Medicare Supplement Plan F is a Medigap plan that helps cover the costs of Original Medicare, such as deductibles, copays, and coinsurance.
Medicare supplement plans help cover costs associated with Original Medicare (Medicare parts A and B). You can buy Medigap Plan F from a Medicare-approved private insurer.
Medigap Supplement Plan F offers comprehensive coverage compared with other supplemental insurance or Medigap plans. They’re also sometimes referred to as MedSup. There are currently 10 Medigap plans, although not every state, county, or ZIP code has access to all of them. Medigap plans include:
- A
- B
- C
- D
- F
- G
- K
- L
- M
- N
Medicare Supplement Plan F has historically been one of the more popular Medigap options.
Supplement Plan F is a high coverage plan covering many out-of-pocket costs typically incurred by Medicare beneficiaries.
Plan F has two versions. One has a high deductible but costs less per month than the other. Despite its popularity, the ability to purchase Plan F has changed. Beginning January 1, 2020, Plan F is no longer available to every Medicare recipient.
Since January 1, 2020, new Medicare enrollees are unable to purchase Plan F. However, anyone who had Plan F before that date can keep it.
Medigap Supplement Plan F (Medigap Plan F) is a form of supplemental insurance sold by Medicare-approved private insurers to people who have Original Medicare (parts A and B).
Plan F provides the most robust coverage of any supplemental insurance plan and is popular with people who know they may incur significant out-of-pocket medical costs.
Like all Medigap plans, Plan F helps cover the out-of-pocket expenses that Medicare doesn’t, such as copays and coinsurance. Since these expenses can become substantial, Medigap plans can benefit many people with Original Medicare.
Since they cover many of the same things, Medigap plans aren’t available to people who have Medicare Advantage (Part C).
Medicare Supplement Plan F only covers services covered by Original Medicare (parts A and B).
If you receive a medical treatment that Medicare doesn’t cover, such as acupuncture, Plan F will also not cover it. Plan F doesn’t cover medications under most circ*mstances since these are covered by Medicare Part D.
After meeting your Plan F deductible, you can expect Plan F to pay the following:
- Part A deductible: Plan F covers 100% of your Part A deductible.
- Emergency care outside the United States: Plan F covers 80% of the costs of emergency care required outside of the United States, up to plan limits.
- Extensive hospitalization: Plan F covers your Part A coinsurance and hospital costs for an additional 365 days (1 year) after your Medicare benefits have been used up.
- Part B copay: Your copay for Part B services is the set rate you must pay for doctor visits and other medical expenses. Copays are required whether or not you have met your Part B deductible.
- Part B coinsurance: Your Part B coinsurance is the percentage of a medical bill you must pay after meeting your deductible. For Medicare recipients, this is typically around 20%. You will be responsible for paying the Part B deductible before Plan F starts paying your Part B copays.
- Part B excess charges: If your doctor or healthcare professional charges you more than the Medicare-approved amount for a service, Plan F will pay for the additional charges.
- First 3 pints of blood: Medicare doesn’t pay for pints of blood you might need until you reach 4 pints. If you require a blood transfusion during a hospital admission, Plan F will pay for the first 3 pints of nondonated blood you receive and more if you need additional transfusions. Nondonated blood refers to blood not given to you directly by a friend or family member.
- Out-of-pocket coinsurance or copayment for Part A hospice care: Original Medicare pays for most costs associated with hospice care. However, you may incur coinsurance costs for inpatient respite care. Medicare doesn’t pay for room and board if you receive hospice care in a facility where you live, such as a nursing home. You may also incur copays for medications or products required for pain or symptom relief while in hospice.
- Coinsurance for a skilled nursing facility (SNF): Original Medicare pays in full for your stay in an SNF if you meet certain conditions, but only for a short period. You must start paying coinsurance for your care on the 21st day of your stay. If you remain in the SNF for over 100 days, you’re responsible for the entire cost of your stay after day 100.
On January 1, 2020, all Medigap plans were changed to no longer cover the Part B deductible. Medicare Part B is the part of Original Medicare that pays for 80% of most medical expenses you receive outside of a hospital setting.
Because of this change, Supplement Plan F can no longer be sold to people who became eligible for Medicare as of January 1, 2020.
If you’re not new to Medicare and already have either version of Plan F, you can keep it.
If you were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020, but didn’t enroll for any reason, you may still be able to purchase a Supplement Plan F.
Like all Medigap plans, Supplement Plan F is available to buy from private insurers approved by Medicare. The cost for Plan F may vary by insurer. Your ZIP code and the carrier you choose can affect the cost of your plan. In some instances, people who smoke cigarettes or use other tobacco products may need to pay higher monthly premiums for Plan F.
Because it offers the highest level of coverage, Plan F tends to be more expensive than other Medigap plans.
The two versions of Plan F are standard Plan F and high deductible Plan F.
Each plan covers the same benefits. However, high deductible Plan F requires that you pay all fees incurred for medical expenses until you meet your deductible. In 2024, the deductible for Plan F was $2,800. High deductible Plan F often has a lower monthly premium than standard Plan F.
Help choosing a Medigap PlanThese sources provide information about Medigap plans:
Supplement Plan F is a Medigap plan meant to help cover costs associated with Original Medicare.
Due to its comprehensive and robust coverage, Plan F has traditionally been popular with people who get Original Medicare and know they need extra coverage for copays and coinsurance.
Due to a change in the rules for Medigap plans, Plan F will no longer be available to purchase for people who are new to Medicare as of January 1, 2020.
One possible exception is people who were eligible for Medicare before January 2020 but did not apply.
If you already have Plan F, you can keep it.
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