Medicare Supplement Plan F: Coverage, Costs, and 2026 Eligibility

Updated June 4, 20266 min readReviewed against medicare.gov

Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Plan F is the most comprehensive standardized Medigap plan, paying nearly all the out-of-pocket gaps in Original Medicare — including the Part B deductible. Because of a 2015 federal law (MACRA), Plan F is closed to people who first became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020; if you were eligible before that date, you may still be able to buy it. Premiums vary widely by insurer, location, age, and rating method.

What Plan F covers

Medigap plans are standardized by the federal government, so a plan with a given letter covers the same benefits no matter which private insurer sells it (Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin standardize differently). Plan F is the most complete of these letters and is the only standardized plan, along with Plan C, that pays the annual Part B deductible.

Plan F is designed to leave you with essentially no cost-sharing on Medicare-approved services. After Original Medicare pays its share, Plan F picks up the remaining approved amounts shown below. It does not, however, cover prescription drugs — that requires a separate Part D plan — and it does not cover services Medicare itself excludes.

Part A hospital coinsurance, plus 365 extra hospital days after Medicare benefits are used up
Part A deductible ($1,736 per benefit period in 2026)
Part B deductible ($283 in 2026) — a feature unique to Plans F and C
Part B coinsurance or copayment (the 20% Original Medicare normally leaves you)
Part B excess charges (when a provider charges more than the Medicare-approved amount)
Skilled nursing facility coinsurance ($217/day for days 21–100 in 2026)
First three pints of blood each year
Foreign travel emergency care, 80% of approved costs up to plan limits

Who can still buy Plan F in 2026

The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) barred the sale of any Medigap plan that pays the Part B deductible to people newly eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. Because Plans F and C both pay that deductible, neither can be sold to this group.

You may still apply for Plan F where it is offered if you turned 65 on or before December 31, 2019, or otherwise became eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020 (including through disability). Plan F is not being canceled for current enrollees — if you already have it, you can keep it as long as you pay your premiums.

If you became eligible in 2020 or later, the closest alternative is Plan G, which covers everything Plan F does except the Part B deductible.

What Plan F costs

There is no single Plan F price. Because the benefits are standardized but the premiums are not, monthly costs vary by insurer, your state and ZIP code, your age, tobacco use, and the insurer's pricing (rating) method. The same exact coverage can cost noticeably more or less depending on which company you buy from, so comparing several insurers matters.

Insurers typically use one of three rating methods: community-rated (everyone pays the same regardless of age), issue-age-rated (priced on your age when you buy, and not increased because you get older), or attained-age-rated (priced on your current age, rising as you age). Attained-age policies often start cheapest but can climb over time.

Remember that a Medigap premium is in addition to your Part B premium ($202.90/month in 2026), which you continue to pay to Medicare. Plan F does not replace Part B.

High-deductible Plan F

A high-deductible version of Plan F is available in some states to those who qualify for Plan F. It offers the same benefits, but you first pay Medicare-approved out-of-pocket costs up to an annual deductible before the policy begins paying. For 2026, CMS set that deductible at $2,950 (up from $2,870 in 2025).

In exchange for taking on that upfront risk, the monthly premium is usually much lower than standard Plan F. Amounts you pay toward the Medicare Part B deductible count toward meeting the plan's high deductible. Whether the lower premium is worth the higher potential out-of-pocket cost depends on your health and budget.

Plan F vs. Plan G

Plan F and Plan G are nearly identical. The single difference is the Part B deductible: Plan F pays it, Plan G does not. In practice, that means a Plan G holder pays the $283 Part B deductible (2026) out of pocket each year, after which Plan G covers the same gaps Plan F does.

Because Plan G is open to everyone — including people newly eligible after 2020 — its larger risk pool and pricing dynamics sometimes make it competitive with, or cheaper than, Plan F even after accounting for the deductible. If you're eligible for both, it's worth comparing the annual Plan F premium against the annual Plan G premium plus $283.

Frequently asked questions

Is Medicare Plan F being discontinued?

No. Plan F is closed to people who became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020, but it is not being canceled. If you already have Plan F, you can keep it as long as you pay your premiums, and people who were eligible before 2020 can still apply where it's sold.

Does Plan F cover prescription drugs?

No. No Medigap plan, including Plan F, covers prescription drugs. For drug coverage you need a separate Medicare Part D plan, or you can get drug coverage through a Medicare Advantage plan instead — but you generally cannot use a Medigap policy together with a Medicare Advantage plan.

Why can't I buy Plan F if I just turned 65?

A 2015 law called MACRA prohibited the sale of Medigap plans that cover the Part B deductible to people first eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. Plan F covers that deductible, so it's no longer available to newly eligible beneficiaries. Plan G is the closest comparable option.

How much does Plan F cost per month?

There's no fixed price. Premiums vary by insurer, your state and ZIP code, age, tobacco use, and the insurer's rating method, so identical coverage can cost very different amounts. Comparing quotes from multiple insurers for the same plan letter is the best way to find your actual cost.

What's the difference between Plan F and high-deductible Plan F?

Both offer the same benefits, but high-deductible Plan F requires you to pay Medicare-approved out-of-pocket costs up to an annual deductible — $2,950 in 2026 — before the policy pays. In return, its monthly premium is typically much lower than standard Plan F.

Should I choose Plan F or Plan G?

If you're eligible for both, compare Plan F's annual premium against Plan G's annual premium plus the $283 Part B deductible (2026). Their coverage is otherwise identical, so the better value usually comes down to which total annual cost is lower for you.

Sources

Related guides

Medigap (Supplement) Plans

Medicare Plan F vs. Plan G: How to Choose in 2026

Medicare Login Guide is an independent resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or any government agency. This article is for general information only — confirm current figures and your specific options at medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.