If you're shopping Medicare Supplement plans, whether you can still buy Plan F comes down to a single date: when you first became eligible for Medicare. People usually phrase it as, "can I still get Medigap Plan F?", and it really is close to a yes-or-no answer that turns on your eligibility date. If that date was before January 1, 2020, the most complete Medigap plan is still yours to buy. If it was on or after that day, federal law closed the door, and Plan G is where you'll want to look instead.

In This Guide

Can I Still Get Medigap Plan F? The Short Answer

The whole answer fits in one sentence: it depends on when you first became eligible for Medicare, not on your health or your income. Medigap Plan F is closed to anyone who first became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. If your eligibility started before that date, it's still open to you.

For most people, "first became eligible" means the month you turned 65. Medicare's own plan-comparison page puts it plainly: "Plan C & Plan F aren't available if you turned 65 on or after January 1, 2020, and to some people under age 65." That last part matters too, because some people qualify for Medicare before 65 through disability, and the same cutoff can reach them.

One detail trips people up, so it's worth saying clearly. Being eligible before 2020 is what counts, not being enrolled. If you turned 65 in, say, 2018 but kept working and didn't pick up a Medigap policy until now, you were eligible before the cutoff, so Plan F is still on the table for you.

And if you already have Plan F? Nothing changes. The rule closed the plan to new buyers who became eligible after the cutoff. It didn't cancel anyone's existing policy, and your insurer can't drop you from it for that reason.

What Medigap Plan F Actually Covers

Plan F earned its reputation honestly. It's the most complete of the standardized Medicare Supplement plans, and along with Plan C it's the only Medigap plan that pays your annual Medicare Part B deductible, which is $283 in 2026., That one benefit is the whole reason Plan F sits at the top of the lineup and the whole reason the law singled it out.

There's also a High Deductible version of Plan F. It covers the same things, but you pay out of pocket up to a yearly deductible before the plan starts paying, in exchange for a lower monthly premium. Same date rule applies to it: only people eligible before 2020 can buy it.

Worth knowing about all Medigap plans: they're standardized. A plan letter means the same set of benefits no matter which insurer sells it. Plan F from one carrier covers exactly what Plan F from another carrier covers. What changes between carriers is the premium, not the coverage, so if you're eligible and shopping, you're comparing prices for an identical product.

Why Plan F Closed to New Enrollees

This wasn't an insurance-company decision. It came out of a 2015 federal law, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act, usually shortened to MACRA. Section 401 of that law bars the sale of any Medigap policy that covers the Medicare Part B deductible to people who are "newly eligible" for Medicare.

Because Plan F and Plan C are the two plans that pay the Part B deductible, they're the two the rule caught. Congress set the line at January 1, 2020, so the plans stayed available to everyone already eligible and closed only for people entering Medicare from that date forward. That's why the answer to "can I still get it" turns entirely on your eligibility date rather than on anything about you today.

Can I Still Get Medigap Plan F After 2020? Look at Plan G

If you became eligible for Medicare in 2020 or later, Plan F is off the table, but you're not stuck with thin coverage. The plan people compare Plan F to is Plan G, and it's fully open to you.

The difference is narrow and specific. Since Plan F and Plan C are the only plans allowed to pay the Part B deductible, Plan G can't cover that one item. So on a Plan G, you pay the $283 Part B deductible yourself in 2026, and after that your coverage looks a lot like what Plan F holders get., In plain terms, the gap between the two plans is that single deductible, which is why Plan G is the natural landing spot for anyone the cutoff shut out.

For the full side-by-side of Plan G against the other lettered plans, and how the standardized benefits line up, start with our Medigap hub. And before you shop, know your enrollment window, because that's what decides whether an insurer can turn you down.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still get Medigap Plan F in 2026?

Only if you first became eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020. If your eligibility started on or after that date, Plan F is closed to you by federal law, and you'd look at Plan G instead. Eligibility before the cutoff counts even if you never enrolled until later.

I already have Plan F. Do I have to give it up?

No. The 2020 cutoff blocks new sales to people who became eligible after it. It doesn't cancel plans that were already in force, and your insurer can't drop you from your Plan F for that reason. You can keep it as long as you keep paying the premium.

What's the difference between Plan F and Plan G?

The main one is the Medicare Part B deductible. Plan F pays it for you; Plan G does not, so on Plan G you cover that $283 yourself in 2026. Plan F and Plan C are the only Medigap plans that pay the Part B deductible, which is exactly why they're the plans the law closed to newly eligible people.

I turned 65 in 2019 but never signed up. Can I still buy Plan F?

Yes. What matters is when you first became eligible, not when you enrolled. Turning 65 in 2019 made you eligible before the January 1, 2020 cutoff, so Plan F (and High Deductible Plan F) is still available for you to buy.

Learn More

MedicareMedigap (Medicare Supplement): How the Lettered Plans WorkMedigap (Medicare Supplement) explained: how the standardized A-N plans work, Plan G vs Plan N, closed C and F plans, and the 6-month guaranteed-issue window. MedicareMedigap Plan G vs Plan N: Which Should You Pick?Medigap Plan G vs Plan N comes down to two things: Plan N's office and ER copays and its excess-charge gap, traded for a lower premium. Here's how to choose. MedicareWhen Is the Medigap Open Enrollment Period? The One Window That MattersYour Medigap Open Enrollment Period is a one-time, 6-month window that starts when you're 65 and on Part B. Buy inside it or you may be turned down later. MedicareMedigap Guaranteed Issue Rights: When an Insurer Must Sell You a PolicyMedigap guaranteed issue rights are federal situations where an insurer must sell you a policy, no health questions. See the triggers and the 63-day deadline. MedicareHigh Deductible Plan G: The Lower-Premium Medigap OptionHigh Deductible Plan G pays the same benefits as regular Plan G, but only after a $2,950 deductible in 2026, in exchange for a much lower Medigap premium. MedicareWhat Are Medicare Part B Excess Charges? (the benefit Plan F and Plan G both cover)A Medicare Part B excess charge is up to 15% extra a provider who doesn't accept assignment can bill. Here's who pays it and how Medigap covers it.

Find personalized help picking a Medigap plan you're actually eligible for at brevy.com.

The information on Brevy.com is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal, financial, or medical advice. Rules vary by state and program and change frequently. Always verify with the relevant agency or a qualified professional. Brevy is not a law firm, financial advisor, or healthcare provider.

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Brevy Care Team

Expert eldercare guidance from Brevy's team of healthcare professionals and researchers.