What Is Medicare Part F?

The federal Medicare programMedicare is a federal health insurance program for people ages 65 and older and people with certain disabilities. is a series of lettered (A, B, C, and D) health insurance programs available to people, age 65 and older, and certain adults with qualifying disabilities. Medicare Part AMedicare Part A is hospital coverage for Medicare beneficiaries. It covers inpatient care in hospitals and skilled nursing facilities. It also covers limited home healthcare services and hospice care. and Medicare Part BMedicare Part B is medical coverage for people with Original Medicare benefits. It covers doctor visits, preventative care, tests, durable medical equipment, and supplies. Medicare Part B pays 80 percent of most medically necessary healthcare services. (Original Medicare) is provided directly by the government, whereas Medicare Part CMedicare Part C is Medicare's private health plan option. Also known as Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part C plans are a type of Medicare health plan offered by companies that contract with Medicare to provide all... (Medicare Advantage plansMedicare Advantage (MA), also known as Medicare Part C, are health plans from private insurance companies that are available to people eligible for Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B).) and Medicare Part DMedicare Part D plans are an option Medicare beneficiaries can use to get prescription drug coverage. Part D plans provide cost-sharing on covered medications in four different phases: deductible, initial coverage, coverage gap, and catastrophic. Each... are provided through private insurance companies authorized to sell these plans.

There is one more part of Medicare that has lettered plans, Medigap, also known as Medicare supplement insuranceMedicare Supplements are additional insurance policies that Medicare beneficiaries can purchase to cover the gaps in their Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B) health insurance coverage.. One of these is Medicare Supplement Plan FMedicare Supplement Plan F is the most comprehensive Medicare supplement plan available. This plan covers all Original Medicare deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments, leaving you with no out-of-pocket costs on all Medicare-approved services..

Medigap policies, as their name implies, help cover the gaps in traditional MedicareOriginal Medicare is private fee-for-service health insurance for people on Medicare. It has two parts. Part A is hospital coverage. Part B is medical coverage. coverage. In this MedicareWireMedicareWire is a Medicare insurance consulting agency. We founded MedicareWire after seeing and hearing how confusing and frustrating it is to find, understand, and choose a plan. Our services are free to the consumer. article, we’ll explain how Plan F works and who is eligible. We’ll also answer these top frequently asked questions, and a few more:

Why You Need a Medigap Plan F Policy

Most people know a little about Medicare Part A and B, often called Original Medicare, but not much about the other options available to them. Medicare Supplement Plan F is also referred to as Medigap Plan F. It is a supplemental policy that you can buy from a private insurance company. It is only available to Original Medicare beneficiaries who want the additional insurance coverage needed to help pay for their share of the costs.

Original Medicare pays for about 80 percent of your major medical costs. A Medigap plan (which you can shop for here) can be used to cover various parts of your 20 percent share (e.g., deductiblesA deductible is an amount a beneficiary must pay for their health care expenses before the health insurance policy begins to pay its share., coinsuranceCoinsurance is a percentage of the total you are required to pay for a medical service. , and copaymentsA copayment, also known as a copay, is a set dollar amount you are required to pay for a medical service.). Medicare Supplement Plan F covers all the gaps in Original Medicare.

NOTE: The correct terminology is Medicare Supplement Plan F, not Part F. Here is an easy way to remember. Only Medicare uses Parts (A, B, C, and D). Private insurance companies sell Plans.

Who is Eligible?

Right now, you are only eligible to apply for a Medicare Supplement Plan F policy if you first became eligible for both Medicare Part A and B prior to January 1, 2020. If you become eligible after that date, Medicare Supplement Plan GIf you're turning age 65 this year, Medicare Supplement Plan G is the most comprehensive Medicare supplement you can buy. It's also the most popular. You might be thinking that Medicare Supplement Plan F is... is the best supplemental insurance you can get. Another popular option is Medicare Supplement Plan NMedicare Supplemental Plan N is one of the ten standardized Medigap plans. Although it is one of the newest plans available, Medicare Plan N is quickly becoming a favorite with Baby Boomers aging into their....

What Do I Need To Do?

Once your turn 65, you have a 6-month open enrollment period available to you to sign up for a Medigap plan. You must also have Medicare Part B to enroll. Different companies offer these policies in each state, but they cover the same standardized expenses.

Important Facts About Medicare Plan F:

• It’s important to note that Medicare supplements are not standalone policies. You must have both Medicare Parts A and B to qualify.
• You pay for your Medicare Part B and Medigap separately. If you or your spouse did not work the full 40 quarters (10 years) required, you will also pay for your Part A coverage.
• Each person needs their own Medicare supplement policy. These policies only cover one person. However, many companies offer a household discount.
• Medicare Plan F is offered through private insurance companies and only those authorized to sell in your state can provide this policy.
• Health problems do not disqualify you from a Medigap policy if you enroll during your 6-month individual enrollment period. During this period, you have guaranteed issue rights and cannot be turned down. You may continue to renew these indefinitely if you pay the monthly premium.
• If you have a Medicare Advantage plan it is illegal for an insurance company to sell you a Medigap plan. The only exceptionIn a Medicare Part D plan, an exception is a type of prescription drug coverage determination. You must request an exception, and your doctor must send a supporting statement explaining the medical reason for the... is if you are going back to Original Medicare.

What Does Medicare Plan F Cover?

You’ll need to investigate the different Medigap plans to determine the right one for you. The comparison chart below will help.

Medicare Plan F provides the same healthcare coverage from state to state. In general, you can use it to cover the copayment for all medical costs (e.g., doctor visits, specialists, lab tests, diagnostics, etc.) and even the Medicare Part B deductible.

Another benefit covered by Plan F is Medicare Part B Excess ChargesA Medicare Part B excess charge is the difference between a health care provider’s actual charge and Medicare’s approved amount for payment..  These occur when your doctor or specialist does not accept the standard Medicare payment for a service. Medicare allows healthcare providers that do not accept Medicare assignmentAn agreement by your doctor to be paid directly by Medicare, to accept the payment amount Medicare approves for the service, and not to bill you for any more than the Medicare deductible and coinsurance. to charge up to 15 percent more. Without Plan F, you will pay these costs out-of-pocket.

Plan F also covers your big costs if you are admitted as an inpatient in the hospital or a skilled nursing facility. Your Medicare benefits cover these costs under Part A, but most people are taken by surprise when they see the per-benefit-period deductible. Plan F is one of these insurance plans that protect enrollees from these high out-of-pocket expenses.

Here’s a side-by-side Medicare Supplement Plans Comparison Chart:

NOTE: There is also a High-Deductible Plan F. It has all of the same features and benefits as the normal plan, but you pay all costs until the annual deductible is met. The deductible changes annually. For more information, visit Medicare.gov.

What is Excluded From Medicare Plan F?

Plan F does not cover vision, dental, long-term carea variety of services that help people with their medical and non-medical needs over a period of time. Long-term care can be provided at home, in the community, or in various types of facilities, including..., hearing aids, or private nursing services. These benefits are common in Medicare Advantage plans, however, a Plan F policy can’t cover them because they are not covered by Original Medicare. Additionally, Plan F does not cover prescription drug costs either. For this, you will need a Part D Plan.

However, there is one benefit that both Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plan do not cover that a Medicare Supplement Plan F policy does cover, and that’s international emergencies. With a Plan F policy, you are covered for up to 80 percent of a foreign travel emergency (up to the plan limit), which is very reassuring.

How Much Does Medicare Plan F Cost?

Costs vary from person to person. The price of a Medicare Plan F policy is determined based on your age, location, gender, and use of tobacco. National averages are around $300 per month, but in many areas, rates start as low as $125 per month. For the high deductible version, you may pay as little as $68. Health insurance companies will be able to help you determine eligibility and costs for the different Medigap policies.

IMPORTANT: Many people try to compare the cost of Medicare supplement insurance plans with a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C). The two types of insurance are as different as apples and oranges. With a Medigap plan, you pay for most of your medical services in advance through your monthly premiumsA premium is an amount that an insurance policyholder must pay for coverage. Premiums are typically paid on a monthly basis. In the federal Medicare program, there are four different types of premiums. . With a Part C plan, you pay most of your costs through copays and coinsurance when you use healthcare services. Both offer comprehensive coverage, but a Medicare supplement gives you peace of mind and helps you plan for your healthcare expenses. If you still have questions about how these plans differ, your insurance agent can walk you through the costs and covered services.

What are the Different Parts of Medicare?

• Medicare Part A covers hospital stays and expenses.
• Medicare Part B covers the coinsurance and testing associated with doctor’s visits.
• Medigap plans are listed as A-N. Medigap Plan CMedicare Supplement Plan C, also called Medigap Plan C, is one of the most comprehensive of the 10 standardized supplemental Medicare plans available in most states. In fact, only Medicare Plan F offers more coverage., E, F, H, I, and J are no longer available to new Medicare beneficiaries. As of 1 January 2020, if you have both Medicare Part A and B you can get a Medigap Plan AMedicare Supplement Plan A is often confused with Medicare Part A, which is the Medicare coverage that pays for your inpatient hospital care. Medicare Supplement Plan A, which is also known as Medigap Plan A,..., B, D, G, K, L, M, or N. The most popular plans are G and N.
• Medicare Part C is the Medicare Advantage plan program. These plans are not compatible with Medigap plans.
• Medicare Part D is a prescription drug coverage plan option that is compatible with all Medigap plans.

The Big Differences Between Medicare Plan F and Medicare Advantage Plans

Medicare Plan F is not a Medicare Advantage plan, which replaced your Medicare Part A and B benefits with private insurance. A Plan F supplement works alongside your Original Medicare. Many people ask “Are Medicare Supplement Plans Worth It?”, because they appear to cost more. The answer is most definitely, yes, they are worth every penny.

On the surface, Medicare Advantage plans look great. The monthly premiums are low (some cost you no additional money) and most plans offer additional benefits, including prescriptions, dental, vision, and more. But, the catch is that you pay more when you use services. In fact, the Kaiser Family Foundation conducted a study and found that most people with a Medicare Advantage plan pay more for a hospital inpatient stay, not less.

Also, unlike most Medigap plans, Medicare Advantage plans do not cover you when you travel. You’re covered for emergencies inside the United States and its territories, but you and not covered at all for foreign travel. With most Medigap plans, including Plan F, you are covered up to the limits of the policy.

Prescription drug coverage is not offered through Medicare Plan F but it is available as a stand-alone Medicare Part D plan. Basic prescription drug plans start at around $20 per month in most areas.

One of the main reasons people love Medicare Supplement Plan F is that it covers all of your big expenses completely. Medical expenses can add up quickly especially if you have a long hospital stay or surgery. The ability to cover the 20 percent gap is appealing to many seniors. While it may cost a couple of hundred dollars a month, it can save you tens of thousands of dollars in medical bills over a lifetime.

Take cancer treatment for example. Some treatments can cost as much as $2 million. This would leave Medicare recipients responsible for $400,000 worth of medical bills. For just a few hundred dollars a month, some or all of this amount could be covered with the right gap plan.

Medicare Plan F vs. Plan G: Which is Better?

If you can’t get Plan F, because you got your Medicare benefits after 1 January 2020, or you’re comparing the cost of Plan F vs. Plan G, here’s what you need to know. There’s just one benefit that separates Plan F and Plan G, the annual Medicare Part B deductible. In most cases, a Plan G premium, plus the annual deductible, costs less than a Plan F policy, sometimes as much as $100 or more.  You can learn more about Medicare Plan F vs. G in this comparison.

Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin

There are three states that do not follow the standardized plans organized by Medicare, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. These three states have their own standardized plans, which start with a base plan and additional riders to cover different gaps.

Related Reading:

• Do I really Need Supplemental Insurance with Medicare?
• What is the Best Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan?
• What is the Average Cost of Supplemental Insurance for Medicare?

Citations & References:

medicare.gov

• How to compare Medigap policies | Medicare
  https://www.medicare.gov/supplements-other-insurance/how-to-compare-medigap-p…
• Medicare.gov: the official U.S. government site for Medicare | Medicare
  https://www.medicare.gov/
• Find Healthcare Providers: Compare Care Near You | Medicare
  https://www.medicare.gov/care-compare/

shiptacenter.org

• Home | State Health Insurance Assistance Programs
  https://www.shiptacenter.org/
• Home | State Health Insurance Assistance Programs
  http://www.shiptacenter.org/

cms.gov

• F, G & J Deductible Announcements | CMS
  https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Health-Plans/Medigap/FandJ
• Medigap (Medicare Supplement Health Insurance) | CMS
  https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Health-Plans/Medigap
• 2020 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles | CMS
  https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2020-medicare-parts-b-premiums-and-d…