Is Plan F No Longer Being Sold?

For decades, Medicare Supplement Plan F was the most popular Medigap option on the market — at its peak, roughly 46% of all Medicare Supplement enrollees chose Plan F. Then, starting in 2020, the rules changed. You may have heard that Plan F is no longer being sold, and that's true — for most people. But the full picture is more nuanced.

Here's what happened, who is still eligible, and what your alternatives look like if you're shopping for Medigap coverage today.

Medicare Supplement Plan F

Plan F earned its popularity by offering the most comprehensive coverage available among all Medigap plans. It covered virtually all of the out-of-pocket costs that Original Medicare leaves behind — including the Part B deductible, which no other plan covers as fully.

In total, there are 10 Medicare Supplement plans in most states: Plans A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N. You can explore the full landscape in our comprehensive guide to Medicare Supplement.

One key feature of Medigap plans that makes comparison straightforward: all plans are standardized by federal law. Plan F from one insurer provides exactly the same benefits as Plan F from any other insurer. That means the comparison between carriers ultimately comes down to price and the insurer's reputation — nothing more complicated than that.

Is Plan F no longer available?

Starting January 1, 2020, federal law — specifically the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) — prohibits the sale of any Medigap plan that covers the Medicare Part B deductible to beneficiaries who become newly eligible for Medicare on or after that date. Because Plan F (and Plan C) both cover the Part B deductible, neither can be sold to new enrollees.

However, there are two important exceptions:

• If you were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020, you are still eligible to purchase a Plan F or Plan C
• If you are already enrolled in a Plan F (or Plan C), you may continue to stay enrolled in that plan

How much is the Medicare Part B deductible?

In 2026, the Medicare Part B deductible is $283.  This is the amount you must pay before Part B begins covering your services. Plan F (and Plan C) covered this deductible entirely — which is precisely why they're no longer available to newly eligible beneficiaries under MACRA.

What are some alternatives to Plan F?

For anyone who became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020, the closest alternative to Plan F is Medicare Supplement Plan G. Plan G has historically been the second-most popular Medigap plan — chosen by roughly 27% of Medigap enrollees — and for good reason: it offers nearly identical coverage to Plan F, with one exception: it doesn't cover the Part B deductible.

A second alternative is Medicare Supplement Plan N, which offers lower premiums than Plan G but involves more out-of-pocket cost-sharing. With Plan N, in addition to the uncovered Part B deductible, you're also responsible for:

• Up to $20 for doctor visits and up to $50 for emergency room visits
• Medical excess charges, if any apply

A high-deductible version of Plan G is also available for those who prefer lower monthly premiums in exchange for a higher deductible threshold before the plan kicks in. With this option, you pay out-of-pocket for Medicare-covered costs — coinsurance, copayments, and deductibles — until you hit the annual high-deductible amount, at which point the plan covers the rest.

Final Words

Plan F and Plan C are no longer accessible to newly eligible Medicare beneficiaries as of January 1, 2020. If you were eligible for Medicare before that date, or are already enrolled in one of these plans, you retain the right to purchase or remain in your plan. For everyone else, Medicare Supplement Plan G and Plan N remain the top alternatives — offering comprehensive coverage at competitive prices, with Plan G being the most directly comparable to the now-restricted Plan F.