Medicare 2026

Who Can Still Buy Medigap Plan C or Plan F — and Who Can't

If you've been reading about Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) and seen Plans C and F mentioned, you may be wondering whether you can actually buy them. The short answer: it depends on when you first became eligible for Medicare. A federal law that took effect several years ago closed these two plans to most people new to the program, but others can still buy them if an insurer in their area sells them. Here's how the rules work.

Why Plans C and F were closed to newcomers

Since January 1, 2020, federal law has barred insurance companies from selling any Medigap policy that covers the Part B deductible to a person who is newly eligible for Medicare. Plans C and F both pay that deductible, which is why they are no longer available to people new to the program. Congress made this change as part of a broader effort to ensure that beneficiaries have some direct financial connection to their outpatient care.

The rule is tied to a specific federal definition of "newly eligible." Under that definition, you are not considered newly eligible — and may still be able to purchase Plan C or Plan F — if either of the following is true:

• You turned 65 before January 1, 2020, or
• You were entitled to Medicare Part A because of a disability or End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) before that date.

Importantly, you don't have to have actually enrolled in Medicare before 2020 to qualify. A person who was eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020, but hasn't yet signed up, may still be able to buy Plan C or Plan F when they do enroll — provided an insurer in their area sells them.

What people new to Medicare can buy instead

If you became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020, Plans C and F are not available to you. But you may be able to buy Plans D and G, which provide the same set of benefits as Plans C and F with one difference: they do not pay the Part B deductible, which is $283 in 2026.

That one difference is the entire reason Plans D and G exist as "replacements." Plan G is often the closest counterpart to Plan F for new enrollees, and Plan D plays a similar role relative to Plan C.

The same substitution applies in the federal "guaranteed-issue" situations — the specific circumstances in which insurers must sell you a Medigap policy without medical underwriting. In those situations, if the rules list Plans C and F as options, a person new to Medicare on or after January 1, 2020 has the right to buy Plan D or Plan G instead.

A note on the high-deductible versions

Plan F has a high-deductible version, and so does Plan G. The rules follow the same split:

• High-deductible Plan F is only available to people who were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020.
• High-deductible Plan G is available to people new to Medicare on or after that date.

If you already have Plan C or Plan F

Good news: nothing about these rules forces you off a plan you already have. Standardized Medigap policies renew automatically every year, even if your health changes. An insurer can drop you only in a narrow set of situations: if you stop paying your premiums, if you were untruthful on your application, or if the company goes bankrupt or out of business.

That said, premiums for closed blocks of business can behave differently over time than premiums for plans that are still open to new members. If you have Plan C or Plan F, it's worth reviewing your coverage each year and comparing your options — not to recommend one path over another, but simply so you understand what's available.

What every Medigap insurer must offer

Federal rules also set a floor on what insurance companies must make available. Every company that sells Medigap must offer at least Plan A. An insurer that offers more than that must offer:

• Plan C or Plan F to people who were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020, but haven't yet enrolled, and
• Plan D or Plan G to people new to Medicare on or after that date.

Beyond that floor, availability varies by insurer and by location, so two people in different parts of the country may see very different menus.

Weighing Medigap against Medicare Advantage

Some people reading this are also weighing Original Medicare with a Medigap policy (and usually a stand-alone Part D drug plan) against a Medicare Advantage plan. Both are legitimate choices, and each involves trade-offs. Original Medicare plus Medigap generally offers broad provider access and predictable out-of-pocket costs, but typically costs more in monthly premiums and doesn't include drug coverage. Medicare Advantage plans often bundle drug coverage and may include extra benefits, but usually use provider networks and require you to follow plan rules for referrals and prior authorization. Which approach fits best is a personal decision.

A few program-level dates and figures to keep in mind

• Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period for 2027 coverage runs October 15 – December 7, 2026, with choices taking effect January 1, 2027.
• The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026 and rises to $2,400 in 2027.
• The 2027 Part B standard premium, Part B deductible, and IRMAA income brackets have not yet been announced; CMS typically releases them in the fall.

Where to go next

Medigap availability, pricing, and underwriting rules vary by state and by insurer, so general articles can only take you so far. For official information, plan comparisons in your area, and personalized help, visit Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048.

This article is for educational purposes only. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.