Medicare Supplement Plan F Providers

Compare the best Medicare Supplement Plan F companies

Updated December 08, 2022

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Plan F was phased out on January 1, 2020 and is only available if you were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020. If you're not eligible, Medicare Supplement Plan G has replaced Plan F.

Below, you’ll find the best Medigap Plan F providers as well as information about how to check eligibility and pricing to ensure you get the coverage you need at a price you can afford. All companies serve at least 23 states and were carefully screened based on pricing, ease of use, financial ratings, and more.

Medicare Supplement Plan F Providers in 2023

Best for Extras: Humana
Best in Educational Information: Cigna
Best in Price Comparison: AARP
Best for Simplicity: Aetna
Best for Ease of Use: Mutual of Omaha

Compare Medigap quotes from multiple Medicare supplement insurance companies with a licensed Medicare representative before buying.

Best for Extras : Humana

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In addition to covering everything included in Medicare Parts A, B, and C at a low cost, Humana’s Plan F offers extensive extra benefits. These include a SilverSneakers fitness plan and household discounts if more than one person in your household has a Medicare Supplement Plan with Humana.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Helpful information breakdown on the Plan Details page
$0 deductible available
$0 visits to specialists, no referrals needed
Discounts available for multi-policy households
Discounts on additional services such as hearing aids or eyeglasses

Cons

Required to enter zip code before comparing different plans
App or iOS receives average ratings

Why We Chose It

Humana’s process to determine your personal estimates requires a few too many clicks, but once you’ve navigated to where you need to be, all information relating to Plan F is clear and easy to understand. There isn’t much point in comparing costs here—Plan F has a $0 deductible at the regular level.

The High Deductible Plan F has a deductible of $2,490 in 2022, but because you have to pay more out-of-pocket, the premiums for this plan tend to be significantly lower. If you’re in good health, rarely seek medical treatment, and can afford to pay the deductible if needed, the High Deductible Plan F may be a good choice for you.

At either the regular or high-deductible level, Humana customers have access to many extra benefits. For example, up to 20 meals can be ordered per year after a hospital stay when addressing specific chronic conditions to relieve worry about meals while you heal.

Discounts on prescriptions are also available with your Humana card at participating pharmacies, and the SilverSneakers fitness program allows customers a free basic membership at a participating fitness club, including classes, training, and access to experts to create a personalized fitness plan. Or, if no gym near you offers the SilverSneakers program, Humana offers SilverSneakers Steps, a separate fitness program, so you don’t miss out on this benefit.

Another great perk: hearing aid discounts, which can provide great cost savings. Unfortunately, if you are used to mobile apps, Humana’s will fall short. The MyHumana app offers little information about coverage, forcing users to call for answers to any questions.

Humana is also highly ranked by AM Best, with an Excellent rating of A- (Excellent).

Medicare Plan F does not cover ear or eye care, so these are not additional benefits you can find with every provider.

Best in Educational Information : Cigna

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The best thing about Cigna's Medicare Supplement Plan F is how it breaks down the costs and benefits of the program. Nothing requires reading multiple pages or an in-depth understanding of health care—all the services Medicare and Plan F cover are broken into three categories of cost: what Medicare pays, what Plan F pays, and what you pay.

In most cases, you don't pay anything. For example, for hospitalization up through the first 60 days, Medicare covers everything except $1,556. Plan F then covers that $1,556, so you pay nothing. Cigna makes it easy to see exactly which gaps Plan F pays for.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Easily understandable breakdown of costs
Plan information is explained in simple terms

Cons

Only additional benefit is a 24-hour health hotline staffed by nurses
Long process to get estimates, requiring contact information and agreement to be contacted by Cigna representatives

Why We Chose It

Cigna wants all of its customers to be knowledgeable about and comfortable with what exactly they're signing up for with a Medicare Plan F plan, whether it's a regular or a high-deductible option. The differences between the two plans—the deductible costs and the difference in premiums—and what each cover are clearly laid out, so you can make an informed decision.

However, the comparison aspect of the process is time-consuming, requiring your ZIP code, name, date of birth, dates when you enrolled in Parts A and B, phone number, and email address. In addition, you must consent to be contacted by Cigna before you can continue to get your estimate.

Best in Price Comparison : AARP

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For most people, cost is a key factor when it comes to purchasing insurance. AARP provides a single PDF document for your location with cost comparisons by age, gender, and zip code that allows you to know ahead of time how much your monthly charges may be.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Information for most plans is available on one PDF document for easy comparison
Customer-focused, with educational materials available on the site and for download
Quickly able to access personalized estimates
Monthly cost estimates broken down by age, gender, smoking status, location, and plan type

Cons

Not many “extras” or additional bonuses
Travel has $250 deductible, and then the plan pays 80%, while many other providers pay 100%

Why We Chose It

AARP is nothing if not detailed. Before you even get to personalized estimates, AARP makes sure you know what you’ll get for your money and that you have an effective, comprehensive understanding of what each plan offers. Since it gives you such a thorough understanding upfront, you may not even need to enter your information.

If you know you can find similar coverage for less money or another provider has more benefits, you’ll be able to tell from a cursory glance through the document, and all you need to enter is your ZIP code.

Make sure you consider all aspects of your personal situation and how it may impact your premiums and deductibles. The older you are when you enroll, the more prices can go up.

Best for Simplicity : Aetna

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There are many Medicare plans to choose from, but Aetna takes all the guesswork out of it by offering exactly what you see advertised: Medicare Supplement Plan F. There’s not much in the way of extras or benefits you might never need, want, or use, though.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Lower pricing
Covers foreign travel emergencies like hospitalization in your first 60 days of travel
Offers household discount

Cons

No extra benefits, just the baseline coverage required of all Medicare Plan F plans
Breakdown of premiums based on gender, location, and age can be overwhelming

Why We Chose It

It’s rare to find a company that does exactly what it says, but Aetna’s Medicare Plan F offering does just that. Aetna is a more affordable option than some other plans at $170 per month, with up to a $30 monthly savings. However, it may be lacking a service that you need, so it is important to determine which options best fit your lifestyle. For instance, if you don’t travel, then travel emergency coverage wouldn’t be as important.

Determining this information can be done in as little as a few minutes, which puts Aetna at the top in the simplicity category. This makes it easy to compare Plan prices, so you can determine which plan(s) are right for your situation. It’s not the quickest process, but it only requires entering your state, ZIP code, date of birth, and gender.

Best for Ease of Use : Mutual of Omaha

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Mutual of Omaha is the best company to go with for a quick and painless experience signing up for Medicare Supplement Plan F. It takes hardly any time or effort to get an array of estimates for Plan F and other Medicare Supplement plans.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Smooth, clean website with easy-to-follow instructions
Detailed information not required to get an estimate

Cons

Rates increase based on age

Why We Chose It

Mutual of Omaha gets to the point. All of the different Medicare supplemental insurance coverage options, including Plan F, are listed on the same page when you start your estimate process. All it needs to know is your gender, birth date, and ZIP code before generating an estimate for you.

How to Shop and Compare Medicare Plan F

Step 1: See if You Are Eligible to Enroll

The first step to enrolling in Medicare Plan F is to enroll in Original Medicare. If you were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020, you can still apply for Plan F. If you became eligible after January 1, 2020, you're ineligible to apply for Plan F because the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (also known as MACRA) went into effect, phasing out Plan F for new enrollees.If you already have Plan F, you can keep your coverage.

Step 2: Determine Which Medicare Plan F Plans Are Available in Your Area

Different providers may have different plans, pricing, and coverage available if they still offer Plan F. Most providers have the ability to see estimated coverage and costs on their websites by entering your ZIP code. In some cases, they may require slightly more information (such as your date of birth) to provide you with accurate results.

Step 3: Decide if a Regular or a High-Deductible Plan F Is Best for You

Some providers offer two versions of Plan F: regular and high-deductible. As the name suggests, the main difference is the deductible amount, and beyond that, the timing of the coverage. With a high-deductible Plan F, the coverage doesn't activate until the deductible amount is met, but in exchange, you can expect much lower monthly payments than the regular Plan F, which works the same as other Plans, with lower deductibles and higher monthly payments.

Step 4: Compare Plans and Costs

Different Plan F plans with different providers may have different costs, depending on your coverage, personal details and situation, and location. It's always smart to compare different providers to get the best cost and coverage.

Step 5: Consider Talking to a Broker or Consultant

A Medicare broker or independent consultant can be an excellent resource. Not only is a broker's service completely free to you, but they must follow very specific rules, so they are prohibited from selling you on a plan you haven't specifically asked to hear about. Brokers have a wealth of knowledge—and in some cases, better access to plans and programs—so they may be able to get you a better price.

Step 6: Sign Up

If you were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020, you can enroll in Medicare Plan F as you enroll in Original Medicare. You can enroll in Original Medicare during the Open Enrollment Period (October 15 to December 7 each year), or, if you're going by age, three months before your 65th birthday, the month of your birthday, and the three months after your birthday.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Difference Between Plan F and Plan G Medicare Supplement?

Medicare Supplement Plan F is by far the least expensive Medicare Supplement Plan that offers the most coverage. This means it is—or was—the most popular supplement for Original Medicare, especially because Plan F covers the Part B deductible.

However, as of January 1, 2020, Plan F was phased out, making it ineligible for new enrollees unless you were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020.

If you’re new, you can enroll in Plan G instead. The only real difference between Plan F and Plan G is that Plan F covers the deductible for Part B, which is $170.10 in 2022. Plan G does not. Don’t panic; it’s not a huge difference, but it can add up. Plan G can make up for this difference by having lower monthly premiums than Part F because it’s covering slightly less, which can save you some money in the long term.

Is Plan F the Best Medicare Supplement Plan?

If you’re looking for the most coverage possible at a very affordable price tag, Medicare Plan F is the best Medicare supplement plan. But if you became eligible for Medicare in or after 2020, you'll want to consider Medicare Supplement Plan G. If you’re looking to save a little to get a little less, maybe not, or if you don’t need the coverage Plan F provides—such as hospice or extended hospital stay coverage—then it may be better to look into other supplement plans. If you want to have all of your bases covered, though, Plan F is a good place to start.

What Is the Average Cost for Medicare Plan F?

While many Medicare supplement insurance companies require your personal information for a quote, many third-party sites are useful for giving you some idea of what you might pay for plan F. We are seeing around $150–$570 for the regular plan and $50–$180 for the high deductible plan.

Does Plan F Cover Dental?

Plan F does not include dental coverage. It fills in gaps for Original Medicare, but it doesn’t expand its scope. Some Medicare Advantage plans include dental coverage, however.

What Is the Difference Between Plan F and Plan F High-Deductible?

As the name suggests, the biggest difference between a regular Plan F and a High-Deductible Plan F is the deductible amount. There is also a high-deductible Medicare supplement Plan G if you're not eligible for Plan F. The only difference in plan details is that the High-Deductible Plan F requires you to meet a deductible before it begins covering you ($2,490 in 2022), whereas Plan F provides coverage immediately.

In choosing the High-Deductible Plan F, you delay your coverage until you’ve met that higher deductible, so determine carefully whether you think you’ll be needing a large amount of medical care because once your deductible is met, your monthly payments will be much lower.

How We Chose the Best Medicare Supplement Plan F Companies

When we began assembling the best Medicare Supplement Plan F companies and providers, the very first thing we looked at was the geographic range of service areas. The plans here are available in at least 40 states. From there, we compared prices, website ease of use, availability of information and assistance, and the overall level of coverage that comes with the plan.

We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048) 24 hours a day/7 days a week to get information on all of your options.

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Article Sources

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