Medigap Plan F vs. Plan G: Can You Still Get Plan F in California?

For years, Medicare Supplement Plan F was one of the most popular Medigap plans available.
Then the rules changed.
Beginning January 1, 2020, people who were newly eligible for Medicare could no longer purchase Medicare Supplement Plan F or Plan C.
That has created a lot of confusion — including people asking me whether Plan F disappeared altogether.
It didn’t.
If you were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020, you may still be able to purchase Plan F or Plan C if you’re otherwise eligible.
If you became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020, Plan F and Plan C generally aren’t available to you.

Why Did Medicare Supplement Plan F Change?

Federal law changed the rules for Medicare Supplement plans that pay the Medicare Part B deductible.
Because Plan F and Plan C cover the Part B deductible, they could no longer be sold to people newly eligible for Medicare beginning in 2020.
People who were already eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020 were grandfathered under the old rules.
That’s why Plan F still exists today.
What’s the Difference Between Medicare Supplement Plan F and Plan G?
The difference is surprisingly small.
Plan F pays the Medicare Part B deductible.
Plan G doesn’t.
For 2026, the Medicare Part B deductible is $283.
After you’ve satisfied that deductible, Plan G generally provides the same standardized Medicare benefits as Plan F for the remainder of the year.
That’s why I tell clients not to automatically assume Plan F is better simply because it pays the deductible.
The important number is the difference in premium.
You can also review our Medicare Supplement plans page to compare Medigap coverage and learn more about the different standardized plans available.

Here’s the Math I Want My Clients to Do

Suppose Plan F costs $50 more per month than Plan G.
That’s $600 more per year in premium.
If the primary difference is that Plan F pays a $283 Part B deductible, spending an additional $600 to avoid paying $283 doesn’t make much financial sense.
That’s a simplified example, and actual premiums vary by insurance company, age, ZIP code and other factors. But it’s exactly the comparison you should make.
Don’t compare Plan F and Plan G based solely on benefits. Compare the total annual cost.
I’ve helped clients save hundreds — and sometimes more than $1,000 per year — by moving from Plan F to Plan G even after accounting for the Part B deductible.
If I Already Have Plan F, Should I Keep It?
Maybe.
There is nothing inherently wrong with keeping Plan F. It’s excellent coverage.
The question is what you’re paying for it.
Because people newly eligible for Medicare can no longer enter Plan F, the population remaining in Plan F is generally an older, closed group. That makes it especially important to review your premium rather than assuming your current policy remains your best value year after year.
If the premium difference between your Plan F and an available Plan G is relatively small, keeping Plan F may be perfectly reasonable.
But if you’re paying substantially more than the annual Part B deductible to stay on Plan F, it’s worth comparing.

California’s Birthday Rule Can Make Switching Medicare Supplement Plans Easier

California residents with an existing Medicare Supplement policy have another important protection: the California Medicare Supplement Birthday Rule.
Each year, California provides eligible Medicare Supplement policyholders an opportunity around their birthday to change Medicare Supplement coverage without normal medical underwriting, subject to California’s applicable rules.
That can be extremely valuable if your Medicare Supplement premium has increased.
You may be able to:

Keep the same standardized Medigap plan and change insurance companies for a lower premium

Move from Plan F to Plan G

Consider another plan with equal or lesser benefits

And because Medigap benefits are standardized, a Plan G from one insurance company provides the same basic standardized medical benefits as Plan G from another insurance company.
The premiums, rate history, household discounts, customer service and additional features can be different.
That’s where shopping the market becomes important.
Learn more about the California Medicare Birthday Rule and how it may allow you to change your Medicare Supplement coverage without medical underwriting.

Plan F, Plan G or Plan N?

Plan G isn’t the only alternative worth considering.
For some people, Plan N can offer attractive premium savings in exchange for some additional out-of-pocket costs.
Plan N can require a copayment of up to $20 for certain office visits and up to $50 for certain emergency room visits that don’t result in an inpatient admission. Plan N also doesn’t cover Medicare Part B excess charges.
Which plan is best depends on what you value most: maximum predictability, lower monthly premiums or a balance between the two.
Don’t Cancel Your Current Medicare Supplement Until the New Coverage Is Approved
This is important.
If you’re considering changing Medicare Supplement plans, don’t simply cancel your existing coverage first.
Make sure you understand your enrollment rights, whether medical underwriting applies, the effective date of your new coverage, and when your existing policy should terminate.
A Medicare Supplement change should be coordinated so you don’t unintentionally create a gap in coverage.
Let Us Compare Your Medicare Supplement Options
I’ve been helping people with health insurance since 1987, and one thing I’ve learned is that keeping the same insurance company year after year isn’t always the best financial decision.
Your health may not have changed.
Your benefits may not have changed.
But your premium certainly can.
If you have Medicare Supplement Plan F, Plan G, Plan N or another Medigap plan in California, we’ll compare available options and help you determine whether changing plans could save you money while maintaining the coverage that’s important to you.

And if you’re approaching your California Birthday Rule period, that’s an especially good time to review your options. Call BenefitPackages.com at 818-999-3595 for a Medicare Supplement review. We make insurance easy.