There are two main paths: Original Medicare with a Supplement and a drug plan, or an all-in-one Medicare Advantage plan. We'll help you see which one fits your doctors, your prescriptions and your budget.
This is the coverage run by the federal government. Most people get Part A at no monthly cost and pay a monthly premium for Part B.
Inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care after a qualifying stay, hospice, and some home health care.
Doctor visits, outpatient care, lab work, preventive screenings, and medical equipment like walkers or oxygen.
Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private insurance companies approved by Medicare. They replace how Original Medicare pays your claims and cover everything Parts A and B cover, usually in one card.
Most plans include Part D drug coverage. Many also include extras like dental, vision and hearing benefits. You still pay your Part B premium.
Plans usually use a network of doctors and hospitals (HMO or PPO), so checking that your doctors are in network is the most important step. That's exactly what our free review does.
A Medicare Supplement (also called Medigap) works alongside Original Medicare and helps pay the costs it leaves behind, like deductibles and the 20% coinsurance.
Plans are standardized and named by letter, such as Plan G and Plan N. A Plan G from one company covers the same things as a Plan G from another. The difference is price and service, which is why comparing companies matters.
Supplements don't include prescriptions, so most people pair one with a Part D drug plan.
Part D plans are offered by private companies and cover prescription drugs. Each plan has its own list of covered drugs (a formulary), its own price tiers and its own preferred pharmacies.
The plan with the lowest premium isn't always the cheapest for you. What matters is the total cost of your exact medications at your pharmacy. We run that comparison for you.
There's now a yearly cap on what you pay out of pocket for covered drugs, which is a big help if you take expensive medications.
Neither is "better." It depends on your health, your doctors, how you travel and what you want to pay each month versus when you use care.
| Medicare Advantage | Supplement + Part D | |
|---|---|---|
| Doctors | Usually a network (HMO or PPO) | Any provider in the U.S. that accepts Medicare |
| Monthly premium | Often low or $0, plus Part B | Higher, plus Part B and the drug plan |
| When you get care | Copays and coinsurance, up to a yearly limit | Little or nothing, depending on the plan letter |
| Prescriptions | Usually included | Separate Part D plan |
| Dental, vision, hearing | Often included | Not included; can be added separately |
| Changing later | Can switch plans each fall | Switching later may require health questions |
Tell us your doctors and prescriptions, and we'll compare plans from the companies we represent. No cost, no obligation.