If you’ve been trying to find information on Plan F vs Plan G, this article is for you! Both are popular Medicare supplement plans.
In order to qualify for Medicare supplement plan F you must have been eligible for Medicare prior to the year 2020. If you do qualify to apply for Plan F, you will want to compare the cost and benefits to Medicare supplement Plan G to determine which is a better value.
What Is a Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan?
A Medicare Supplement plan, also known as Medigap, is a type of health insurance policy sold by private insurance companies to supplement the coverage provided by Original Medicare. Original Medicare includes Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance), but it does not cover all healthcare costs.
Medicare Supplement insurance plans are designed to help Medicare beneficiaries pay for the out-of-pocket expenses that Medicare beneficiaries may incur, such as deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance. Medigap plans set a maximum out-of-pocket limit on your potential expenses. They are standardized by the government, so each plan type offers the same basic benefits, regardless of the insurance company selling it. However, the costs of the plans can vary between insurance companies.
There are ten standardized Medigap plan types, labeled with letters from A to N. Each plan type offers a different set of benefits, but all of them cover certain basic benefits. Some Medigap policies have coverage for foreign travel emergency care. Most cover 100% of Part A costs and the Part B deductible.
A licensed health insurance agent like Medigap Seminars can help you save money on your supplement plan by comparing Medicare plan benefits and costs. Our services not only save money, but are free to the you, the consumer.
Which Medicare Supplement Is Right for Me?
The right supplement for you is a personal choice based on the your needs and budget. Medigap Plan F and Plan G are the two most popular Medicare supplement plans because they offer the most insurance coverage and lowest out of pocket costs.
All Medigap plans are good because you get to keep the two most important benefits of Medicare, which become Medicare supplement insurance benefits:
1) You can see any doctor or visit any medical facility in the US or territory as long as they accept Original Medicare (98+% of all non-pediatric doctors)
2) No insurance company has a say in your healthcare decisions. Your healthcare decisions are between you and your doctor.
If your healthcare provider accepts Medicare Parts A and B, they must also accept any Medicare supplement plan from any insurance company. In fact, they don’t bill the supplement insurance company. They bill Medicare. Medicare instructs the supplement what to pay and when.
In stark contrast, according to kff.org, only 46% of doctors accept some Medicare Advantage plans. Even then, they may not accept your plan. The networks of doctors can vary depending on each Medicare plan and can change annually.
On top of that, only 22% of Medicare Advantage Plans have a network that covers at least 70% of local doctors that accept Medicare. 35% of Advantage plans have networks limited to less than 30% of doctors that accept Medicare in their area of coverage.
It’s easy to see that almost any supplement insurance Medicare plan can be a far better health insurance choice than a Medicare Advantage plan. Plan F and Plan G both have their own perks.
Who Can Sign Up for Medicare Supplement Plan F?
If you were eligible for Medicare prior to January 2020, even if you had not
yet enrolled, you are eligible to apply for Medigap Plan F. In this case, comparing Plan F vs Plan G is important.
New Medicare beneficiaries should consider another Medicare plan like Plan G or Plan N. New Medicare beneficiaries are not eligible for Medicare supplement Plan F.
And remember that in most states, medical underwriting is required for Medigap plans after your first six months enrolled in Medicare Part B.
Who Can Sign Up for Medicare Supplement Plan G?
Individuals who are 65 years old or older and enrolled in both Medicare Part A and Part B are generally eligible to sign up for Medicare Supplement Plan G, or any other supplement.
In some states, individuals who are under 65 and within their first six months of being enrolled in Medicare Part B may also be eligible to enroll in Medicare Plan G. But this availability depends on the regulations of each state.
What Doesn’t Medicare cover?
Remember, Medicare is intended to be the foundation of health insurance coverage for a Medicare beneficiary, but it does not provide 100% coverage on its own.
Original Medicare Part A and Part B does not cover dental care, vision care, hearing care, prescription drugs (except for Part A and Part B drugs), long-term care, cosmetic surgery, and routine foot care.
Medicare Part D covers prescription drugs you might typically pick up at a pharmacy.
However, there are separate policies available for any medical need not covered by Medicare.
What Is the Difference Between Medigap Plan F and Medigap Plan G?
In summary, Plan F is the most comprehensive Medigap plan. Plan F pays everything that Medicare Parts A and B don’t cover. That’s why it’s considered the most comprehensive Medigap plan compared to other Medicare supplements.
The main difference between Medicare Plan F and Medicare Plan G is that with Plan G you pay the annual Medicare Part B deductible. This is less than $250.
Medicare Plan F covers the Medicare Part B deductible, which is an annual deductible amount set by Medicare that you need to pay before Medicare starts covering your outpatient services.
Plan G, on the other hand, does not cover the Part B deductible and you are responsible for paying it out of pocket with Medigap plan G.
How Do I Compare Medigap Plan G to Medigap Plan F?
Because the only difference between Medicare Plan F vs Plan G is that Medigap Plan F pays the annual Medicare Part B deductible, the easiest way to ascertain which Medicare supplement insurance plan is the better value is to simply subtract the annual premium cost of Plan G from the annual premium cost of Plan F. If the difference is greater than the Medicare Part B deductible, then Plan G is a better value of the two Medicare plans.
For example, let’s say that Plan G has a monthly premium of $125, and Plan F has a monthly premium of $150. The annual cost of Plan G would be $125 x 12 = $1,500. The annual cost of Plan F would be $150x 12 = $1,800.
The difference in cost is $1,800 – $1,500 = $300. But the difference in benefit is the Part B deductible of $226. This means that if you purchase a Plan F you will pay $300 for a $226 benefit. That is not a good decision.
High Deductible Medigap Plans F-HD and G-HD
In addition to the standard Medigap Plan F and Plan G, they also offer a high deductible option. With the high deductible versions, Medicare still pays its portion of the bills, but your supplement does not pay anything until you have paid the Plan deductible.
The plan deductible is $2,700 for 2023. That deductible is linked to the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). It will increase each year at the rate of the CPI.
Not all insurance companies offer high deductible plans.
High Deductible Plan F vs High Deductible Plan G
The high deductible versions of Plan F and Plan G have the exact same benefits.
With both plans, your annual maximum out of pocket for inpatient or outpatient Medicare bills the plan deductible. The deductible coverage for each is worded differently, but the plan pays the same benefits.
The F-HD plan pays the Medicare Part B deductible. Plan G-HD credits you the amount you paid for the Part B deductible. Mathematically, they are exactly the same Medicare supplement benefits and you have the same out of pocket costs for covered services.
Weakness of a Medigap Plan F
Because Medicare Plan F isn’t available to new Medicare beneficiaries, the average age of Plan F beneficiaries is older every year. As the average age increases, so does the risk of an occurrence of medical events. More medical events means more cost to the insurance company. The more the insurance company must pay for health care services, the more they must charge in premiums.
For this reason, in the years ahead, Plan F is expected to have higher average price increases than any other Medicare supplement plan.
Also, Plan F already has a higher monthly premium compared to other Medigap plans. This is because it offers comprehensive Medicare coverage, including coverage for the Medicare Part B deductible.
With the elimination of Plan F for new beneficiaries, alternative plans like Plan G and Plan N have gained popularity. These Medicare plans offer similar coverage but may have a lower monthly premium, making them more cost-effective options for some individuals.
How Do I Shop for a Medicare Supplement Plan?
It’s easy! Just fill out this quote request form so we can help you choose the right plan. We will email you are recommendations and follow up by telephone. Our advice is free to the consumer and backed up by over 3 decades of experience and multiple industry awards.
When Can I Change Medicare Supplement Plans?
In general, you have the flexibility to change Medicare Supplement plans at
any day of the year. Unlike Medicare Advantage plans, which have specific enrollment periods, Medicare Supplement plans allow for year-round changes.
But after your initial enrollment period, which starts when you enroll in Medicare Part B, you may be subject to medical underwriting when switching to a different Medicare Supplement plan.
Some states allow you to change supplement plans to one of equal or lesser benefit during a period around your birthday or around you policy anniversary. This would allow you to move from Plan F to Plan G without medical underwriting, but not from Plan G to Plan F.
However, these rules can vary by state. Ask us if your state has such a rule. We’re always happy to help!
Should I Switch From Plan F to Plan G?
If Plan G is a better value when you compare Medicare Plan F vs G, if you can you should make a change.
Considering the long-term availability and stability of each plan is also important when you’re looking at Plan F vs Plan G.
Ask us about the health questions that may be required for medical underwriting.
Should I Consider Medigap Plan N?
When shopping for a Medicare supplement, Plan N is worth consideration because it is often a better value than Plan G or Plan F.
Plan N Medigap Insurance Coverage
Medigap Plan N offers coverage that is similar to Plan F and Plan G but you pay lower premiums.
Plan N covers Part A medical expenses the same as either Plan F or Plan G.
Plan N pays the same Medicare Part B benefits and Plan G, with two exceptions. With Plan N you will pay up to a $20 copay for office visits, and $50 for an emergency room visit. Plus, you must make certain your doctor accepts Medicare assignment.
Please see our article on Plan N vs. Plan G or our video on the choosing best Medicare supplement plans.
Plan N Cost-sharing
Plan N involves cost-sharing in the form of copayments for certain services. For example, with Plan N, you would typically pay a copayment for each doctor’s office visit and emergency room visit that doesn’t result in an inpatient admission. These copayments can provide cost savings compared to the higher premiums of Plan F or potentially even Plan G.
Plan N Premiums
Generally, Plan N tends to have lower monthly premiums compared to Plan F or Plan G. Plan N premiums have historically been lower and more stable than Plan F or Plan G because of the copays.
How To Change Medicare Supplement Plans.
Changing Medicare supplement plans is relatively easy. However, there is a strict protocol to make certain you do not lose current coverage without a new plan, and that the change is seamless. You won’t want a gap in coverage.
Contact Medigap Seminars today. Our Medicare experts provide guidance and help you get the coverage that is best for your needs, with an insurance company expected to provide you the lowest cost over your lifetime. you can use the Contact Us form or call us at 800-847-9680.
Matthew Claassen
Matthew Claassen, CMT and CEO of Medigap Seminars Insurance Agency. Medigap Seminars is an award winning premier national Medicare Insurance Brokerage, ranked among the top in the U.S.A. Matthew is considered a leading national expert on Medicare and Social Security. Mr. Claassen is a distinguished member of the Forbes Business council, an invitation only organization of business leaders and entrepreneurs. He and his team have received awards from many of the countries largest insurance companies including Mutual of Omaha, Aetna, Humana, Cigna, United American, United Healthcare and others. His videos have become the most popular Medicare educational videos on YouTube with millions of views. As a financial analyst Matthew lead a team of researchers to win the 2009 Best Equity Research & Strategy Award from The Technical analysis magazine.
