What You Need To Know About Medicare Plan F, and Your Options if You’re Not Eligible
Medicare Plan F may be the best Medigap plan, but only some people are eligible
If you’re new to Medicare, you may have heard of Plan F. Also known as a Medigap plan, Plan F is a supplement plan that goes with Medicare plans A and B to cover medical expenses. Among the many lettered Medigap plans, Plan F is often considered the best supplemental plan available. Plan F covers a lot — coinsurance for Parts A and B, an extra year of hospital care, a blood benefit and most (but not all) of expenses you may incur while traveling.
There are certain conditions that need to be met in order to join, however. We’ll tell you about what Plan F is, why you should keep it if you have it and what you can do if you can’t get it.
In This Article
What is Medicare Plan F?
Historically the most popular, Plan F is a Medicare supplement plan that, combined with original Medicare parts A and B, offers the most comprehensive coverage possible. But there’s a catch: In order to be eligible for Medicare Plan F, you have to have been eligible for Medicare on or before January 1, 2020. The good news is if you’re already enrolled in Plan F, you can still keep it and if that’s true, you might want to keep it.
If you were still eligible for Medicare on or before January 1, 2020, but never enrolled in Medicare, you still may be eligible to buy a Plan F.
Benefits offered by Plan F include:
- Part A coinsurance and hospital costs up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits are used
- Part B coinsurance or copayment
- Blood benefit (first 3 pints)
- Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment
- Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance
- Part A deductible
- Part B deductible
- Part B excess charge
- 80% of a foreign travel emergency (up to plan limits)
Why should I keep my Plan F?
“Medicare Plan F provides the most comprehensive protection of all Medicare supplement plans. “For many years, Medicare Supplement plan F was considered the gold standard for this reason,” said Whitney Stidom, Vice President of Consumer Enablement at eHealth.
Key benefits include:
- No out-of-pocket costs
- Guaranteed renewal, unless you don’t pay your premiums
- Access to any provider that accepts Medicare
- Foreign travel emergency coverage
I’m Not Eligible for Plan F. What Are My Options?
If you’re not eligible for Plan F, you can get a Medicare Supplement Plan such as Plan F or Plan G. “The second-most comprehensive plan type is Medicare supplement Plan G, which is exactly like plan F except that it doesn’t cover the cost of enrollees’ annual Medicare Part B deductible,” Stidom said.
The annual Medicare Plan B deductible was $257 in 2025.
“Medicare Supplement plans like F or G do a great job of helping cover out-of-pocket costs under Original Medicare, including offsetting coinsurance and copayments for doctor appointments or hospital stays,” Stidom said. She noted that beneficiaries who enroll in these plans will still not have any prescription drug coverage, which is why most enroll in a separate Medicare Part D prescription drug plan.
What about Medicare Advantage?
You can enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, which covers everything original Medicare covers but also adds, in some cases, prescription drug coverage (Part D), dental and vision coverage. But many Medicare Advantage plans come with network restrictions and co-pays. But Stidom said that Medicare Advantage is attractive to many because its monthly premiums tend to be very low.
“Retirees who enroll in a Medicare Supplement plan and a Part D drug plan can expect to pay at least $200-$300 per month in premiums,” Stidom said.
She added that it’s important to enroll as soon as possible for Medicare (just before or after turning 65). You risk the prospect of medical underwriting, which can result in them being charged more for coverage (or declined entirely) based on age and medical history, if you don’t.
What's the best option?
Plan G is a Medicare supplement plan that stands out as a good option to supplement plans A and B. Plan G covers deductibles under Part A, excess charges under Part B, coinsurance and copayments, and also gives you the opportunity to see any provider you choose that accepts Medicare.
Between the most popular plans — F, G and N — Plan G is probably the most popular of the three plans. However it does not cover the Plan B deductible, prescription drugs or dental and vision care, among other things.
Be sure to shop around and read our guides to Medicare find the best plan that fits your needs, your finances, and your individual health situation.
FAQs
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Who qualifies for Plan F?
Anyone enrolled in a Medigap Plan F as of December 31, 2019, is able to continue to use the plan (as long as premiums are paid). If you became eligible on or after Jan. 1, 2020, you will have to find a different plan, like Plan G.
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What happened to Plan F?
The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) of 2015 phased out Plan F as a way to control costs. It prohibited new Medigap plans from covering the Medicare Part B deductible, a key feature of Plan F.
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What replaces Plan F?
Plan G. It covers all the benefits Plan F except the Part B deductible.
