Medicare Supplement Plans C & F are not going to be available to new enrollees from 2020. December 31st, 2019 will be the last day when anybody eligible will be able to buy Medigap policies C & F. Many Medicare recipients among who chose to buy Medigap Policies chose Plan F in past as it has been the most comprehensive Medigap Plan. The reason for these plans going away is Medicare Access & CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA). Starting 2020, Section 401 of MACRA will prohibit sale of Medigap Policies that cover Part B deductibles to newly eligible Medicare beneficiaries.
Some people who know Plan F, they think it is a big deal. Medicare Plan F is well-liked because it pays for all the gaps in Original Medicare Part A and Part B, including both your hospital and outpatient deductible as well as the co-insurance. It even pays the 20% that Medicare Part B does not cover. This means zero out-of-pocket for you at the doctor’s office.
People who buy Plan F on or before December 31st, 2019 can renew Plan F every year lifelong, provided there are no further law changes.
Some Insurance carriers also offer Plan F high deductible – that means you must pay the deductible before Plan F pays. Plan F High deductible serves a different financial purpose for some enrollees and because of the deductible it is clearly not the most comprehensive plan.
From 2020 the most comprehensive plan available will be Plan G, which at this time second most comprehensive plan after Plan F, Plan G does not cover part B deductible. Plan C is in the middle tier when you talk about comprehensiveness of the plan. Plan D has almost similar coverage to Plan C except for Part B (Doctors Office and Outpatient services) deductible. Do not get confused between Medigap Plan D vs Medicare Part D – which is Prescription Drug Coverage Plan. None of the Medigap plans give you Prescription drug coverage.
As you can see in above graphic Medicare supplement Plan F has been the most comprehensive Plan as well as simplest to learn about as it has the most checks in all the Medigap plan tabulations you see. As 2020 nears you will see scare tactics from people who might tell you to switch out of Plan F as it is going away, simultaneously you will see scare tactics from other people who will try you to switch to Plan F before it goes away.
Everybody’s financial situation is different, we advise you to choose a plan that makes most financial sense to you.
Feel free to use our Quoting platform below and find out what makes sense. For calculations, 2018 Part B deductible is $183/- per year. As a reminder – Part F & G also covers 100% of Part B excess charges, which is the difference between what a doctor charges and the amount Medicare Part B will approve.
