2026 Medicare Plan F Prices in Ohio: Still Available But Costs Are Rising

For years, Medicare Supplement Plan F was the gold standard of Medigap coverage. It covered every gap in Original Medicare, including the Part B deductible, leaving enrollees with zero out-of-pocket costs for Medicare-covered services. But since January 1, 2020, Plan F has been closed to anyone newly eligible for Medicare. If you turned 65 or first became eligible for Medicare on or after that date, you cannot buy Plan F.

For Ohio residents who were eligible before 2020, Plan F is still available for purchase. Millions of seniors across the country remain enrolled, including many in Ohio. But there's a catch that's becoming harder to ignore: Plan F premiums are rising faster than other Medigap plans, and the trend is likely to continue. The table below displays the lowest and highest monthly premiums for Plan F across nine major metropolitan areas as of January 15, 2026. It is always best to talk to a local Medicare licensed insurance agent near you when selecting your health insurance plan as a senior.

Geographic Variations in Plan F Prices

The following table provides a snapshot of the monthly premiums for Plan F, showcasing both the lowest and highest rates across various cities:

Key Takeaways

• Consistently More Expensive Than Plan G: In every city, Plan F premiums run higher than Plan G for the same area. The premium gap is growing year over year as Plan F's enrollment pool shrinks.
• Extreme Geographic Disparity: Prices for Plan F vary widely. How Ohio compares depends on local healthcare costs, carrier competition, and the state's insurance regulations.
• The Spread Is Wider: Plan F tends to have a wider gap between lowest and highest premiums than Plan G or Plan N, reflecting the less competitive market as some carriers drop Plan F.

Who Can Still Buy Medicare Plan F in Ohio?

You can purchase Plan F if you became eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020. In most cases, that means you turned 65 before that date or qualified for Medicare through disability before that date. If you already have Plan F in Ohio, you can keep it. And if you were eligible before 2020 but never enrolled in Plan F, you can still sign up now, subject to medical underwriting if you're outside your Medigap open enrollment period.

The key date is when you first became eligible, not when you enrolled. Someone in Ohio who turned 65 in December 2019 but didn't sign up for Medicare until 2021 can still buy Plan F.

What Does Plan F Cover?

Plan F provides the most comprehensive Medigap coverage available. It covers:

• Part A hospital coinsurance and costs up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits are exhausted
• Part B coinsurance or copayment for all services (no copays, unlike Plan N)
• Blood (first 3 pints)
• Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment
• Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance
• Part A deductible
• Part B deductible ($257 in 2026)
• Part B excess charges
• Foreign travel emergency (80%, up to plan limits)

The only difference between Plan F and Plan G is that Plan F covers the Part B deductible. That's it. Every other benefit is identical. In 2026, the Part B deductible is $257 per year.

Why Plan F Premiums Keep Going Up

Here's the problem with Plan F that most Ohio enrollees don't think about until it hits their wallet: the risk pool is getting older and sicker every year, and no new younger enrollees are coming in to balance it out.

Before 2020, Plan F attracted a steady stream of 65-year-olds who wanted the most comprehensive supplement coverage possible. Those younger, generally healthier enrollees helped keep premiums in check for everyone. Now that the door is closed, the average age of Plan F enrollees ticks up every year. An older pool means more claims. More claims means higher premiums.

This isn't speculation. It's basic insurance math, and it's already showing up in rate filings across the country, including in Ohio. Many Plan F policyholders have seen annual premium increases of 8-15%, well above the 3-5% annual increases typical of Plan G and Plan N.

The pricing method your carrier uses affects how quickly this hits you. Attained-age rated policies get hit the hardest because premiums rise both from the shrinking pool and from your increasing age. Community-rated policies feel the pool effect but at least don't pile on age-based increases.

Plan F vs Plan G: The $257 Question

The math here is straightforward. Plan F costs more than Plan G per month. The only extra benefit you get is coverage of the $257 annual Part B deductible. If the monthly premium difference between Plan F and Plan G is more than about $22 per month ($257 divided by 12), you're paying more in extra premium than the deductible is worth.

In practice, the gap is almost always larger than $22 per month in Ohio. Look at the table above and compare it to Plan G prices for the same cities. Most Plan F enrollees are paying far more in extra premium than the $257 deductible is worth.

This is why most Medicare experts, agents, and financial advisors now recommend Plan G over Plan F for anyone who has the option. The coverage difference is minimal, but the premium difference is substantial and growing.

Factors Influencing Plan F Pricing in Ohio

Like all Medigap plans, Plan F premiums vary significantly by geography. Several factors drive these differences for Ohio residents:

• Local healthcare costs: Areas of Ohio where medical care is more expensive see higher premiums across all supplement plans, including Plan F.
• State regulations: Ohio has its own regulatory framework for Medigap plans that affects how carriers price their policies.
• Carrier competition: Markets with more insurers selling Plan F tend to have lower premiums. But as Plan F becomes less popular, some carriers are dropping it entirely, reducing competition in some Ohio markets.
• Size of the local Plan F risk pool: Smaller pools are less stable, leading to more volatile pricing.

Should Ohio Residents Switch from Plan F to Plan G?

If you currently have Plan F in Ohio and your premiums have been climbing, switching to Plan G is worth serious consideration:

1. Compare your current Plan F premium to Plan G quotes. Get Plan G quotes from multiple carriers in your OH zip code. If the monthly savings exceeds ~$22, switching saves you money even after paying the deductible out of pocket.
2. Understand the underwriting. If you're outside your Medigap enrollment eligibility window, you'll likely need to pass medical underwriting to switch carriers. Some carriers offer a guaranteed-issue switch from their own Plan F to their Plan G, so ask your current carrier first.
3. Consider your health trajectory. If you have significant health issues that might make underwriting difficult, staying on Plan F might be the safer play.
4. Factor in future premium trends. Plan F premiums are likely to keep outpacing Plan G increases due to the closed risk pool.

You might also want to compare all your Medicare plan options to make sure you're in the best overall coverage for your situation. Some Ohio residents find that switching between supplement and Advantage plans makes sense depending on their healthcare needs.

Talk to a local Medicare licensed insurance agent in Ohio who can run the numbers for your specific situation.

Final Thoughts

Plan F was once the obvious choice for anyone in Ohio who wanted the most comprehensive Medigap coverage. For those who still have access to it, it remains a solid plan in terms of benefits. But the economics have shifted. The closed enrollment pool is driving premiums up faster than competing plans, and the only extra benefit over Plan G, coverage of a $257 annual deductible, rarely justifies the cost difference.

If you're a Ohio resident eligible for Plan F and considering it for the first time, compare it carefully against Plan G. If you already have Plan F and your premiums are outpacing your budget, a switch to Plan G or even Plan N could save you significant money without meaningfully reducing your coverage.