Medicare Supplement Plan F

By Leslie Jablonski – Updated Feb 20, 2023
Reviewed by Wiley Long
Fact checked by Christine Corsini

Medicare Supplement Plan F

Medicare Supplement Plan F Is Not Available to Everyone

If you were eligible for Medicare before January 1st, 2021, you will still be able to sign up for a Medicare Supplement Plan F. However, if you were eligible for Medicare after January 1st, 2021, you will not be able to sign up for Plan F. However, Plan G is a great substitution and does much the same as Plan F. For more information, visit our page on Plan G.

Comparing Medigap Plan F

Medicare Supplement Plan F Offers Extensive Coverage and No Out-of-Pocket Expenses

If you’re looking for extensive health care coverage, Medigap Plan F (also known as Medicare Supplement Plan F) may be the best option for you.

Medicare Supplemental Plan FWith Medicare Supplemental Plan F, you’ll enjoy coverage of your Part B Medicare deductible as well as any “excess charges” – that is, the difference between what a health care provider charges and what Medicare will pay. With a plan that covers the difference, you’ll get the care you need in the hospital or from your doctor, without the burden of out-of-pocket expenses.

When you enroll in Medicare Supplement Plan F, you also have the option of selecting a high-deductible plan that will reduce your insurance premiums. With this option, you would pay for Medicare-covered costs including coinsurance, copayments and deductibles to a limit of $2,800. Once you’ve reached the deductible, your plan would cover all the same expenses as the regular Medigap Plan F.

To learn more about whether Medicare Supplement Plan F is the right Medicare plan for you, give us a call at 1-800-913-3416.

Additional Information: Medigap Plan F Coverage Details

You’ll enjoy the following benefits when you enroll in Medigap Plan F:

  • Basic Medicare benefits, including:Hospitalization:
    • Pays Part A coinsurance plus coverage for 365 additional days after Medicare benefits end
    • Medical expenses: Pays Part B coinsurance – generally 20 percent of Medicare-approved expenses – or copayments for hospital outpatient services
    • Blood: Pays for the first three pints of blood each year
  • Skilled nursing facility care
  • Medicare Part A deductible for hospitalization
  • Medicare Part B deductible for medical and hospital outpatient expenses
  • Medicare Part B excess charges
  • Travel-abroad medical emergency help

Medicare Supplement Plan F Frequently Asked Questions

I can’t enroll in Plan F. What are the closest alternatives?

Medicare Plan F is the most comprehensive of the standard Medicare supplement plans. It covers essentially all out-of-pocket costs for Medicare-covered services, as well as 80% of medical costs incurred while traveling overseas. But it’s closed to new enrollees.

The next closest equivalent standard Medigap plan is Plan G, which covers nearly everything Plan F costs except for the Medicare Part B deductible, which is $240 as of 2024.

Another possibility is Medicare Plan N, which is similar to Plan G, except you must pay a copay of up to $20 for certain office visits, and up to $50 for emergency room visits that don’t result in hospital admission. 

Plan N also does not cover excess charges under Medicare Part B. But most doctors who take Medicare patients will accept assignment to Medicare and bill Medicare directly, so this is rarely an issue. And it’s not an issue at all in states that don’t allow excess charges under Part B.

Can I enroll in Plan F if I’m already enrolled in another Medicare supplement plan?

No. Medigap Plan F is closed to all new enrollees as of 2020. Only people who were already enrolled in the plan as of 2020 are grandfathered in. However, you can still enroll in Plan G or Plan N, and get nearly identical benefits, for a slightly reduced premium. Call us at 800-913-3416 for a free consultation and analysis of the Medicare supplement plans in your area.

I’m moving out of state. Can I stay enrolled on Plan F?

Yes. If you are currently enrolled in Medicare supplement plan F, you can keep your plan. However, your premium may change, depending on your new Zip code.

Since Medicare supplement plans don’t rely on provider networks, you will be able to use your Plan F benefits in your new state with any doctor or care provider who accepts Medicare patients. 

What is excluded under Medical supplement Plan F?

While Medicare supplement Plan F is the broadest and most comprehensive of all the standard Medigap plans, it doesn’t cover everything. The following services are excluded:

  • Cosmetic surgery
  • dental care
  • vision and hearing
  • prescription drug coverage
  • long-term care (other than the 90 days of coverage allowed under Medicare following a hospitalization admits.

What does Medicare supplement Plan F cost?

There’s no single nationwide premium for Medicare supplement plans, including Plan F. Medicare supplement plans are offered by private carriers. All the plans are standardized, but carriers can set their own premiums, which vary by your age, sex, Zip code, and whether you use tobacco. 

Am I eligible to enroll in Plan F?

Plan F is only available if your 65th birthday occurred before January 1, 2020, or you qualified for Medicare due to a disability before January 1, 2020. Plan F is closed to new Medicare enrollees.

I can’t get Plan F. What’s the next best plan?

The closest equivalents available to new Medicare beneficiaries are Plans G and Plans N. Both provide very comprehensive coverage, though the coverage is not as complete as it is with Plan F, which eliminates cost sharing altogether.

Plans G and N require you to pay the Medicare Part B deductible, which is $240, as of 2024.

Plan G covers physicians’ excess medical charges, while Plan N does not. However, excess charges are illegal anyway in CT, MA, MN, NY, OH, PA, RI, and VT.) So plan N may be the better value in these states, since excess charges are not a concern.

Is there a high-deductible version of Plan F?

Yes. Some carriers operate a high-deductible version of Plan F. This is a lower-premium version of Medigap’s most comprehensive plan. Coverage is identical to the standard version of Plan F, except there is an annual deductible of $2,800, as of 2024.

Does Plan F cover prescription drugs?

No. While Plan F covers all out-of-pocket charges for medical services covered under Medicare Part A and Part B, there are things that fall outside of Medicare’s purview. No Medigap plans, including plan F, cover prescription drug costs. However, you can buy a separate standalone Medicare Part D plan, which are designed to work very well with Medigap plans such as Plan F.

Does Plan F cover dentures?

No. Neither Medicare nor Medigap plans cover most dental care (including procedures and supplies like cleanings, fillings, tooth extractions, dentures,  plates, or other dental devices).

Is Plan F available in all states?

No. three states – Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Massachusetts – have adopted different standardized Medigap plans from the rest of the country. So there is no Plan F available in these states.

Get more of your Medicare Supplement Plan F questions answered on Medicare.gov.

You can run an instant Medigap quote to find out which Medigap insurance providers offer Medicare Supplement Plan F. Or for your complimentary consultation on the insurance plan best suited to your needs, contact MediGap Advisors today at 800-913-3416 or click here to schedule a Consult.