Medicare Supplement Plan F: Coverage, Costs, Pros & Cons

Original Medicare covers most hospital and outpatient care, but it leaves gaps. After a hospital stay, you owe the $1,736 Part A deductible before Medicare pays. For doctor visits, you pay a share of the Medicare-approved cost after the $283 annual Part B deductible.   

Plan F covers all of them. It's the only Medigap plan with no remaining cost at the doctor's office or hospital after Medicare pays its share. When I reviewed all 10 standardized Medigap plan types, Plan F was the only one that eliminated every Medicare-approved cost. It includes the annual Part B deductible and charges above Medicare's approved rate.

No insurer can change what Plan F covers. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services standardizes the benefits for each Medigap plan letter. A Plan F policy from Humana covers exactly the same services as one from Aetna or any other carrier. The only difference between providers is the monthly premium.

Plan F stopped accepting new enrollees on January 1, 2020. Congress passed the legislation in 2015 to close Plan F to new buyers. Federal lawmakers viewed Plan F's first-dollar coverage as encouraging overuse of medical services. Under first-dollar coverage, you pay nothing at the point of care beyond your monthly premium.

If you enrolled before that date, your coverage is secured. Insurers can't cancel a Plan F policy as long as you pay premiums on time. That holds regardless of any health changes that occur after enrollment. Coverage is guaranteed renewable for the life of the policy.

Plan F covers all nine standardized Medicare cost-sharing gaps. Two set it apart from every other Medigap plan. It pays the $283 annual Part B deductible, which Plan G does not. And it covers Part B excess charges, the gap when a provider bills above Medicare's approved rate. No other current Medigap plan covers both.

Plan F covers every Medicare-approved cost. Several common health needs fall outside both Original Medicare and every Medigap plan. No supplement plan covers prescription drugs, routine dental care, hearing aids or vision correction. Most Plan F enrollees carry a separate Medicare Part D drug plan alongside their Medigap policy to fill the prescription gap.

• Prescription drugs: Plan F does not include drug coverage. A separate Medicare Part D plan is required.
• Dental care: Routine dental services, such as cleanings and fillings, are not covered by any Medigap plan.
• Vision services: Eye exams, prescription glasses and contact lenses are not covered under Plan F.
• Hearing aids: Hearing aids and related fittings fall outside Original Medicare and all Medigap coverage.
• Long-term care: Custodial nursing home or in-home care is not covered by Plan F or any Medicare Supplement plan.

Standard Plan F premiums average $241 to $401 per month in 2026, per our rate analysis. How much you pay for Medicare Supplement coverage over time depends as much on your insurer's pricing model as on the quoted rate. Three models are available and they produce different long-term outcomes.   

Attained Age Pricing sets your rate based on your current age, so premiums rise annually. In Issue Age Pricing your rate is set based on enrollment age rather than your current age. General market increases still apply, but this model doesn't add a surcharge for aging. Under Community Pricing the same premium is charged regardless of your age.

When I compared Plan F quotes across all three pricing models, Attained Age policies showed the lowest starting premium consistently. The difference between Attained Age and Community Pricing is $117 per month at 65. By 75, that reduces to $72. Attained Age stays cheaper, but the margin closes over time.

*MoneyGeek's 2026 analysis of High Deductible Medicare Supplement Plan F premiums. You pay all Medicare-approved costs up to $2,950 before coverage begins.   

High Deductible Plan F averages $62 per month at 65 vs. $241 for the standard version. The $179 monthly difference adds up to $2,148 per year. The annual deductible is $2,950. If your Medicare-approved costs stay below $2,950 in a given year, the high-deductible version saves money. If they exceed it, the standard version does.

Plan F costs more than any other Medigap plan. Whether the premium is worth it depends on how often you use health care. If you see specialists regularly or expect hospital stays, the full coverage often offsets the higher monthly cost. Predictable expenses matter more as medical needs grow over time.

These three plans cover different amounts of your Medicare cost-sharing. Plan F covers everything. Plan G covers the same as Plan F except the $283 annual Part B deductible. Plan N leaves more costs with you than either. It requires copays for doctor and emergency room visits and doesn't pay Part B excess charges.

Eligibility date determines which of these three plans you can buy. If you became eligible on or after January 1, 2020, Plan F isn't an option. Between Plan G and Plan N, the decision depends on how often you see doctors and whether your providers bill at or below Medicare's approved rate.

Most Plan F enrollees who consider switching come out ahead staying when their Plan G premium is within $283 per year of their current Plan F rate. Plan G saves money only when the annual premium gap exceeds $283. Plan N is the better choice when all your providers bill at or below Medicare's approved rate. If any provider charges more, Plan N leaves those additional costs with you.

For most current Plan F enrollees, the case for staying rests on two costs Plan G doesn't cover. Plan F pays the $283 annual Part B deductible each year. It also covers Part B excess charges, which apply when a provider bills above Medicare's approved rate. The Part B deductible was $240 in 2024 and $283 in 2026, per CMS data. It rises most years.   

Outside your guaranteed-issue window (the six months after you first enroll in Medicare Part B), changing Medigap plans means medical underwriting. An insurer reviews your health history and can charge more or decline you based on what it finds. Any conditions that emerged since you first enrolled affect your options.

When I've reviewed the math for existing Plan F holders, the case for staying strengthens with age. The monthly premium is a fixed cost. What you'd pay under Plan G isn't: it depends on how much care you use that year.

For most people who can't buy Plan F, Plan G is my first recommendation. It covers every benefit Plan F does except the $283 annual Part B deductible. In most markets, the annual premium difference exceeds $283. Plan G often saves money before the year ends. 
Compare all available plans during your Medigap Open Enrollment Period, the six months starting when you turn 65 and enroll in Medicare Part B. Enrolling in that window locks in guaranteed-issue rights, which means insurers can't check your health history.

1. Consider Plan G. Plan G covers everything Plan F does except the Part B deductible ($283 in 2026, per CMS). It's open to all new Medicare enrollees and is the most popular Medigap plan for beneficiaries who became eligible on or after January 1, 2020. Per MoneyGeek's 2026 analysis, it offers the best value for most new enrollees.
2. Consider High Deductible Plan G. High Deductible Plan G carries the same benefits as standard Plan G but with lower monthly premiums. You pay all Medicare-approved costs up to the $2,950 annual deductible before coverage begins. High Deductible Plan G is the right choice if your health care use is low and you want to lower your monthly cost.
3. Consider Plan N. Plan N charges lower premiums than Plan G but requires copays: up to $20 for doctor visits and up to $50 for emergency room visits that don't result in hospital admission. Plan N doesn't cover Part B excess charges, so it's the right fit for people whose doctors accept Medicare's approved rate without billing above it.
4. Review Medicare Advantage. Medicare Advantage replaces Original Medicare Parts A and B entirely. It bundles hospital, medical and often drug coverage in one plan. Network restrictions apply that don't exist under Medigap. It suits people who want all coverage in one plan and are comfortable with a provider network.
5. Enroll during your Medigap Open Enrollment Period. This six-month window begins when you turn 65 and enroll in Medicare Part B. During this period, insurers cannot deny you a Medigap policy or charge more based on your health history. You lose your guaranteed-issue rights if you wait.