What is Medicare Supplement Plan F?

Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan F is the most comprehensive of all 10 standardized Medigap plans. These plans are sold by private insurance carriers, however, like Plan C, new enrollees after January 1st, 2020 cannot purchase this policy.

Medigap Plan F is associated with a high premium, which most Original Medicare (Part A & B) beneficiaries are willing to put up with since the plan covers most of the gaps in their Original Medicare coverage and leaves them with little to no out-of-pocket amounts to pay. Medigap plans can be purchased from insurance carriers that offer such policies, and they are standardized nationwide; meaning these plans offer the same benefits everywhere. The key difference between policies sold by different carriers at different locations is the cost of their premium. Some companies may offer extra benefits with their Medigap plans for a higher price, however, as mentioned above, the base benefits must be uniform across all companies.

Medicare Supplement Plan F Eligibility
Before going into the details of Medicare Supplement Plan F benefits, here are the eligibility requirements for Part F:

– You are at least 65 years old, a U.S. citizen or legal resident for at least five consecutive years
– You are currently receiving retirement benefits.

OR

– You are disabled and receiving disability benefits
– You have End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)
– You have Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS).

Medicare Supplement Plan F Coverage

– Hospital costs and coinsurance for Medicare Part A
– Deductible for Medicare Part A
– Coinsurance and copays for Medicare Part B
– Deductible for Medicare Part B

– Excess Charges for Medicare Part B
– The first three (3) pints of blood
– Part A hospice care coinsurance & copay with room & board
– Coinsurance for skilled nursing facilities
– Limited foreign travel emergency care

*For general information on Medigap plans, coverage, coinsurance, and deductibles; click here.

Medicare Supplement Plan F will not provide coverage for the following services:

– Routine vision care
– Routine dental care
– Hearing aids and routine hearing tests
– Cosmetic surgery
– Acupuncture
– Prescription drugs

If prescription drugs are a must-have according to your specific needs, you should consider Part D of Medicare, which is designed to help with that aspect specifically. 

Medicare Plan F covers drugs and injections given in a clinical setting but does not cover other prescriptions

Neither Medicare nor Medigap policies provide dental care coverage. Such coverage can be acquired from insurance carriers that specialize in that aspect.

Medicare Supplement Plan F Cost

The cost of Plan F Medicare Supplement premium could vary from one insurance company to another, however, one thing that is uniform across all companies is that Plan F’s premium is high, which is a reflection of the comprehensive coverage it provides. It is important to note that the policy premium is not the only cost you should consider while purchasing a policy. Deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses that your plan will leave you responsible for are some of the factors you should keep in consideration while making your choice.

Medicare Supplement Plan F Deductible 2020

There is a less expensive alternative to this comprehensive policy, where the beneficiary must meet a higher deductible. A high deductible Medigap Plan F policy dictates that beneficiaries must pay out-of-pocket costs for the first $2,340 in 2020 before the policy begins providing any coverage. For a better understanding of how Plan F works in comparison with other Medigap plans, please check the Medigap plan comparison chart below