Medicare Supplement Plan F (Arizona)

By Scott Kerby Medicare Specialist Medigap Plan F is the most comprehensive Medigap plan. It’s one of the two plans (Plan G is the other) that cover Medicare Part B excess charges. Those are the costs incurred when your doctor charges more for medical services than Medicare will pay. Plan F covers 100% of those costs. Medicare Supplement Plan F also has a high deductible option in Arizona. You might consider doing this if you feel that you’re in good health and want to reduce your monthly premiums in return for an annual deductible ($2,180 in 2016).

Medigap Plan F (Arizona) provides the 4 basic benefits of Plan A:

1. Coinsurance and hospital costs for up to 365 additional days after Medicare benefits are exhausted. This applies to those things normally covered by Part A where coinsurance would normally apply: inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing facility care, and long-term care hospitals. 2. Coinsurance and copayments for medical services. This applies to things normally covered by Part B where coinsurance would normally apply: doctor’s visits, lab tests, surgeries, and ambulance services. 3. The first 3 pints of blood. In cases where a hospital would have to buy blood for you, this will cover the cost for the first 3 units of blood that Medicare normally does not cover. 4. Coinsurance and copayments for hospice care. This applies to hospice care under Part A where coinsurance or copayments would normally apply: doctor services, nursing care, medical equipment, medical supplies, and other services determined by your hospice team.

Plan F also provides the following coverages from Plan C:

5. Coinsurance for skilled nursing facility care. Should you ever be admitted to a skilled nursing facility, this will cover the expenses for any nursing care or rehabilitative services that you receive on a continuous, daily basis. 6. Your Medicare Part A deductible. This applies to the hospital-related expenses you’d normally pay before Original Medicare, your prescription drug plan, or other insurance begins to pay. 7. Your Medicare Part B deductible. This applies to the expenses for medical services you’d normally pay before Original Medicare, your prescription drug plan, or other insurance begins to pay. 8. Foreign travel emergency expenses. Medicare does not cover medical expenses incurred while travelling abroad. Medigap coverage will pay 80% of the billed charges for certain medically necessary emergency procedures while outside of the United States. There are some limitations, however. Medigap policies have a $250 annual deductible that you must meet. The emergency also has to occur within the first 60 days of your trip. Finally, there is a $50,000 lifetime limit for travel emergency expenses.

Finally, Plan F also covers the following:

9. Medicare Part B excess charges. This covers the difference between what your doctor charges for medical services and what Medicare will pay. Medicare Supplement Plan F (Arizona) provides the maximum additional Medicare coverage that you can get through Medicare supplemental insurance. Prices will vary so it’s important to get quotes from several insurers. You can do that easily with the free tool below.