What Does Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan F and Plan G Cover?
Medigap Plan F and Plan G both offer coverage for many of the 9 Medicare costs that can be covered by a Medicare Supplement Insurance plan. The main difference is that Plan F covers the Medicare Part B deductible. Plan G does not cover the Medicare Part B deductible.
Please note that Medigap Plan F has been phased out. This article is purely for informative purposes.
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Medicare Part A (Medicare Hospital Insurance) Deductible
A Medicare Part A deductible is the amount of money that a beneficiary must pay for hospitalization services before Medicare begins to pay its share. The deductible for 2021 is $1,600 per benefit period.
Part A Coinsurance & Hospital Costs
After meeting the Medicare Part A deductible, you must pay a coinsurance fee for days 61-90 of inpatient hospital care. In 2023, the daily coinsurance for 61st-90th day is $400. After that point, it’s out of pocket. Medigap Plan F and Plan G both cover all of these Medicare Part A coinsurance costs.
Part B Coinsurance & Copayments
After Part B recipients hit the Medicare Part B annual deductible ( $164.90 in 2023), Medicare expects a 20% coinsurance fee for all covered services. Medigap Plan F and Plan G both cover all Part B coinsurance or copayment costs.
Part A Hospice Care Coinsurance
Part A beneficiaries in hospice care may face copayments for prescription drugs, along with a 5% coinsurance fee for inpatient respite care. Medigap Plan F and Plan G both cover any Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayments.
Skilled Nursing Facility Coinsurance
Extensive stays in a skilled nursing facility require a copayment of $200.00 per day for days 21-100 of a visit in 2023 after meeting the Part A deductible. After day 100 of a stay in a skilled nursing facility, Medicare requires you to pay all costs. Medigap Plan F and Plan G both cover these Part A hospice care coinsurance costs.
Part B Excess Charges
If you have a healthcare provider that does not accept Medicare, you may be subject to an excess charge of up to 15% of the Medicare-approved cost for any services or products covered by Medicare Part B. Medigap Plan F and Plan G both cover Part B excess charges.
First Three Pints of Blood
Original Medicare does not cover the first 3 pints of blood that are needed for a blood transfusion. Plan F and Plan G both cover the costs of the first 3 pints of blood.
What are the Differences Between Plan F and Plan G?
In recent years, 55% of all Medicare Supplement Insurance beneficiaries were enrolled in Medigap Plan F, making it the most popular supplement plan on the market. Plan G was the second most popular, though it was only used by 10% of all Medigap enrollees.
There are three differences found in the Medicare Supplement Plan F vs Plan G:
- The price of Medicare Supplement Plan F vs. Plan G
- Availability of Medicare Supplement Plan F vs. Plan G
- The coverage of the Medicare Part B deductible, only available with Medicare Supplement Plan F.
What do Medicare Supplement Plan F and Plan G Cost?
Medicare Supplement Plan F and Plan G are sold by private insurance companies, which means the cost will vary by company. While plans offering more coverage generally cost more than plans with less coverage, Medicare Supplement Plan F may cost more than Plan G.
Plan Availability
The type of Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan F and G may not be available in every region. For example, some can purchase Plan F but not Plan G, while others may be able to buy Plan G but not Plan F.
In recent years, 84% of insurance companies who sell Medicare Supplement Insurance offered Medigap Plan F, while only 57% sold Medigap Plan G. If insurance companies sell Medicare Supplement insurance, by law they must offer Plan A. If they choose to sell any other plans, they must offer either Plan C or Plan F.
How do you decide between Medicare Supplement Plan F vs. Plan G?
Your monthly Medigap premium depends on many circumstances such as your current health, age, gender, and the company you choose for your Medicare Supplement Insurance. While Plan F is more costly, many choose Plan F because it offers full coverage.
For example, if you spend a lot of money on your Medicare Part B deductible, having it covered by a Medicare Supplement Insurance plan is important for you. But, if it’s not critical for you to have your Part B deductible covered, or if Plan F options are more expensive per month than Plan G, you can save money by opting for Plan G and paying your Part B deductible out of pocket.
FAQ
Does Medicare Supplement Plan G cover dental?
No, Medicare and Medigap plans do not cover routine dental care maintenance and appointments.
Does Medicare Plan G cover chiropractic services?
By now you know that as a beneficiary of Medicare Supplement Plan G, you are paying Medicare Part B annual deductible out of pocket. After that deductible has been met, Plan G will pay 20% coinsurance. This, combined with Medicare, will allow you to visit the chiropractor for any medically necessary work at no charge.
Does Medicare Plan G cover international travel?
According to www.medicare.gov, if you have Medigap Plan C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, M, or N, you will be covered for:
- International travel emergency care during the first 60 days of your trip, and if Medicare doesn’t cover the care.
- 80% of the billed charges for specific urgent emergency care outside the United States after you meet a yearly $250 deductible
- A lifetime limit of $50,000 international travel emergency coverage with Medigap policies
Does Medicare Supplement Plan G cover Silver Sneakers?
Most carriers are no longer offering Silver Sneakers with any type of Medicare Supplemental Coverage. United Healthcare was the last carrier offering it, and they have even started phasing it out as many were no longer using the plan.
Does Medicare Plan G Cover Prescriptions?
While Medicare Plan G will cover the coinsurance on any Part B medications administered in a clinical setting such as chemotherapy or autoimmune disease injections, it does not include any prescriptions of outpatient patients.
Which is the best option between Plan F & G?
This is one of the most-asked questions of the Medicare 2022 insurance agents. In the end, it comes down to your health and lifestyle. As stated above, Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan F covers the Medicare Part B deductible, but Medicare Plan G does not. If that deductible isn’t something you need, Plan G is most likely your best option as the money saved with its coverage can offset the difference of your Part B deductible.
Compare Rates for Medigap Plan G & Plan F
As Medigap Plan F is phased out, Medigap Plan G is the option you should go for. It’s best to talk with a licensed insurance agent representing only the top and most reputable insurance companies to assist you in finding the right Medicare supplemental plan.
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