Medicare Plan F Explained: Coverage, Cost and Who Can Still Enroll

What Medicare Supplement Plan F Covers

Medicare Supplement Plan F is a federally standardized Medigap policy, which means the benefits are identical no matter which insurance company sells it. What makes Plan F unique is that it offers "first-dollar coverage" of nearly every gap left by Original Medicare. After paying your monthly premium, you typically owe nothing when you see a doctor or visit a hospital for Medicare-covered services.

Here is what standard Plan F pays for in 2026:

• Medicare Part A hospital coinsurance plus 365 extra days of hospital coverage after Medicare benefits run out
• Part A hospital deductible ($1,676 per benefit period in 2026)
• Part B coinsurance and copayments (the 20% Medicare doesn't pay for doctor visits and outpatient care)
• Part B deductible ($283 in 2026), the key benefit that newer plans cannot include
• Part B excess charges for providers who bill above the Medicare-approved amount
• Skilled nursing facility coinsurance
• First three pints of blood each year
• Hospice coinsurance and copayments
• Foreign travel emergency care (80% up to a $50,000 lifetime maximum, after a separate $250 deductible)

Because Plan F absorbs both the Part A and Part B deductibles plus all coinsurance, most policyholders never see a medical bill from a Medicare-covered service.

Why Plan F Was Closed to New Enrollees in 2020

In 2015, Congress passed the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). One provision of the law prohibits Medigap plans sold to new Medicare beneficiaries from covering the Part B deductible, beginning January 1, 2020. The reasoning was that "first-dollar" coverage encouraged overuse of medical services, since beneficiaries had no financial reason to think twice about doctor visits.

Because Plan F (and Plan C) cover the Part B deductible, both plans were effectively closed to anyone newly eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020.

Who can still enroll in Plan F today

You may still purchase Plan F in 2026 if all of the following apply:

1. You were first eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020 (turned 65 before that date, or became eligible earlier through disability or ESRD)
2. You are enrolled in both Medicare Part A and Part B
3. An insurer in your state still actively sells Plan F
4. You pass medical underwriting, if required outside a guaranteed-issue window

People who were eligible before 2020 but delayed Part B because of employer coverage may also still buy Plan F when they finally enroll in Part B, subject to underwriting.

Plan F Premiums in 2026: What to Expect

Premiums vary widely by carrier, ZIP code, age, gender, and tobacco status, but a 50-state analysis for the 2026 plan year shows the following national averages for nonsmokers:

Standard Plan F tends to be one of the most expensive Medigap plans because it pays so much. The 26% premium increase between age 65 and age 75 in the table above reflects attained-age pricing, which is how most carriers structure rates. Some companies use issue-age or community rating, which can dampen age-based increases but may start at a higher base.

Local rate ranges for Plan F in 2026 illustrate just how much pricing variation exists. In Washington, D.C., Plan F premiums range roughly $167 to $1,040 per month; in Des Moines, the range is about $132 to $884. That spread underscores why shopping multiple carriers matters. For a deeper look at how prices are set, see our breakdown of Medigap premium factors.

High-Deductible Plan F (HDF)

If you want Plan F's comprehensive benefits but can't justify the premium, the high-deductible version (HDF) is worth considering, again, only if you were eligible for Medicare before 2020.

Here's how High-Deductible Plan F works in 2026:

• You pay Medicare-covered out-of-pocket costs (deductibles, coinsurance, copays) up to $2,950 during the calendar year
• After you reach $2,950, the plan pays 100% of covered Medigap benefits for the rest of the year
• The deductible resets every January 1
• Your monthly premium is dramatically lower than standard Plan F (often around $66–$85)

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services adjusts the high-deductible amount annually based on the Consumer Price Index. The deductible rose from $2,870 in 2025 to $2,950 in 2026.

Plan F vs. Plan G: Which Is Better for Eligible Shoppers?

If you were eligible before 2020, you have a real choice between Plan F and Plan G. The two plans are identical in every benefit category except one: Plan F pays the Part B deductible and Plan G does not.

The $283 break-even math

The 2026 Part B deductible is $283. Spread across 12 months, that's about $23.58 per month. The rule of thumb:

• If Plan F costs more than $24/month above Plan G, choose Plan G
• If Plan F costs less than $24/month above Plan G, Plan F could come out slightly ahead

In practice, Plan F usually costs $30 to $60 more than Plan G in most markets, which means Plan G wins on total annual cost for the majority of shoppers. Plan G also benefits from being an open plan with new enrollees flowing in each year, which historically translates to more stable rate increases.

Top-Rated Carriers Offering Plan F in 2026

Plan F benefits are identical across companies, so the smart move is to compare carriers on price, financial strength, customer service, and rate-increase history. Based on 2026 Medigap industry rankings, these carriers consistently rise to the top:

For a head-to-head look at the leading insurers, check our best Medicare Supplement companies of 2026 review.

Should Existing Plan F Holders Switch to Plan G?

This is the most important question for anyone already enrolled. The honest answer: probably yes, but only after running the numbers and checking your state's switching rules.

Why Plan F rates rise faster than Plan G rates

Plan F is a closed block of business. Insurers can no longer add younger, healthier 65-year-olds to the Plan F risk pool, so the pool steadily ages and grows sicker. That mathematical reality drives larger and more volatile premium increases compared to Plan G, which keeps refreshing with new enrollees. Many advisors expect this gap to widen over the next decade.

The switching math

Run this simple calculation:

1. Current Plan F annual cost = (monthly Plan F premium) × 12
2. Plan G annual cost = (monthly Plan G premium × 12) + $283 Part B deductible

If your Plan F annual total exceeds Plan G's total, switching saves money. Most policyholders find Plan G wins by $300 to $1,000+ per year.

The catch: medical underwriting

Outside your initial 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period, most states allow insurers to medically underwrite applicants who want to switch plans. If you have significant health issues, you could be denied or charged more. A handful of states offer protections:

• California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, Missouri, Louisiana, Oklahoma offer birthday-rule or anniversary-rule windows that allow you to switch without health questions
• Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New York require continuous or annual guaranteed-issue switching

If you live in one of these states, switching is largely risk-free. Elsewhere, weigh the underwriting risk against the savings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Medicare Plan F still available in 2026?

Yes, Plan F is still sold by most major Medigap carriers in 2026, but only to people who were first eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020. If you were already enrolled in Plan F before that date, you can keep it indefinitely as long as you pay the premium. New beneficiaries who became Medicare-eligible in 2020 or later cannot purchase Plan F under any circumstances.

Is Plan F worth the higher premium compared to Plan G?

For most people, Plan G offers better value because the premium difference usually exceeds the $283 annual Part B deductible. The rule of thumb in 2026 is that if Plan F costs more than $24 per month above Plan G, switching to Plan G saves money. Plan F also faces faster rate increases because its risk pool is closed to new enrollees, which makes Plan G even more attractive over the long term.

What does High-Deductible Plan F cost in 2026?

High-Deductible Plan F (HDF) carries a $2,950 calendar-year deductible in 2026, after which the plan pays 100% of Medicare-covered benefits. Average monthly premiums are roughly $66 at age 65 and $85 at age 75, far less than standard Plan F. HDF is best suited for healthy enrollees who rarely use medical care and want catastrophic-style protection at a low monthly cost.

Can I switch from Plan F to Plan G without medical underwriting?

It depends on your state. Most states require medical underwriting if you switch outside your initial 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period, which means insurers can decline you or charge higher rates. However, states like California, Oregon, Nevada, Washington, Missouri, Idaho, Louisiana, and Oklahoma offer birthday-rule or anniversary-rule windows that let you switch without health questions. Check with your state insurance department or a licensed agent to confirm your specific rights.

Why are Plan F premiums rising faster than other Medigap plans?

Plan F is a closed block of business, meaning no new beneficiaries have been added to the risk pool since January 1, 2020. As current Plan F policyholders age and file more claims, the pool gets older and sicker without an influx of younger, healthier enrollees to balance out costs. This dynamic typically produces larger annual rate increases on Plan F than on open plans like Plan G or Plan N, which continue to refresh with new members each year.