Medigap Plan F and Discontinued Medigap Plans

If you have been Googling Medigap Plan F and keep running into confusing answers, you are not alone. Plan F used to be the go-to “everything is covered” Medigap plan. Then, starting in 2020, it stopped being available to most people who are newly eligible for Medicare.

The good news is this is not a bait-and-switch. If you already have Plan F, you can usually keep it as long as you keep paying the premium and the policy stays in force. And if you are not eligible to buy it, there are still strong options that get you close, especially Plan G and Plan N.

Let’s break down what actually changed, who is grandfathered in, and how to make a smart decision if you are holding a plan people call “discontinued.”

What changed with Plan F and Plan C?

Plan F and Plan C are not “illegal” or canceled. They are simply closed to most people who become newly eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020.

This change came from federal law (MACRA) designed to reduce “first-dollar coverage” in Medigap plans. In plain English, lawmakers wanted newly eligible beneficiaries to pay at least something out of pocket when they receive Part B services.

The key rule

If a Medigap plan covers the Medicare Part B deductible, it is not available to people who are newly eligible for Medicare after 2019. That is the core reason Plan F and Plan C are closed to most new enrollees.

• Plan F covers the Part B deductible.
• Plan C also covers the Part B deductible.

Plans like Plan G do not cover that deductible, so they are still available to newly eligible beneficiaries.

Quick note: The Part B deductible changes from year to year. So when you compare Plan F vs Plan G, you are comparing premiums against a deductible amount that can move over time.

Who can still buy Plan F (and Plan C)?

This is where the word grandfathered matters.

You may be able to buy Plan F or Plan C if:

• You were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020, even if you did not enroll until later.
• You are already enrolled in Plan F or Plan C and want to keep it.

Medicare eligibility usually means you turned 65. It can also mean you qualified due to disability (under 65), and that group can be affected too depending on when you first became eligible for Medicare.

Quick mindset shift: The rule is about when you first became eligible for Medicare, not when you first bought a Medigap plan.

Important: eligibility is not the same as guaranteed acceptance

In most states, if you apply for a Medigap plan outside of a protected enrollment window, the insurer can use medical underwriting. That means they can consider your health history and may charge more or even deny the application depending on the situation and state rules.

What “discontinued” means

When people say Plan F is “discontinued,” they usually mean one of two things:

• Closed to most newly eligible Medicare beneficiaries (the big 2020 rule change).
• A specific company no longer sells a certain plan in your area, even though the plan type still exists.

Medigap plans are standardized by letter in most states. So Plan F benefits are generally the same no matter which insurer offers it. What changes is the premium, customer service, and how the company prices and adjusts rates over time.

One small exception that saves confusion: Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin standardize Medigap differently, so the lettered plans do not work the exact same way there.

Plan F vs Plan G vs Plan N

Most of the Plan F conversation quickly turns into, “Okay, what is closest to it now?” That is usually Plan G. And for people who want a lower premium and do not mind some cost-sharing, Plan N is often on the shortlist.

Plan F (legacy “first-dollar” feel)

• Generally covers the big Medigap gaps, including the Part B deductible.
• For covered services, you often have very little to pay out of pocket.
• Not available to most people who became Medicare-eligible after 2019.

Plan G (closest modern equivalent)

• Very similar to Plan F, but does not pay the Part B deductible.
• After you pay that deductible, coverage often looks a lot like Plan F for many services.
• Available to newly eligible beneficiaries.

Plan N (lower premium, more “pay as you go”)

• Often has lower monthly premiums than Plan G in many markets.
• You may pay certain copays, including up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for some emergency room visits (if you are not admitted).
• Does not cover the Part B deductible.
• Important “gotcha”: Plan N does not cover Part B excess charges. In states where excess charges are allowed, you could owe more if a provider does not accept Medicare assignment.

Bottom line: Plan G is often the cleanest “Plan F replacement,” while Plan N can be a strong value play for people who are healthy, do not go to the doctor constantly, and want to keep premiums down.

Also worth knowing: You may see High-Deductible Plan G mentioned while researching Plan F. It is a lower-premium option with a larger deductible before the plan pays (rules and availability vary by state and carrier). Some people who were eligible before 2020 may also run into references to the historical High-Deductible Plan F.

Grandfathered vs guaranteed issue

Two terms get mixed up all the time:

• Grandfathered means you can keep a plan you already have, and some people can still buy certain older plans based on Medicare eligibility dates.
• Guaranteed issue means you can buy a Medigap plan without medical underwriting because you are in a protected window.

Common times you might have guaranteed-issue rights

• When you first enroll in Medicare Part B and are in your Medigap Open Enrollment Period (often a 6-month window).
• If you lose certain types of coverage (for example, some Medicare Advantage situations can trigger guaranteed-issue rights depending on timing and circumstances).
• Some states have additional rules that create extra opportunities.

If you are considering switching from Plan F to Plan G or Plan N, the underwriting question matters a lot. If you are not in a guaranteed-issue window, you may need to answer health questions, and approval is not automatic.

Premium trends for closed plans

This is the part no one wants to hear, but it is important.

When a plan is closed to most new enrollees, the pool of people in that plan can get older over time. In many markets, that can contribute to premium increases, because insurers are covering a group that, on average, needs more care as the years go by.

Does that mean Plan F always gets expensive?

Not necessarily. Premium changes are market-dependent and influenced by things like the plan’s rating method (attained-age, issue-age, or community-rated), the carrier’s pricing decisions, and local claims experience.

Still, it is smart to keep an eye on:

• Your annual rate increases compared with other plan letters in your area.
• Whether the difference between Plan F and Plan G premiums is larger than the Part B deductible you would pay under Plan G.
• Your ability to pass underwriting if you switch later. Waiting can reduce your flexibility.

My “value-spender” rule: If you are paying significantly more each month for Plan F than Plan G, ask if the extra premium is buying you anything other than the Part B deductible coverage. This is a general rule of thumb, not personal financial advice. Always compare quotes for your situation.

Should you switch plans?

This is a personal decision, but you can make it much less overwhelming with a simple framework.

Switching to Plan G might make sense if:

• You want coverage that is very close to Plan F.
• The premium savings from Plan G compared to Plan F is more than the Part B deductible (or close to it).
• You want to reduce exposure to potentially faster premium growth in a closed plan.

Switching to Plan N might make sense if:

• You want a lower premium and are comfortable with some copays and the potential for Part B excess charges (depending on provider and state rules).
• You do not visit the doctor frequently.
• You prefer paying a bit more as you use care, instead of paying more every month no matter what.

Keeping Plan F might make sense if:

• Your Plan F premium is still competitive in your area.
• You value predictable costs and dislike surprise copays.
• You have health conditions and worry underwriting could make switching difficult outside guaranteed-issue windows.

Run the numbers

If you are deciding between staying on Plan F or moving to Plan G or Plan N, here is a simple approach that avoids getting lost in Medicare jargon.

1. Write down your current Plan F monthly premium and multiply by 12.
2. Get quotes for Plan G and Plan N in your ZIP code for the same household situation (age, tobacco status, etc.). Multiply each by 12.
3. Add expected out-of-pocket costs:
   • For Plan G: add the Part B deductible for the year.
   • For Plan N: add the Part B deductible plus a realistic guess for copays, and consider whether Part B excess charges are a realistic risk based on the providers you use.
4. Compare totals, then sanity-check with your preferences: predictable bills vs lower premiums.
5. Confirm whether underwriting applies before you assume switching is easy.

If you want, you can do this with a basic spreadsheet in 10 minutes. I am biased because I love spreadsheets, but it really does make the decision feel calmer.

Other plans people call “discontinued”

Plan F and Plan C get the headlines, but they are not the only Medigap plans people call “discontinued.” Depending on your state and history, you may also hear about older plans that are less commonly sold today.

Here is the practical takeaway: if you have a legacy plan, treat it like any other subscription you have had for years. Review it periodically. Prices can drift away from what is competitive, and you do not want to find out after a big rate hike.

Questions to ask first

• When did I become eligible for Medicare? This affects whether Plan F is even an option (including for people under 65 on Medicare due to disability).
• Am I in a guaranteed-issue window? If yes, switching is usually simpler.
• Will I need medical underwriting to switch? If yes, do not cancel your current plan until you are accepted into the new one.
• How much more am I paying for Plan F than Plan G? Compare the yearly difference to the Part B deductible.
• Do I value lower premiums or predictable out-of-pocket costs? This often points you toward Plan N (lower premium) or Plan G (more predictable).
• Do my providers accept Medicare assignment? This matters more if you are considering Plan N because it does not cover Part B excess charges.

Important safety tip: If you apply for a new Medigap plan, wait to cancel your current Medigap coverage until you have a confirmed approval and effective date. Also ask about any applicable 30-day free-look period (rules vary). It can give you a short window to test the new plan and back out if needed.

Quick recap

• Plan F and Plan C are closed to most people who became newly eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020 because they cover the Part B deductible.
• If you already have Plan F, you can generally keep it as long as you continue paying premiums and the policy stays in force.
• If you were eligible for Medicare before 2020, you may still be able to buy Plan F, but underwriting rules may apply.
• Plan G is the closest widely available alternative to Plan F, and Plan N can be a lower-premium option if you are comfortable with some copays and the Part B excess-charge limitation.
• Closed plans can see different premium trends over time, but it is market-dependent. Compare total yearly cost, not just the monthly premium.

If you want help sorting this out, use our Medigap comparison tool or reach out through our contact form to get a simple “stay vs switch” checklist tailored to your Medicare eligibility date and current coverage.