According to AARP, Medicare Supplement Plan F provides the most coverage, and as a result, it's the most popular plan among those eligible for Medicare. But with recent changes, Plan F is no longer available to everyone as of January 1, 2020.
Is Medicare Plan F Being Discontinued? No, Medicare Plan F is not being discontinued, but it is no longer an option for those who are new to Medicare. The 2015 Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) prevented Medicare Supplement plans (F and C, specifically) from providing coverage for Part B deductibles.
It's been big news this year that as of Jan. 1, 2020, Medigap plans C and F will be discontinued. This change came about as a part of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization legislation in 2015, which prohibits the sale of Medigap plans that cover Medicare's Part B deductible.
However, as of January 1, 2020, Plan F was phased out, making it ineligible for new enrollees unless you were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020. The only real difference between Plan F and Plan G is that Plan F covers the deductible for Part B, which is $170.10 in 2022.
The reason Plan F (and Plan C) is going away is due to new legislation that no longer allows Medicare Supplement insurance plans to cover Medicare Part B deductibles. Since Plan F and Plan C pay this deductible, private insurance companies can no longer offer these plans to new Medicare enrollees.
No plan completely replaces Medicare Part F, but the closest available is Medicare Supplement Plan G. Like Plan F, Plan G covers 100% of many benefits, including: Part A coinsurance and hospital costs. Part B copays/coinsurance (not deductibles)
If you enrolled in Plan F before 2020, you will be “grandfathered” into the plan. This gives you the choice to keep the plan past 2020.
If you enrolled in Plan F before 2020, you can continue your plan or switch to another Medigap plan, such as Plan G, if you prefer. You may want to make the change to reduce the price of your health insurance. However, every state has different rules worth considering before making the switch.
Is Medicare Plan G better than Plan F? Medicare Plan G is not better than Plan F because Medicare Plan G covers one less benefit than Plan F. It leaves you to pay the Part B deductible, whereas Medigap Plan F covers that deductible.
Plan F is only available if you first became eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020 (which means your 65th birthday occurred before January 1, 2020). Or you qualified for Medicare due to a disability before January 1, 2020.
Also good: Plan A, B, D, G, M and N pay 100% of Part B coinsurance, which is your portion of cataract procedure costs. Best plans if you're eligible: Plan C and Plan F pay 100% of the Medicare Part B coinsurance and the Part B deductible.
Two Reasons to switch from Plan F to G
Plan G is often considerably less expensive than Plan F. You can often save $50 a month moving from F to G. Even though you will have to pay the one time $233 for the Part B deductible on Medigap G, the monthly savings will be worth it in the long run.
Medicare Supplement insurance Plan F offers more coverage than any other Medicare Supplement insurance plan. It usually covers everything that Plan G covers as well as: The Medicare Part B deductible at 100% (the Part B deductible is $203 in 2021).
If they don't say under budget, they end up losing money. Meaning, you may not receive the full extent of care. Thus, many doctors will likely tell you they do not like Medicare Advantage plans because private insurance companies make it difficult for them to get paid for their services.
This is good for the long-term rate picture, because insurance companies will still compete for your Plan F business. However, over time we can probably expect Plan F premiums to slowly rise, since the total number of people enrolled will be shrinking annually.
Yes, you can. However, it usually still requires answering health questions on an application before they will approve the switch. There are a few companies in a few states that are allowing their members to switch from F to G without review, but most still require you to apply to switch.
note: As of January 1, 2020, Medigap plans sold to people new to Medicare can no longer cover the Part B deductible. Because of this, Plans C and F are no longer available to people new to Medicare on or after January 1, 2020.
Outside of your Medicare Supplement OEP, guaranteed-issue rights are often limited to certain Medicare Supplement insurance plans: A, B, C**, D, F**, G, K, or L. Please note: Not all plans are sold in every state. A high-deductible Plan G might be available in your state.
In order to keep your Plan F, you don't need to renew or re-enroll every year. As long as you pay your premiums on time, your coverage will continue. You can also switch to another carrier that offers Plan F in the future, if another company offers a better rate that you would like to apply for.
Medigap Plan F through UnitedHealthcare covers foreign travel because Medicare Supplement Plan F always covers this standardized benefit, regardless of the carrier. Except for Medigap Plan A and Plan B, all Medicare Supplement plans cover foreign travel emergencies up to the plan limit.
Premium costs for Medigap Plan F can range from as low as $150.00 per month to as high as $400.00 per month or more. Factors that determine your cost include your ZIP Code, gender, age, tobacco use, and more.
Medicare Supplement Plan F and High Deductible Medicare Supplement Plan F are almost identical Medigap plans. The only difference in plan details is that High Deductible Plan F requires you to meet a deductible before it begins covering you ($2,490 in 2022), whereas Plan F provides coverage immediately.
Both plans offer the same core benefits. The difference between Plan Fs is the addition of services. Unlike the modernized Plan F, the plan covers routine eye and hearing exams. It doesn't stop there; benefits also include eyewear and hearing aids.
Medicare premiums, deductibles and out-of-pocket costs are established each year by the government. Since Medicare Plan F is the most comprehensive Medigap policy, the premium can be costly. Typically, the cost ranges from $161 to $410 per month for a 65-year-old.