Facts About Medicare Medigap Plan F

Medigap coverage is provided by private insurance companies for individuals with existing Medicare Part A hospital and Part B medical coverage as a supplement for Medicare coverage. Medigap coverage may pay for co-payments, coinsurance, deductibles and other costs not covered by Medicare. A list of Medigap providers can be obtained from the Medicare website. Plan F is a specific type of Medigap coverage.

Covered Expenses

• Medigap Plan F may pay hospital coinsurance and expenses after Part A benefits are exhausted, Part B coinsurance and co-payments, blood work, skilled nursing facility care coinsurance, Part A and B deductibles and expenses not covered by Medicare when receiving medical care in a foreign country.

Excluded Expenses

• Medigap Plan F does not provide coverage for preventative care not covered by Medicare, hospice care coinsurance or co-payments or at-home recovery costs not covered by Medicare.

Cost

• Medigap policies, including Plan F, require paying a monthly premium. The cost of this premium varies between insurance providers and specific Plan F policies.

Purchasing

• The recommended time to purchase Medigap Plan F coverage is within 6 months of initial eligibility which is within 6 months of turning age 65 for elderly individuals. Consult the Medicare website for state-specific information regarding open enrollment periods for Medigap Plan F plans.

Alternatives

• If you have a significant amount of expenses not covered under your Medicare or Medigap plans, you should consider another Medigap plan or other supplemental coverage. If you are also receiving state Medicaid benefits, consult with your state Medicaid office to see whether your medical expenses that are not covered under your original Medicare plan are covered under Medicaid.