins covering your out-of-pocket costs.
Key Cost and Eligibility Facts
- All-Inclusive Coverage: Standard Plan F covers 100% of your Medicare-approved out-of-pocket costs, including the Part B deductible ($283 in 2026).
- Closed Enrollment: Plan F is only available if you were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020.
- State Variation: Premiums differ sharply by zip code; states like New York or Florida typically see higher average rates, while states like Ohio or Maine tend to be lower.
- Private Pricing: Because benefits are standardized by the federal government, coverage is identical across insurance companies—meaning you can shop around for the lowest rate using the Official Medicare Plan Finder.
What does Medicare Supplement plan F pay for?
Medicare Supplement Plan F pays for virtually all out-of-pocket costs left by Original Medicare, including all Part A and Part B deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments.
What Plan F Covers
- Part A Deductible & Coinsurance: Covers hospital costs and up to 365 additional days after Medicare benefits are used up.
- Part B Deductible: Covers the annual outpatient deductible (making Plan F "first-dollar" coverage).
- Part B Coinsurance / Copayment: Pays the remaining 20% for doctor services and medical-approved expenses.
- Part B Excess Charges: Covers extra charges if a provider charges more than the Medicare-approved amount.
- Hospice Care Coinsurance or Copayment: Covers Part A hospice care.
- Skilled Nursing Facility Coinsurance: Covers care in a skilled nursing facility.
- Blood Transfusions: Pays for the first three pints of blood.
- Foreign Travel Emergencies: Covers 80% of medically necessary emergency care abroad during the first 60 days (limits apply).
What Plan F Does NOT Cover
- Prescription drugs (requires a separate Part D plan)
- Routine dental, vision, or hearing care
- Long-term (custodial) care
(Note: Plan F is only available to individuals who were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020).