Blue Shield Medigap Plan F and F Extra compared
Let’s check out the full comparison between Medigap Plan F and F Extra. Please take into account that Blue Shield is not offering Plan F anymore, replacing it with F Extra, which has more benefits and usually very similar cost. You will find conclusions at the end of the chart.
| Medigap Plan F | Medigap Plan F Extra | |
|---|---|---|
Price will display on this page. Estimated price is based on non-smoking applicants and include a discount for autopay. |
Not available |
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| Enrollment | Not available | Enroll in Plan F Extra |
| Doctor Network | All Doctors that accept Medicare | All Doctors that accept Medicare |
| Part A Hospital Benefit Period Deductible | You pay $0 | You pay $0 |
| Hospital days Coinsurance | You pay $0 | You pay $0 |
| Skilled Nursing Facility Coinsurance | You pay $0 | You pay $0 |
| First 3 Pints of Blood | You pay $0 | You pay $0 |
| Part B Annual Deductible | You pay $0 | You pay $0 |
| Part B Copays/Coinsurance | You pay $0 | You pay $0 |
| Part B Excess Charges | You pay $0 | You pay $0 |
| Foreign Travel Emergency | You pay 20% | You pay 20% |
| Vision | ||
| Routine Eye Exam (every 12 months) | Not included | You pay $20 |
| Glass Frames (every 24 months) | Not included | $100 Allowance |
| Glass Lenses (every 12 months) | Not included | You pay $25 |
| Contacts (every 12 months) | Not included | You pay $0 |
| Hearing | ||
| Hearing Exam (every 12 months) | Not included | You pay $0 |
| Hearing Aids (every 12 months) | Not included | $499-$799 discount on Vista Models |
| Other Benefits | ||
| Gym | Yes | Yes |
| New to Medicare Discount | $25 | $25 |
| Household Discount | 7% | 7% |
| Autopay Discount | $3 | $3 |
|
Price will display on this page. Estimated price is based on non-smoking applicants and include a discount for autopay. |
Not available |
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| Enrollment | Not available | Enroll in Plan F Extra |
*Estimated costs assume age 65 and new to Medicare discount. Your price may be higher. Contact Senior65.com at 800-930-7956 to get your personalized pricing.
We can take some conclusions from the chart above:
- Medigap F Extra has hearing and vision included, while F does not
- Medigap F and F Extra have almost the same price, which is why we recommend F Extra
We find important to say that Plan F (F Extra included) lost some traction in 2020 because of the MACRA law. This stated that newly eligible Medicare members, meaning people that turned 65 after January 1st 2020, could not enroll in Plan F anymore.
If that is your case, then your best option is almost always Plan G. If that is not your case, then you still have Plan F as an option. A great one at that.
If you are already enrolled in Plan F but looking to switch to F Extra, you can always use the California Birthday Rule to do so without underwriting.
Blue Shield Medigap F and F Extra: Background
Blue Shield of California, an independent member of the Blue Shield Association, is a nonprofit health plan dedicated to providing Californians with access to high-quality health care at an affordable price.
Plan F has historically been one of the most popular Medigap plans. Why? For the simple reason that it is the one that offers the most coverage. It even covers the Part B Deductible of $257.
In the case of Blue Shield, they do not offer Plan F anymore, but that is no problem. In fact, it is a win, because they have introduced Plan F Extra. As you can tell from the chart above, this last one has the exact same benefits as Plan F, but also includes additional benefits, such as hearing and vision.
Even better, since F Extra is a relatively new Medicare Supplement plan, it has a pool of younger members. This allows the plan to be better priced, around the same or little more than Plan F.
If you have more questions or are looking to enroll, call us or schedule a time with one of our agents. You can also enroll online in less than 5 minutes.
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