High deductible Plan F provides the same level of coverage as the standard Plan F with potentially lower monthly premiums. The tradeoff for these lower monthly premiums is a high deductible.
In 2019, the standardized deductible amount for high-deductible Plan F is $2,300 for the year. Once you’ve paid that amount, your Plan F coverage will kick in.
What Does High Deductible Plan F Cover?
In terms of benefits, the high deductible Plan F option offers the exact same coverage as the standard Plan F version once you meet the deductible.
High-deductible Medigap Plan F provides coverage for:
- Medicare Part A coinsurance and hospital costs
- Medicare Part B coinsurance or copayment
- First three pints of blood
- Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment
- Coinsurance for skilled nursing facility
- Medicare Part A deductible
- Medicare Part B deductible
- Medicare Part B excess charges
- 80 percent of foreign travel emergency costs
Refer to the chart below to see how the basic benefits of Medigap Plan F compare to those of other Medigap plans.
How Do High-Deductible Plans Affect Cost?
High-deductible Plan F may be more affordable than the standard Plan F but you may face higher out-of-pocket costs.
- In 2019, the average premium for high-deductible Plan F was $57.16 per month.
- In 2019, the average premium for standard Plan F was $169.14 per month.1
If you are interested in enrolling in a high-deductible Medigap Plan F, you should consider a few things. You must pay for Medicare-covered costs up to $2,300 in 2019 before your plan coverage will kick in.
For example, if you need a blood transfusion, a traditional Medigap plan will cover the cost of the first three pints, and Medicare will cover the cost of pints four and beyond.
But if you are enrolled in the high-deductible Medigap Plan F and have not met the yearly $2,300 deductible, you will be responsible for the full cost of the three pints of blood.
Once you meet your deductible, your Medigap insurance company will begin paying the benefits offered in the plan.
Before you choose the high-deductible Plan F, you should consider how likely you are to use enough medical services to meet the yearly deductible. Then evaluate how much coverage you would need after the deductible is met.
What Other Medigap Plan Options Do I Have?
You have more options that just high-deductible Plan F.
A Medigap plan comparison can help you find a comprehensive plan at a budget-friendly price. Get started right now by calling to speak with a licensed insurance agent.
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1 TZ Insurance Solutions LLC internal sales data, 2019. This data is based on the Medicare Supplement Insurance policies TZ Insurance Solutions LLC has sold. It is not a comprehensive national average of all available Medicare Supplement Insurance plan premiums.
