Medicare Plan F vs Plan G: Why Plan F Is No Longer Available to New Enrollees

# Medicare Plan F vs Plan G: Why Plan F Is Closed to New Enrollees

Quick Answer

Medicare Plan F vs Plan G: Why Plan F Is No Longer Available to New Enrollees matters because Medicare costs, doctor networks, prescription coverage, and enrollment windows can change by plan and location. A licensed Medicare advisor can help compare options based on doctors, medications, budget, and timing.

Key Takeaways

• Medicare plans can differ by county, carrier, network, drug formulary, and enrollment window.
• A plan that worked last year may not be the best fit this year.
• The safest review compares doctors, prescriptions, premiums, copays, and out-of-pocket exposure together.
• HealthPlan Connect offers no-cost Medicare reviews with licensed advisors.

Definition

Medicare review: a plain-English comparison of available Medicare options based on a person's doctors, prescriptions, health needs, budget, and eligibility timing.

Compare Your Options

| Option | Best for | Watch out for | |---|---|---| | Medicare Advantage | bundled coverage and lower premiums | networks, referrals, copays, annual changes | | Medicare Supplement / Medigap | predictable medical costs and provider flexibility | higher monthly premium, separate Part D plan | | Part D | prescription drug coverage | formulary changes, pharmacy tiers, annual plan changes |

FAQ

Should I review my Medicare plan every year?

Yes. Medicare Advantage and Part D plans can change costs, networks, formularies, and benefits each year.

Is a free Medicare review really free?

HealthPlan Connect provides no-cost Medicare reviews. There is no obligation to change plans.

Can I keep my doctor?

That depends on your plan type, location, and network. A review should verify your doctors before you enroll.

Reviewed By

Reviewed for clarity by HealthPlan Connect. For official Medicare information, visit Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE.

> Quick Answer: Medicare Supplement Plan F was discontinued for anyone who became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020, due to the MACRA law passed in 2015. If you're turning 65 now or enrolling in Medicare for the first time, Plan G offers nearly identical coverage but costs $20–$40 less per month in Florida.

Key Takeaways:

• Plan F closed to new enrollees on January 1, 2020 — if you're eligible for Medicare after that date, you cannot buy it
• Plan G covers the same benefits except the Part B deductible ($257 in 2026), saving most people $240–$480/year in premiums
• Current Plan F holders can keep their coverage for life — no one is forcing you to switch
• In Palm Beach County, Plan G premiums for a 65-year-old range from $138 to $189/month depending on carrier

Contents:

• Why Plan F Was Discontinued
• What Changed in 2020
• How Plan G Compares to Plan F
• What This Means for Florida Medicare Enrollees
• Should You Switch If You Already Have Plan F?

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Why Plan F Was Discontinued

Congress passed the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) in 2015, which included a provision that banned Medicare Supplement plans from covering the Part B deductible. The goal was to reduce overuse of medical services — when patients have zero out-of-pocket costs at the point of care, they tend to use more services, which drives up Medicare spending overall. Plan F and Plan C were the only two Medigap plans that covered the Part B deductible, so they were both eliminated for new enrollees starting January 1, 2020. If you were eligible for Medicare before that date, you were grandfathered in and can still buy or keep Plan F. If you became eligible on or after that date, you cannot purchase it at all.

What Changed in 2020

January 1, 2020 was the cutoff date. If you became eligible for Medicare before that date — meaning you turned 65 or qualified due to disability — you can still enroll in Plan F today. If you became eligible on or after that date, Plan F is off the table. This affects everyone turning 65 now, anyone who delayed Part B enrollment and is signing up late, and anyone under 65 enrolling due to disability after 2020. The rule applies nationwide, including all of Florida. What didn't change: people who already had Plan F got to keep it. Insurance carriers are required to continue offering Plan F to the grandfathered group, and you can even switch from one carrier's Plan F to another carrier's Plan F if you find a better rate.

> Key Fact: About 54% of all Medigap policyholders nationwide still have Plan F as of 2024, but that number is shrinking each year as new enrollees choose Plan G instead — Source: AHIP 2024 Medigap Enrollment Report

How Plan G Compares to Plan F

Plan G is identical to Plan F except it does not cover the $257 Part B deductible. Once you pay that deductible out of pocket each year, Plan G covers 100% of Medicare-approved costs — just like Plan F did. The Part B deductible resets every January, so you pay it once per calendar year, not per illness or hospital stay. In Palm Beach County, Plan G premiums for a 65-year-old non-smoker range from about $138 to $189 per month depending on the insurance company. Plan F premiums for the same person range from $165 to $210 per month. That's a difference of $240 to $480 per year in premiums — far more than the $257 deductible you'd pay with Plan G. The math is even better when you turn 70 or 75, because Plan F premiums are rising faster than Plan G premiums due to the closed risk pool.

What This Means for Florida Medicare Enrollees

Florida has more than 5 million Medicare beneficiaries, and about 28% of them have a Medigap plan — one of the highest adoption rates in the country. In South Florida, where healthcare costs are higher than the national average, Medigap plans are especially popular because they eliminate surprise bills and work with any doctor who accepts Medicare. If you're turning 65 in North Palm Beach or anywhere in Palm Beach County, you'll have access to at least 15 insurance carriers offering Plan G, but zero offering Plan F to you as a new enrollee. During your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period (which starts the month you turn 65 and enroll in Part B), you're guaranteed approval for any Medigap plan regardless of health conditions. After that window closes, insurers in Florida can use medical underwriting to deny you or charge higher rates, so it's critical to pick the right plan the first time.

Should You Switch If You Already Have Plan F?

Probably not — but it depends on your rate. If you enrolled in Plan F years ago and your premium has climbed significantly, switching to Plan G might save you money even after accounting for the $257 deductible. However, in Florida, switching Medigap plans after your initial enrollment period requires medical underwriting. If you have any health issues — diabetes, heart disease, cancer history, COPD — you may be declined or charged a higher rate. Some carriers offer guaranteed-issue Plan G during specific windows, such as if your Plan F carrier goes out of business or if you move out of a Medicare Advantage service area. The key is to compare the annual cost: take your current Plan F premium, multiply by 12, and compare it to the Plan G premium times 12 plus $257. If Plan F is cheaper or within $100 of Plan G, and you're healthy enough to avoid any deductible costs, staying put often makes sense.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I ever buy Plan F if I missed the cutoff date? A: No. If you became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020, federal law prohibits insurance companies from selling you Plan F or Plan C. Plan G is the closest alternative and usually costs less.

Q: Will my Plan F premium go up faster than Plan G? A: Likely, yes. Plan F is a closed pool — no new, younger enrollees are joining to balance out the risk. As the existing Plan F group ages and uses more healthcare, premiums tend to rise faster than Plan G, which continues to add new 65-year-olds each year.

Q: What happens to my Plan F if I switch to Medicare Advantage and then want to come back? A: If you drop your Medigap plan to try Medicare Advantage, you lose your guaranteed-issue rights. Coming back to Medigap requires medical underwriting in Florida, and you may not be able to get Plan F again even if you're grandfathered — some carriers have stopped accepting Plan F transfers.

Q: Are Plan G rates the same across Florida? A: No. Rates vary by carrier, your age, your ZIP code, and whether you use tobacco. In Palm Beach County, the same Plan G policy can range from $138 to $189/month for a 65-year-old, which is why comparing quotes from a licensed Medicare advisor saves you money.

Get Your Free Medicare Review

Medicare Review Checklist

Use this before choosing or keeping a plan:

• List your doctors and specialists.
• List every prescription, dosage, and preferred pharmacy.
• Compare premiums, copays, deductibles, and out-of-pocket maximums.
• Check whether travel or snowbird coverage matters.
• Confirm enrollment deadlines before making changes.
• Book a no-cost review if anything feels unclear.

Interactive Prompt

Ask yourself: What changed this year — doctors, prescriptions, budget, travel, or health needs? If the answer is yes to any of those, a review is worth doing.

Free Medicare Review

Want help comparing your options? Visit https://healthplanconnect.org or call 561-735-1490 for a free Medicare review.

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