Plans F and C are being phased out as a cost-saving measure for the government. According to Congress, Medicare beneficiaries need to put a little more “skin in the game” so they won’t run to the doctor for every cut or bruise.
Why are Medicare Advantage plans C and F being discontinued?
The goal of discontinuing these plans is to make all Medicare beneficiaries have some out-of-pocket spending when they use healthcare services. Both Medigap Plans C and F cover Medicare’s Part B deductible, which in 2019 is $185. This makes these plans into something called “first dollar coverage.”
Will Medicare supplement plans C and F be available in 2020?
Individuals who are eligible for Medicare beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2020, won’t be able to buy Plans C or F, but they will still have plenty of Medicare supplement options. These options will vary by carrier, as each carrier decides which plans it will offer to the public (within state rules).
What happens to my Medicare supplement plan if I pay on time?
Your policy will continue if your premiums are paid on time. You still have the option to purchase a Medicare supplement Plan C, Plan F, or high-deductible Plan F in 2020 and beyond, where offered.
How will the phase-out of Medicare Part F plans affect beneficiaries?
When new enrollees are no longer able to buy the plans that are being phased, beneficiaries insured on those plans could see higher rate increases in the future, because there are no younger and sometimes healthier 65-year-olds able to purchase Plan F.
Is Medicare Supplement Plan C going away?
Starting on January 1, 2020, Plan C was discontinued. You can keep Plan C if you already have it. You can still enroll in Plan C if you were eligible for Medicare on or before December 31, 2019. Congress has ruled that the Plan B deductible can no longer be covered by Medigap plans.
What is Medicare Plan F being replaced with?
No plan completely replaces Medicare Part F, but the closest available is Medicare Supplement Plan G. Like Plan F, Plan G covers 100% of many benefits, including: Part A coinsurance and hospital costs. Part B copays/coinsurance (not deductibles)
Will Plan F be grandfathered?
If you enrolled in Plan F before 2020, you will be “grandfathered” into the plan. This gives you the choice to keep the plan past 2020.
What Medicare Supplement plans are no longer available?
Medicare Supplement Plan H, Plan I, and Plan J are no longer available. These plans were discontinued when the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 became a law, introducing Medicare Part D. The three plans went away because they duplicated existing letter plans but added a drug benefit.
Has Medicare Plan F been discontinued?
Is Medicare Plan F Being Discontinued? No, Medicare Plan F is not being discontinued, but it is no longer an option for those who are new to Medicare. The 2015 Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) prevented Medicare Supplement plans (F and C, specifically) from providing coverage for Part B deductibles.
Is plan G better than plan F?
Ultimately, Plan G has the same benefits as the Plan F, except for coverage for the Part B deductible ($233 for 2022). Once you pay the Part B deductible, the coverage is the same for both plans.
Can I change from Medicare Supplement plan F to plan G?
Can't I just move from a Medigap Plan F to a Plan G with the same insurance plan? Yes, you can. However, it usually still requires answering health questions on an application before they will approve the switch.
Why should I keep plan F?
PLAN F PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE…AT A COST Because Plan F covers the annual Part B deductible, members of the plan are free to visit doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare providers as often as they'd like, with no out-of-pocket costs.
Is plan F guaranteed issue?
Outside of your Medicare Supplement OEP, guaranteed-issue rights are often limited to certain Medicare Supplement insurance plans: A, B, C**, D, F**, G, K, or L. Please note: Not all plans are sold in every state. A high-deductible Plan G might be available in your state.
When did plan f go away?
Medicare Supplement Plan F is off the market for those newly eligible for Medicare Part A and Part B as of January 1, 2020 and thereafter. Medicare Supplement Plan F is still available to those who buy it before that date.
Is Medicare Plan F being discontinued in 2020?
It's been big news this year that as of Jan. 1, 2020, Medigap plans C and F will be discontinued. This change came about as a part of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization legislation in 2015, which prohibits the sale of Medigap plans that cover Medicare's Part B deductible.
What is the difference between plan C and plan F?
Plan F covers everything Plan C does, and also covers Medicare Part B excess charges. These two plans are some of the most comprehensive Medicare Supplement Insurance plans you can purchase, which makes them a very attractive option.
When will Plan F stop?
Starting in 2020, the U.S. government has decided to stop offering Plan F. And that isn’t the only change happening – Plan C, another supplemental coverage option, will also disappear.
When will Medicare Part B deductible be removed?
According to congress.gov, starting in 2020, Medicare Supplement plans that pay the Medicare Part B deductible will no longer be sold to those newly eligible. This change is part of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA).
What is a plan F?
Also known as Medigap Plan F, this supplemental plan was created to help seniors fill gaps in their regular Medicare coverage. Subscribers could, in years past, add to Original Medicare (Parts A and B) with special prescription coverage plans, Medicare Part C, and Plan F.
How much is Medicare Part B deductible?
The Medicare Part B deductible, which is the deductible amount involved in the MACRA legislation, can change every year. In 2019, it’s $185. That’s the amount you have to pay before Part B pays for covered services. And Plan F in particular has been a very popular supplemental plan.
What is the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act?
So, in 2015, Congress passed the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) that’s meant to close the doctor payment gap.
Is Plan F still available for Medicare?
But Plan F will no longer be available for Medicare subscribers. Starting in 2020, the U.S. government has decided to stop offering Plan F.
When will Medicare stop allowing you to buy Medigap?
If you became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020, a federal law will prevent you from purchasing Medigap Plan C and Plan F.
What is the first dollar Medicare Supplement?
First-Dollar Medicare Supplement Insurance plans. Plan F and Plan C are both referred to as “first-dollar” coverage plans because they cover the annual Medicare Part B deductible. This benefit allows policyholders to get non-emergency medical care without having to pay an annual deductible. The Part B deductible is $198 per year in 2020.
How many Medicare plans are there in 2020?
Unless new plans are added, most newly eligible Medicare beneficiaries in 2020 will only have 8 Medigap plan options to choose from: Plans A, B, D, G, K, L, M, and N. If you're a new Medicare beneficiary starting in 2020, you will not be able to enroll in Plan F or Plan C and will not have coverage for the Medicare Part B deductible benefit.
Can you keep Medigap Plan C?
Current Medigap policyholders. If you are currently enrolled in Medigap Plan C or Plan F, you can keep your plan. However, you may still want to explore your options. “Plan F holders may want to make sure Plan F is the right plan for them and make changes while they are healthy and still able to qualify for a new plan,” he said.
Does lower rated insurance increase premiums?
Lower-rated carriers or new insurance carriers may offer lower premiums at first, but they might increase premiums drastically from year to year, or after the introductory rates are over. “If you are uncertain about plan F or the future of Plan F, give us a call,” Esposito said.
Will Medicare Part B deductible increase in 2020?
If you use Medicare Part B services, you must pay the $198 annual deductible in 2020. The Part B deductible may increase in future years. Esposito thinks that it's possible that the Part B deductible will increase at a higher rate than we are used to seeing especially due to the recent increase.
When does Medicare Part B deductible take effect?
But hang in there, this will not take effect yet until the 1st of January 2020. So you still have some time. And the good thing is that Medicare Part B doesn’t cover the biggest health care costs under Medicare.
What plans are available for Medicare after January 1 2020?
For people eligible for Medicare after January 1, 2020, there are other plans available for you. Plans D, G and High-Deductible Plan G (which is a brand new plan option) will still be available to Medicare beneficiaries after January 1, 2020. Among the three, Plan G is the most popular because it’s almost a match in coverage, ...
What does Plan F pay for?
If you have a Plan F, you pay $0 for hospital stays , doctor visits, lab works, and many more. That is why Plan F has been America’s most popular Medigap plan for decades. However, in 2015, Congress passed the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) bill.
Which Medicare plan is the most comprehensive?
Among the three, Plan G is the most popular because it’s almost a match in coverage, except for Part B Deductible. Although you must pay the Part B deductible in a Plan G, the premiums can be notably less. After paying the Part B deductible, Plan G works the same as Plan F, making Plan G the most comprehensive plan for newly eligible Medicare ...
Does phasing out Plan F change your insurance?
If you are already enrolled in Plan F, you need not worry about it because you’re still covered by it for as long as you want. Phasing out Plan F won’t change a thing on your coverage. However, some advisers think after 2020 you might find an increase in the rates.
When did the standardized plan options start?
From 1990 (when Congress first standardized plan options) to 2010 there are other parts that have been phased out by the legislative (those are Plans E, H, I, and J). The government stresses that if you have a plan that covers everything, you may go more often than necessary.
Can you change your Medicare Supplement Plan without medical underwriting?
That means they can’t say no due to your medical situation. Those states are California, Connecticut, Missouri, New York, and Oregon.
Why is Medicare Supplement Plan F and Plan C going away?
Legislation has passed the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) in 2015 to prohibit the sale (on or after January 1, 2020) of Medigap plans that pays for Part B deductible to NEW Medicare beneficiaries.
What if I currently have Plan F or Plan C?
If you have Plan F or Plan C when the year 2020 approaches, you will not be kicked off your coverage. Since you have been grandfathered in, you will still be able to purchase Plan F and Plan C from private insurance providers even after the year 2020.
What to Consider
With passing of the MACRA Act, there are a few beneficiaries considering to enroll in or leave Plan F. Those who currently switch to Plan F from another Medicare Supplement Plan before 2020, will be grandfathered in after 2020.
What is the Medicare deductible?
The Medicare deductibles, coinsurance and copays listed are based on the 2019 numbers approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. You can go to any hospital, doctor or other health care provider in the U.S. or its territories that accepts Medicare.
Does Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan cover Medicare Supplement?
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan administers Blue Cross Medicare Supplement plans. Where you live, your age, gender and whether you use tobacco may affect what you pay for your plan. Your health status may also affect what you pay. This is a solicitation of insurance. We may contact you about buying insurance.
Is Blue Cross Medicare endorsed by the government?
This is a solicitation of insurance. We may contact you about buying insurance. Blue Cross Medicare Supplement plans aren't connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. If you're currently enrolled in Plan A or Plan C, you can stay with your plan as long as you pay your premium.
Does Medicare cover Part B?
The new MACRA law doesn’t allow Medicare supplement plans to cover the Part B deductible for people who are eligible for Medicare on or after Jan. 1, 2020. Because Plans C, F and high-deductible F cover the Part B deductible, they will no longer be available for beneficiaries who become eligible for Medicare on or after Jan. 1, 2020.
Who won't be able to buy Medicare plans C or F?
Who won’t be able to buy plans C or F? Individuals who are eligible for Medicare beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2020, won’t be able to buy Plans C or F, but they will still have plenty of Medicare supplement options.
When will Medicare be phased out?
By discontinuing these two plans, Congress hopes beneficiaries will be a bit more choosy about seeking healthcare for minor ailments. So as of Jan. 1, 2020, these plans are being phased out for new enrollees.
What is the deductible for Medicare Part B?
Both Medigap Plans C and F cover Medicare’s Part B deductible, which in 2019 is $185. This makes these plans into something called “first dollar coverage.”.
When new enrollees are no longer able to buy the plans that are being phased, could they see
When new enrollees are no longer able to buy the plans that are being phased, beneficiaries insured on those plans could see higher rate increases in the future, because there are no younger and sometimes healthier 65-year-olds able to purchase Plan F.
Do Medicare D and G have coinsurance?
After that though, both Plans D and G will offer robust coverage of other Medicare cost-sharing, such as the Part A deductible, the Part B coinsurance, skilled nursing facility coinsurance and so on. Because you will pay your own Part B deductible, though, you may find that premiums for these two plans are more competitive than premiums ...
Can I buy Medicare before 2020?
This fails to capture the whole picture. In fact, anyone who is eligible for Medicare before 2020 will always be able to buy Plans C or F, for as long as insurance companies continue to offer them. So even if today you are enrolled in another plan, such as Medigap Plan G or N, your future options will not change from the options you have today.
Should I consult with my Medicare broker?
As always, you should consult with your Medicare insurance broker annually to see if any plan options exist for you that might help you reduce premiums. Forbes Finance Council is an invitation-only organization for executives in successful accounting, financial planning and wealth management firms.