A Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Supplement Plan F policy helps pay specified Original Medicare costs. BCBS companies are independent insurers, so availability, premiums and service arrangements depend on the issuing company and state. Plan F is Medigap, not Medicare Advantage and not a separate part of Medicare.
Check eligibility before requesting a quote
Plan F cannot be sold to people newly eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. Someone eligible before that date may still be able to buy it, subject to availability and applicable enrollment or underwriting rules. An existing policy is not automatically canceled because of the 2020 eligibility restriction.
What the standardized benefit addresses
| Cost category | Standard Plan F treatment |
|---|---|
| Part A deductible and specified coinsurance | Included under the policy's standardized benefits. |
| Part B deductible and coinsurance | Included for covered Medicare services. |
| Part B excess charges | Included. |
| Foreign travel emergencies | Limited benefit, subject to policy conditions. |
| Routine dental, vision or outpatient Part D | Not automatically included as standard Medigap benefits. |
Compare equivalent policies
Standardized benefits for the same letter are generally the same across insurers, with different standardization in Massachusetts, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Compare premiums, pricing method, discounts and service using the same policy version. A high-deductible option is different from standard Plan F.
Ordinary Medigap generally works with providers accepting Medicare. A Medicare SELECT policy can have additional network requirements for full supplemental benefits; check before choosing it.
Before switching insurers
Confirm any open-enrollment or guaranteed-issue protection. Annual Medicare Advantage enrollment is not a universal opportunity to buy Medigap without health questions. Keep your existing policy until the replacement is accepted and its effective date is clear. Ask how Medicare claims reach the new insurer and where to send a claim that does not cross over automatically.
Related coverage questions
- Medigap Plan F: Covered Benefits, Eligibility and High-Deductible Costs
- Medigap Plan F Versus Plan G: Benefits, Eligibility and Cost
- Your Medigap Open Enrollment Period