[steve86]

Not a single MA plan offered in my county so the choice is easy. But I do have to decide between high deductible and regular Medigap Plan.

[RightField]

As I understand it, even changing between Medigap programs triggers medical rating, so choosing the correct Medigap program is important at the beginning. In our county in FL, the premium difference between F and high-deductible F is not enough to justify the high-deduc plan.

Plus, Plan F will not be offered after 2019. Those in Plan F will be able to continue the plan for the rest of their lives, but because there will be no new enrollees after 2019, the population of that plan will be older and sicker as the years go by. That probably will result in higher premium increases for that plan. Plan G is identical to F, except that you have to pay the small deductible. In our county, the difference in premium between regular F and G is (amazingly!) the exact cost of the deductible. Advantage goes to G, therefore, because the plan will continue after 2019.

[Thank You Rush]

The same is true for a county (Lincoln) in the state of WA where we have friends and I recommended they look into Medicare Advantage - none available there. So they have Original Medicare and bought the drug plan - Part D...