My parents, ages 90 and 91, can no longer afford their Medicare Supplement Plan F and do not qualify for Medicaid. What happens if they cannot pay the 20% not covered by Medicare after cancelling the supplement?

Question

Steven Litzsinger · Accepted Answer

Your parents have a few options once they cancel their Medicare Supplement (MediGap Policy) to cover the 20% Not Covered by Original Medicare. 

Option 1- Consider A Medicare Advantage Plan that will mitigate some of the higher costs/ risks associated with Original Medicare with their Max Out of Pocket (MOOP) design. 

Option 2- Purchase a Hospital Indemnity and Cancer/Heart Attack/Stroke/Critical Illness Policy to cover the Gap with Original Medicare  and avoid some of the higher cost shares (hospital admissions, ER Visits, Ambulance, etc..). Which is much cheaper than a Medicare Supplement plan and can be paired with Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans. 

Option 3- If your parents live in state where High Deductible Plan G/ Innovative Plan G, are available, it could be a more cost effective way to reduce their monthly expenses of Medicare Supplement, without losing the coverage all together. 

This is a point in their Medicare journey that it is best to speak with a licensed Medicare Agent that can help you and your family explore all options  and develop a plan that is affordable, realistic, and protects your parents without compromising their access to care. I listed 3, very common options, but there are other options that are not listed that can be a consideration going forward. The good news, there are options and resources available to help your parents at this point in their Medicare Journey.

Angela Tapp · Answer

Since they do not qualify for Medicaid, dropping all supplemental coverage is highly dangerous. Instead, the best path forward is looking into Medicare Advantage.

Many Medicare Advantage plans have $0 monthly premiums. Your parents will have to pay copays as they use the plan, but the plans have Maximum Out-of-Pocket (MOOP) limits. Once they hit that limit in a calendar year, the plan covers 100% of their medical costs, giving them the exact financial safety net they need without the heavy monthly premium of a Plan F.

They can enroll during the Annual Enrollment Period with no underwriting.

Mark Bilgere · Answer

They will still be responsible for the 20%, for which there is no limit. However, they could switch into a Medicare Advantage plan. Depending on where they live, many of these plans are low or no premium. Every MAPD has a Maximum Out of Pocket amount. This is the most your parents would have to pay in a single year for medical expenses. The actual amount will depend on the plan and their location. The amount can run between $3,000 and $13,000 depending on the type of the plan and their zip code.

Answered by Mark Bilgere on August 10, 2026

Broker Licensed in TX, AR, IN & LA, MN, NE & OK

Answered by Mark Bilgere Medicare Insurance Agent

Chris Oates · Answer

Without a supplement, there is no 'cap' or 'out-of-pocket maximum' on what your parents might owe. A single major surgery or hospital stay could result in thousands of dollars in personal liability. If the 20% remains unpaid, healthcare providers may eventually turn the debt over to collection agencies. To avoid this, it is often better to switch them to a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan or a cheaper Supplement Plan N, which can significantly lower monthly premiums while still providing a safety net for that 20% gap.

Answered by Chris Oates on May 8, 2026

Broker Licensed in MD, DC, DE & 7 other states

Answered by Chris Oates Medicare Insurance Agent

Ingrid Kollmann · Answer

First of all, they should talk to a certified Medicare agent to see if there might be another Medicare supplement plan with a few less benefits and with a lower monthly premium. 

Secondly, depending on the medical service(s), the 20% could be $10, $100, $1,000 or more.

Thirdly, if they're open to a Medicare Advantage HMO/PPO plan and are comfortable using in-network providers/hospitals, the monthly premium can be as low as $0/month.  These plans include prescription drug coverage, dental, vision, and hearing. 

Again,  sit down with a certified Medicare agent and review all the different options.

Jason Denniston · Answer

Going without a Medicare supplement can get risky fast because Original Medicare has no cap on the 20% they leave behind. One hospital stay, surgery, or ongoing treatment can create bills that are hard to recover from at their age. Before cancelling Plan F, it’s worth checking whether they could switch to a lower-cost supplement or even another company offering the same coverage for less. A Medicare Advantage plan may also be worth looking at since those plans are required to have a yearly max out-of-pocket limit.

Answered by Jason Denniston on May 6, 2026

Broker Licensed in IN, CO, FL & 10 other states

Answered by Jason Denniston Medicare Insurance Agent

Daniel Neale · Answer

At ages 90 and 91, it may make sense to consider moving to a Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MAPD) plan if their Medicare Supplement premiums have become unaffordable. Unlike Original Medicare alone, MAPD plans include an annual out-of-pocket maximum, which can help provide more predictable healthcare costs and limit financial exposure from the 20% coinsurance under Part B.

Answered by Daniel Neale on May 7, 2026

Agent Licensed in CA, FL, ME & 8 other states

Answered by Daniel Neale Medicare Insurance Agent

D. Scott Harrod · Answer

As far as what would happen if they had claims and had dropped their Medicare Supplements they would be at the mercy of the providers who had treated them, I have no way to answer that, but with Medicare having no limit, no max out of pocket on the 20% You could be speaking of incredible financial exposure. If they were my parents and they in fact had no choice but to drop their Medicare Supplements I would definitely recommend that they locate an Independent Agent whose focus is Medicare solutions and see what they would suggest in the way of the "best fit" Medicare Advantage Plan(s) for each of them, at least with the Advantage Plans there is a "MOOP" Maximum out of pocket safety net, usually capping anywhere from $4,000.00 for a year on up to 8 or $10,000.00, a much better option thanno cap whatsoever. Good Luck and God Bless You Folks! PS: Those MAPD plans have to by law be equal to or better than traditional Medicare A and B.

Answered by D. Scott Harrod on June 15, 2026

Agent Licensed in KY

Answered by D. Scott Harrod Medicare Insurance Agent

Daniel Fraser, CLTC, RSSA · Answer

there are a few options so it would take a deep dive into your parents situation.  This is a difficult question to answer without a thorough interview.

However, remember that Medicare still pays first.  This means Part A and B pays and the 20% is based on the Medicare allowed amount.    

Also, there may be a possibility to 'downgrade" their Plan F to a less expensive plan, however, certain carriers have implemented changes to the ability to do this so it would depend on the carrier they currently have.

And lastly, there is always a Medicare Advantage plan as an option during the Annual Election Period.

Jennifer Wesolek · Answer

First off the only difference between Plan F and Plan G is that plan F pays the part b deductible which is only $283 this year and often the premium is much higher. Some states have a birthday rule which then can move from a like to like plan or a like to less which in this case from Plan F to Plan G 60 days around their birthday. I recommend contacting a local agent to talk about options. If they move during AEP to a MAPD plan then then need to consider the Max out of pocket they may pay and that they will be confined to a network either in a PPO or HMO

Answered by Jennifer Wesolek on May 11, 2026

Agent Licensed in KY

Answered by Jennifer Wesolek Medicare Insurance Agent

Nicole Hardy · Answer

Before cancelling anything I would encourage you to speak with a licensed agent whom can possibly reduce their rates. Yes even at their ages this is possible. There are plans that offer comparable coverage for a fraction of the cost. Some states also offer Guaranteed issue policies meaning no medical underwriting under certain time frames. To answer your question specifically, they would be liable for all charges. There may be some state assistance programs that arr not medicaid they may be eligible for.

Answered by Nicole Hardy on June 15, 2026

Broker Licensed in MD, AZ, PA, VA & WV

Answered by Nicole Hardy Medicare Insurance Agent

Stella Hattox · Answer

Unfortunately, they may be faced with a lot of debt.  You may want to look at a Medicare Advantage Plan that has a low Max Out Of Pocket.  Traditional Medicare does  not have a Max Out of Pocket.

Jamie Goble · Answer

This is a common question. They can get on a medicare advantage. But unfortunately Medicare Supplements go up every year. 


Some hospitals also offer financial help but if they does qualify for medicaid I dont know if they would for that either. It is tough to say without sitting down and going over there drs, medications. 

To find the right plan for them.

Anna J Smith · Answer

I would recommend your parents look for a Medicare Insurance Broker  to compare Medicare Advantage plans to fit their budget.

Gisele Salas · Answer

You may be eligible to enroll in a Medicare advantage plan
Although a few providers may accept Medicare only

My parents, ages 90 and 91, can no longer afford their Medicare Supplement Plan F and do not qualify for Medicaid. What happens if they cannot pay the 20% not covered by Medicare after cancelling the supplement?

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My parents, ages 90 and 91, can no longer afford their Medicare Supplement Plan F and do not qualify for Medicaid. What happens if they cannot pay the 20% not covered by Medicare after cancelling the supplement?

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