Medicare Supplement Plan F Rates in Oregon

By Corin Faye
eMedicareSupplements Senior Writer

For Oregon residents who want to fill all of the gaps in their Medicare health coverage, Medicare Supplement Plan F is one of the most popular solutions. It provides complete coverage for the Part A and Part B deductibles, copays and coinsurance, along with the coinsurance associated with days 61-150 of hospitalization, and the 365-day extension of hospital care services after the expiration of original Medicare benefits. Hospice care, skilled nursing care and foreign travel emergency coverage are also provided under Medigap Plan F. All Part B excess charges are also covered.

Medicare supplemental plan F is offered by almost all of the insurance companies that sell Medigap in Oregon. These companies are allowed by law to set their premiums according to different criteria. All of them vary their prices according to age and tobacco use. Most vary their prices according to gender, and some vary them by region according to the county or zip code of the beneficiary. Below we list the lowest available rates for men and women from each insurer offering Plan F, meaning rates for seniors age 65 who don't smoke and happen to live in the cheapest region of the state.

Lowest Rates Offered by Oregon Carriers of Medigap Plan F

Five insurance carriers in Oregon offer Medigap Plan F at the same rate for both men and women. HealthNet does so for a monthly premium as low as $111. UnitedHealthcare offers Plan F to both genders starting at $112 per month. Lifewise offers Medicare supplemental Plan F to men and women for a price that starts at $185 per month, while ODS offers the plan to both sexes for a monthly premium of as little as $174 and Regence BlueCross BlueShield for a rate starting at $144 per month.

Other insurers price men and women at different rates for Plan F. Columbian Mutual starts monthly premiums at $134.62 for men and $117.12 for women. Sentinel Life offers Plan F to men for as little as $129.55 per month and to women for as low as $112.65 per month. Sterling Investors starts Plan F rates from $115.33 for men and $100.17 for women. Humana's monthly premiums for Plan F start at $137.27 for men and $136.93 for women. UCT makes Plan F available to men for as low as $165.87 and to women for as little as $144.14. United of Omaha offers its lowest-available Plan F rates at $111.16 per month for men and $105.59 per month for women. Assured Life and Woodmen of the World sell Plan F to men for a monthly premium starting at $132.15 and to women for as low as $114.97 per month. Gerber's entry-level prices for Plan F are $133.54 for men and $116.18 for women.

Seniors who smoke but would like to purchase Plan F should plan on paying between 11 and 25 percent more than the non-smoking rates listed above, with a 15 percent hike being common among several companies. If you don't live in the region of Oregon with the most affordable rates, you can expect your premium to go up a few dollars a month.

Other Versions of Medicare Supplement Plan F in Oregon

High Deductible Plan F is a variation on Plan F in which you must reach an out-of-pocket limit before coverage kicks in. It enables you to save money on premiums if you expect your yearly medical expenses to be low, but it also ensures comprehensive medical coverage once you pay your deductible. The limit is subject to annual adjustment, but most recently has been set at $2,070 a year in 2012. As with the regular Plan F, rates vary based on gender, smoking status, region of residency and age. Taking all these different factors into account, the lowest available rates for High Deductible Plan F from Humana are $77.82 for men and $77.62 for women, while the best rates from Sterling Investors are $47.08 for males and $40.92 for females. Three insurers offer High Deductible Plan F at the same rates for men and women. HealthNet starts their rates at $46 per month, Lifewise offers monthly rates as low as $70 and ODS makes the plan available for rates starting at $40 per month. Again, rates for smokers will be at least 11 to 15 percent higher than rates for nonsmokers.

A final alternative to traditional Plan F is a policy called Select Plan F that requires the beneficiary to choose health care providers from within a network. Currently one carrier offers Select Plan F. UnitedHealthcare offers this plan with rates starting at $91.00 for both men and women. Smokers will pay 10 percent higher rates for this plan.

Plan F is an extremely popular plan, and for good reason: It provides the maximum amount of health coverage, leaving you with no worries. Many people opt for Plan F with the notion that its complete coverage brings stability and peace of mind to whatever health challenges may come. If you want your health care policy to offer the most comprehensive coverage possible, consider Medigap Plan F as the most thorough solution to your medical needs.