Medigap Plan F helps pay specified costs left by Original Medicare. It is available only to people who first became eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020, subject to applicable enrollment and insurer rules. Existing policyholders do not have to cancel just because the eligibility rules changed.
What standardized Plan F covers
| Benefit | Standard Plan F |
|---|---|
| Part A coinsurance and hospital costs | Covered, including up to 365 additional hospital days after Medicare benefits are used. |
| Part B coinsurance or copayments | Covered for eligible Medicare services. |
| First three pints of blood | Covered under the blood benefit. |
| Part A hospice and skilled nursing facility coinsurance | Covered when the underlying care qualifies. |
| Part A and Part B deductibles | Covered. |
| Part B excess charges | Covered under the policy benefit. |
| Foreign travel emergency | 80% of qualifying charges, subject to separate limits. |
The foreign emergency benefit generally has a $250 annual deductible, a $50,000 lifetime limit and applies to qualifying emergencies beginning within the first 60 days of a trip. It is not unrestricted international insurance.
High-deductible Plan F is different
In states where available, the high-deductible version requires $2,950 of eligible Medicare-covered costs in 2026 before the policy begins paying applicable benefits. Do not confuse that deductible with the regular Plan F premium or assume a quote is for the standard version.
What Plan F does not solve
Plan F is not Medicare Advantage and cannot pay that plan’s copayments. It does not convert excluded routine dental work, ordinary glasses, hearing aids or custodial long-term care into Medicare-covered services. Skilled nursing coinsurance is not a promise of indefinite nursing home payment.
Before replacing a policy
Compare the full annual premium and covered cost sharing, not a slogan about complete coverage. Check underwriting, guaranteed issue rights and state protections before canceling existing insurance. Massachusetts, Minnesota and Wisconsin standardize Medigap differently. Ask the insurer to confirm the exact policy, approved application and effective date in writing.
Related coverage questions
- What Is Medigap? Benefits, Costs and Enrollment
- How to Compare Medigap Policies
- Medigap Comparison Chart: Benefits and 2026 Cost Limits