Advantage Plan Versus Supplement: How to Choose

Before you look at a single plan, let’s talk about you. Who are the doctors you trust? What prescriptions do you take every day? Do you travel often? Your answers are the most important tool you have for choosing your coverage. The decision in the great advantage plan versus supplement debate is deeply personal. One plan might offer the nationwide flexibility you need, while another provides a local network that includes your favorite doctor. This guide will help you create a personal checklist to confidently match your needs to the right plan.

Key Takeaways

Decide on Your Priority: Doctor Flexibility or Bundled Benefits: A Medicare Supplement plan offers the freedom to see any doctor who accepts Medicare, but you’ll need separate drug and dental plans. A Medicare Advantage plan bundles everything together, often for a lower premium, but requires you to use a specific network of providers.
Match Your Plan to Your Life, Not the Other Way Around: Before comparing plans, list your doctors, medications, and travel habits. This personal checklist is the most important tool for determining whether a plan’s network restrictions and drug formulary will work for you in the real world.
Understand the Two Different Cost Structures: With a Supplement plan, you pay a higher, predictable monthly premium for minimal out-of-pocket costs when you need care. With an Advantage plan, you pay a lower premium but have copays and deductibles, meaning your total costs will vary based on your healthcare usage.

Medicare Advantage Plan Versus Supplement: Which Is Right for You?

Once you’re enrolled in Original Medicare (Part A and Part B), you have a fundamental choice to make about how you’ll receive the rest of your health coverage. Think of it as picking a path. One path involves staying with Original Medicare and adding a separate plan to help with costs. The other path involves choosing a Medicare Advantage plan, which bundles all your coverage into a single, private plan. Each option has a different structure for costs, benefits, and doctor access, so understanding them is the first step toward making a confident decision.

Understanding Original Medicare’s 80/20 Rule

Original Medicare provides a solid foundation for your health coverage, but it was never designed to pay for everything. After you meet your annual Part B deductible, Medicare generally pays 80% of the cost for most covered services and supplies, like doctor visits and outpatient care. This is often called the 80/20 rule. You are responsible for the remaining 20% of the Medicare-approved amount, with no yearly limit on what that 20% could add up to. This cost-sharing structure is a key factor to consider as you plan for your healthcare expenses.

While 20% might seem manageable for a routine appointment, it can become a significant financial risk during a major health event. Since there is no annual cap on your 20% coinsurance, a serious illness or unexpected surgery could leave you with substantial medical bills. This potential for high out-of-pocket costs is the primary reason most people don’t rely on Original Medicare alone. Instead, they choose additional coverage, like a Medicare Supplement policy, to help pay for the costs that Original Medicare doesn’t cover, providing financial predictability and peace of mind.

How Medicare Supplement Plans Fill the Gaps

A Medicare Supplement plan, often called Medigap, works alongside your Original Medicare coverage. Its main job is to help pay for the costs that Medicare doesn’t cover, like your deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance. You’ll pay a separate monthly premium for this plan in addition to your Part B premium.

It’s important to know that Medigap plans generally don’t include prescription drug coverage (Part D), or routine dental, vision, or hearing benefits. You would need to purchase separate, standalone policies for those. One of the biggest draws of a Medicare Supplement plan is freedom of choice—you can see any doctor or visit any hospital in the U.S. that accepts Medicare, without worrying about network restrictions.

How Medigap Plans Are Standardized

One of the most helpful features of Medigap plans is their simplicity. The federal government standardizes them, which means every plan with the same letter (like Plan G or Plan N) must offer the exact same core benefits, no matter which insurance company sells it. This makes the comparison process much clearer. Instead of trying to decipher complex benefit charts, you can focus your attention on the two things that do change between companies: the monthly premium and the company’s reputation. A company’s track record for customer service and its history of rate increases are important factors to research before making a final decision on your provider.

This standardization lets you truly compare apples to apples. Once you decide which plan letter best fits your healthcare needs and budget, you can shop for that specific plan across different insurers to find the best price. However, *when* you buy is just as important as *what* you buy. The best time to purchase a Medigap policy is during your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period. This crucial period starts the month you turn 65 and enroll in Part B. During this one-time window, you have guaranteed issue rights, meaning companies cannot use your health history to deny you coverage or charge you a higher premium. Missing this window could make it much harder or more expensive to get a plan later on.

How Medicare Advantage Plans Bundle Your Coverage

A Medicare Advantage plan, also known as Part C, is an all-in-one alternative to Original Medicare. These plans are offered by private insurance companies approved by Medicare. When you join a Medicare Advantage plan, you still have Medicare, but you’ll get your Part A (hospital) and Part B (medical) benefits directly from your private plan, not from the government.

Most of these plans also include prescription drug coverage (Part D). A key feature is that they often provide extra benefits not covered by Original Medicare, such as routine dental, vision, and hearing care, plus fitness program memberships. Many Medicare Advantage plans even have a $0 monthly premium, though you must continue to pay your Part B premium.

Common Types of Advantage Plans: HMOs and PPOs

The trade-off for those extra benefits and lower premiums often comes down to network restrictions. Most Medicare Advantage plans are structured as either an HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) or a PPO (Preferred Provider Organization). With an HMO, you are generally required to use doctors, hospitals, and specialists within the plan’s network for your care to be covered. You’ll also typically need a referral from your primary care physician to see a specialist. A PPO offers more flexibility, allowing you to see both in-network and out-of-network providers. However, your out-of-pocket costs will almost always be lower when you stay within the plan’s network.

The Reality of Prior Authorization and Service Denials

Another important aspect of Medicare Advantage plans is prior authorization. This is a process where the insurance company must approve a specific medical service, treatment, or prescription before you can receive it. While this is a common cost-control measure for insurers, it can sometimes lead to delays in your care. You might have to wait for the plan to review your doctor’s request before you can schedule a procedure. In some cases, these requests are denied. A government report found that some private plans have denied necessary medical care that would have been covered under Original Medicare, making it critical to understand a plan’s rules before you enroll.

Advantage vs. Supplemental: A Side-by-Side Look

When you place these two options side-by-side, the differences become clearer. Medicare Advantage plans often have lower monthly premiums—sometimes as low as $0—while Supplement plans have a separate premium that can range from modest to several hundred dollars per month.

Advantage plans typically bundle in extra perks like dental and vision, which you’d have to buy separately with a Supplement plan. A major financial difference is that all Advantage plans have a yearly limit on your out-of-pocket costs for medical services, a protection that Original Medicare and Supplement plans don’t offer. However, Supplement plans paired with Original Medicare usually provide broader freedom to choose your doctors, whereas most Advantage plans require you to use doctors within a specific network.

What’s Covered? Comparing Doctors, Drugs, and Benefits

Once you understand the basic structure of Medicare Supplement and Advantage plans, the next step is to look at how they handle your day-to-day healthcare. The differences in coverage, doctor access, and extra perks can have a big impact on your life. Thinking through these details will help you see which plan type aligns best with your health needs and lifestyle.

Can You Keep Your Doctor?

This is often the first question people ask, and for good reason. If you have a doctor you trust, you want to make sure you can continue seeing them. With a Medicare Supplement plan, you can visit any doctor or hospital in the U.S. as long as they accept Medicare. There are no network restrictions, giving you incredible freedom and flexibility. On the other hand, Medicare Advantage plans often have networks, similar to an HMO or PPO. You’ll generally need to use doctors and hospitals within the plan’s network to keep your costs down.

Why Some Doctors Don’t Accept Advantage Plans

It can be frustrating to discover that a doctor you like isn’t in a Medicare Advantage plan’s network. This often comes down to two main factors for the doctor’s office: payment and paperwork. The private insurance companies that run Advantage plans negotiate their own payment rates with doctors, which are often lower than what they receive from Original Medicare or private employer plans. For a medical practice running a business, these lower payments can make it financially difficult to accept certain plans. Additionally, many Advantage plans require prior authorization for procedures or specialist visits. This means the doctor’s office has to spend time getting approval from the insurance company before you can receive care. This added layer of administrative work can be a significant burden, leading some doctors to opt out of Advantage networks altogether.

How Are Prescriptions Covered?

Prescription drug coverage is another major piece of the puzzle. Most Medicare Advantage plans bundle medical and drug coverage into one convenient package. This means your prescriptions are covered under the same plan that handles your doctor visits. Medicare Supplement plans work differently; they don’t cover prescriptions. If you choose a Supplement plan, you’ll need to enroll in a separate, standalone Medicare Part D plan to get your medications covered. This adds another moving part to manage, but it also lets you pick a drug plan that specifically fits your prescription needs.

Do You Get Dental, Vision, and Hearing Coverage?

Many people are surprised to learn that Original Medicare doesn’t cover routine dental, vision, or hearing care. This is where Medicare Advantage plans often stand out. To attract members, many Advantage plans include benefits like dental exams, eyeglasses, hearing aids, and even gym memberships. Medicare Supplement plans stick to covering the gaps in Original Medicare, so they don’t offer these built-in extras. If you have a Supplement plan and want this type of coverage, you would need to buy separate, private insurance policies for them.

Are You Covered When You Travel?

Your lifestyle plays a big role in choosing the right plan. If you’re a snowbird or travel frequently to visit family, your coverage needs to travel with you. A Medicare Supplement plan offers nationwide coverage, allowing you to see any Medicare-accepting provider anywhere in the country without a referral. This makes it a great option for travelers. Medicare Advantage plans, however, typically have regional networks. While they must cover emergencies anywhere in the U.S., routine care may be restricted to your plan’s service area, which could be a challenge if you spend a lot of time away from home.

Foreign Travel Emergency Coverage with Medigap

What about that trip to Italy you’ve been dreaming of? It’s important to know that Original Medicare offers very limited coverage outside the U.S. This is where certain Medicare Supplement plans can be a real asset for international travelers. Several Medigap plans provide coverage for emergency care during the first 60 days of a trip outside the country. After you meet a small annual deductible, these plans will typically pay 80% of your billed emergency care costs, up to a lifetime maximum of $50,000. For anyone who loves to travel abroad, this benefit offers a critical safety net so you can explore the world with greater peace of mind.

What Will You Really Pay? A Look at the Costs

Understanding the financial side of Medicare can feel like learning a new language, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. When you compare Medicare Supplement and Medicare Advantage plans, you’re really looking at two different ways of paying for your healthcare. One involves more predictable, upfront costs, while the other has lower initial costs but more variables as you use your insurance. Let’s break down what you can expect to pay with each option so you can find the approach that fits your budget and gives you peace of mind.

Breaking Down the Monthly Premiums

Your monthly premium is the fixed amount you’ll pay to keep your plan active. With Medicare Advantage plans, it’s common to see premiums as low as $0 per month. This can be very appealing, but remember, you still have to pay your monthly Medicare Part B premium. On the other hand, Medicare Supplement plans have a separate monthly premium that can range from around $30 to several hundred dollars, depending on the plan and where you live. This is in addition to your Part B premium. The trade-off is that a higher monthly premium for a Supplement plan often means fewer out-of-pocket costs when you visit the doctor.

Beyond the Premium: Deductibles and Copays

This is where the two types of plans really differ. Medicare Advantage plans operate much like traditional health insurance, where you’ll typically have a copay for doctor visits, hospital stays, and specialist appointments. These costs can add up depending on how frequently you need care. In contrast, Medicare Supplement plans are designed specifically to help pay for the costs that Original Medicare doesn’t cover. This includes things like your Medicare deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance. By covering these gaps, a Supplement plan can make your healthcare spending much more predictable.

Potential for Lower Out-of-Pocket Costs with Advantage Plans

A major financial difference with Medicare Advantage plans is the out-of-pocket maximum. Every Advantage plan includes a yearly limit on your out-of-pocket costs for medical services, which acts as a crucial financial safety net. Once you reach this limit, the plan pays 100% for covered services for the rest of the year. This protection is something Original Medicare and Supplement plans don’t offer. For someone who is healthy, the combination of a $0 premium and occasional copays can result in lower annual spending than a high-premium Supplement plan. The value of bundled benefits like dental, vision, and hearing also adds to the potential savings, since you won’t need to purchase separate policies for that coverage.

What’s the Long-Term Financial Picture?

When thinking about long-term costs, it’s helpful to consider a worst-case scenario. Medicare Advantage plans offer a valuable safety net here: they have a yearly limit on your out-of-pocket costs for medical services. Once you hit this maximum, the plan pays 100% for covered services for the rest of the year. This provides a cap on your potential medical spending. Original Medicare, even when paired with a Medicare Supplement plan, does not have an out-of-pocket maximum. While a Supplement plan covers many costs, a major health event could still lead to significant expenses without that defined yearly limit.

Are There Hidden Costs to Watch For?

With any plan, it’s important to look beyond the premium. For Medicare Advantage plans, a potential “hidden” cost comes from network restrictions. If you see a doctor or visit a hospital outside the plan’s network, you could face much higher costs or have no coverage at all. You may also need a referral to see a specialist. With Medicare Supplement plans, the main thing to remember is that most plans sold today do not include prescription drug coverage. To get that, you’ll need to enroll in a separate Medicare Part D plan, which comes with its own premium and cost-sharing.

How to Match a Plan to Your Lifestyle

Choosing between a Medicare Supplement and an Advantage plan isn’t about finding the “best” plan—it’s about finding the best plan for you. Your health, lifestyle, and priorities are the most important factors in this decision. Before you even start comparing plan details, it’s helpful to take a step back and look at your own needs. Think of it as creating a personal checklist. What are your non-negotiables? What level of flexibility do you need?

Answering these questions will give you a clear framework for evaluating your options. A plan that works perfectly for your neighbor might not be the right fit for you if you see different doctors, take different medications, or have different travel habits. Taking the time for this self-assessment now will save you from potential headaches and unexpected costs down the road. It helps you move from feeling overwhelmed by all the choices to feeling confident that you’re picking a plan that truly aligns with your life.

Start With Your Health and Medications

First, grab a pen and paper and make two lists. On the first, write down any ongoing health conditions you manage. On the second, list every prescription medication you take, including the dosage. This simple exercise is one of the most powerful things you can do. Some Medicare Advantage plans bundle prescription drug coverage (Part D) with their medical benefits. If you go this route, you’ll need to check that your specific medications are on the plan’s list of covered drugs, or formulary. With a Medicare Supplement plan, you’ll need to buy a separate Part D plan, so you’ll still need your list to find the right one.

Does Your Plan Work Where You Live and Travel?

Where you live and how often you travel are key considerations. Medicare Advantage plans operate within specific service areas, so you must live within the plan’s approved region to enroll. Most of your care will be delivered within that local network. If you’re a snowbird who spends winters in a different state or you travel frequently across the U.S., this could be a problem. A Medicare Supplement plan, on the other hand, travels with you. You can see any doctor or visit any hospital in the country that accepts Medicare, giving you freedom and peace of mind no matter where you are.

Who Are Your Must-Have Doctors and Hospitals?

Do you have a primary care doctor you love or a specialist you’ve seen for years? If keeping your current doctors is a top priority, you need to check which plans they accept. With Original Medicare and a Supplement plan, you have the freedom to see any doctor who takes Medicare. But Medicare Advantage plans have provider networks, similar to an HMO or PPO. If your doctor isn’t in the network, seeing them could cost you much more, or it might not be covered at all. The best way to know for sure is to call your doctor’s office directly and ask which plans they participate in.

Thinking Ahead: Planning for Future Care

It’s impossible to predict the future, but you can plan for it. Your health needs may be simple today, but they could become more complex over time. Medicare Supplement plans are often valued for their predictability. Because they cover many of the out-of-pocket costs that Original Medicare leaves behind, your expenses can be more stable, even if you need more medical care later. It’s also important to know that when you first become eligible for Medicare, you have a one-time open enrollment period to buy any Supplement plan without answering health questions. If you wait and try to switch later, you may have to go through medical underwriting, which could make it harder or more expensive to get coverage.

How to Choose the Right Plan for You

Making a final decision between a Medicare Supplement and a Medicare Advantage plan comes down to your unique circumstances. There’s no single “best” plan—only the plan that’s best for you. Thinking through a few key areas can bring a lot of clarity and help you feel confident in your choice. It’s about matching the plan’s features with your health needs, budget, and lifestyle. By breaking it down step-by-step, you can find a path forward that makes sense for your life, both now and in the years to come.

How to Weigh the Pros and Cons

The first step is to look at what each type of plan actually covers. Think of it this way: Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans are designed to fill the gaps in Original Medicare, primarily covering your out-of-pocket costs like deductibles and coinsurance. On the other hand, Medicare Advantage plans are an alternative way to get your Medicare benefits, often bundling medical, hospital, and prescription drug coverage into one plan. Many Advantage plans also include extra perks not covered by Original Medicare, such as routine dental, vision, and hearing care. The difference between Medicare Advantage and Medigap is significant, so list your priorities to see which structure aligns best with your health needs.

Using CMS Star Ratings to Evaluate Plans

When you’re comparing Medicare Advantage and Part D plans, it can be hard to know which ones are high-quality. That’s where the CMS Star Ratings come in. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) created this rating system to give you a straightforward way to assess the performance and quality of different plans. Each year, CMS evaluates plans based on dozens of factors, including member satisfaction, customer service, and how well a plan helps people manage chronic conditions. It’s an objective tool designed to help you make an informed choice about your coverage, taking some of the guesswork out of the process.

Plans are rated on a scale of one to five stars, with five stars representing the highest quality. While most major insurance companies tend to have plans that fall between three and four-and-a-half stars, only a select few earn a five-star rating. You can find these ratings on the official Medicare Plan Finder tool, where the highest-rated plans are often highlighted with a special icon. It’s important to remember that these Star Ratings apply only to Medicare Advantage and Part D prescription drug plans. Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans are standardized by the government and are not part of this rating system, so you won’t see star ratings for them.

Why Talk to a Licensed Agent?

You don’t have to figure this all out on your own. Working with an independent licensed agent gives you a personal guide who understands the ins and outs of every plan available in your area. An agent can help you compare plans based on your specific doctors, prescriptions, and budget. Research from The Commonwealth Fund shows that agents often help people find plans that fit their financial situation, noting that traditional Medicare with Medigap can offer coverage with fewer hassles for those who can afford the premium. An independent agent isn’t tied to one company, so their goal is simply to find the right fit for you from all the available options.

When Can You Sign Up or Switch Plans?

Timing is everything with Medicare. You can only enroll or switch plans during specific times of the year. Your Initial Enrollment Period when you first turn 65 is a critical time to enroll without penalties. After that, the most important period for many is the Annual Enrollment Period, which runs from October 15 to December 7 each year. This is your chance to switch between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, or to change your Advantage or Part D plan. Missing these deadlines can mean you’re stuck with your current coverage for another year, so it’s essential to mark these dates on your calendar and plan ahead.

The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period

If you start the year with a Medicare Advantage plan and quickly realize it’s not the right fit, you’re not stuck. There’s a special window called the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, which runs from January 1 to March 31 each year. This period is exclusively for people who are already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. It gives you a chance to make one change: you can either switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan, or you can leave your plan and return to Original Medicare. It’s a valuable opportunity to adjust your coverage if you find your plan isn’t working for you in the real world.

This is your chance to act if your doctor isn’t in the network or your copays are higher than you anticipated. You can switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another to find a better match for your needs. If you choose to go back to Original Medicare, you can also use this time to enroll in a standalone Part D prescription drug plan. Just be sure not to confuse this with the Annual Enrollment Period in the fall (October 15 to December 7), which allows for a broader range of changes for all Medicare beneficiaries. Think of this early-year window as a specific do-over just for Advantage plan members.

Can You Change Your Plan Later?

Many people worry about making the wrong choice, but it’s helpful to know that you often have options to make changes down the road. If you pick a Medicare Advantage plan and find it’s not the right fit, you can generally switch to another plan or return to Original Medicare during the Annual Enrollment Period. There’s even a special rule for those who try an Advantage plan for the first time after having Medigap. If you make the switch and aren’t happy, you have a special 12-month period to go back to your old Medigap policy. Understanding how Medigap works and its trial rights can give you peace of mind as you make your decision.

Understanding Your Medigap “Guaranteed-Issue” Rights

One of the most important concepts to grasp is your Medigap “guaranteed-issue” right. Think of this as a one-time golden ticket. When you are 65 or older and first enroll in Medicare Part B, you get a six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period. During this window, an insurance company cannot use medical underwriting. This means they can’t refuse to sell you any Medigap policy they offer, charge you more because of your health history, or make you wait for coverage to start. It’s a protected period that ensures you have access to these plans. This initial window is often the best and easiest time to enroll in a Medigap plan, as your acceptance is guaranteed.

The Risks of Switching from an Advantage Plan to Medigap

If you choose a Medicare Advantage plan initially and decide a few years later that you want to switch to a Medigap plan, you may face a significant hurdle. In most cases, you will lose your ‘guaranteed-issue’ rights. This means you will likely have to answer a series of health questions, and the insurance company can use medical underwriting to decide whether to accept your application. They could deny you coverage or charge you a higher premium based on your health conditions. While you can switch from an Advantage plan back to Original Medicare during the annual enrollment periods, your ability to get a Medigap plan at that point is not guaranteed.

Don’t Fall for These Common Medicare Myths

Medicare can feel like a puzzle with a lot of moving parts, and it’s easy to get tripped up by misinformation. When you hear things from friends, family, or even commercials, it can be tough to separate fact from fiction. Let’s walk through some of the most common myths about Medicare Supplement and Medicare Advantage plans so you can feel more confident in your understanding. Getting clear on these points will help you focus on what truly matters: finding the coverage that fits your life.

Myth: “One plan is just like another”

This is one of the biggest points of confusion. While both Medicare Supplement (Medigap) and Medicare Advantage plans are designed to help with costs that Original Medicare doesn’t cover, they do it in very different ways. Think of them as two completely different paths. Medicare Advantage plans often bundle medical and drug coverage and may include extra perks like routine dental, vision, and hearing care. In contrast, Medicare Supplement plans stick to covering your out-of-pocket costs from Original Medicare, like copayments and deductibles, and don’t include those extra benefits.

Myth: “I can see any doctor I want”

Your freedom to choose doctors and hospitals depends entirely on the type of plan you select. If you have Original Medicare and a Medigap plan, you can see any doctor or use any hospital in the country that accepts Medicare—no referrals needed. This flexibility is a major reason why people choose Medigap. However, most Medicare Advantage plans operate with a local network of providers, similar to an HMO or PPO. You’ll need to use doctors and hospitals within that network to get the lowest costs. Seeing an out-of-network provider can lead to much higher bills or may not be covered at all, except in emergencies.

Myth: “The lowest premium is always the best deal”

A $0 monthly premium on a Medicare Advantage plan can be very tempting, but it doesn’t tell the whole story of your potential costs. These plans often have higher out-of-pocket expenses when you receive care, such as deductibles, copays, and coinsurance. On the other hand, Medigap plans typically have a higher monthly premium, but they cover more of your out-of-pocket costs, leading to more predictable expenses throughout the year. It’s important to look beyond the premium and compare the total potential out-of-pocket costs to see which option makes more financial sense for your situation.

Myth: “I can sign up anytime”

Timing is everything when it comes to Medicare, especially with Medigap. Your best window to buy a Medigap policy is during your 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period, which starts the month you’re 65 and enrolled in Part B. During this time, insurance companies can’t use your health history to deny you a policy or charge you more. If you apply outside of this period, you may be subject to medical underwriting. While you can switch plans during the Annual Enrollment Period, the rules can be complex. For instance, there are specific guidelines that explain how Medigap works if you decide to switch from an Advantage plan back to Original Medicare.

Myth: “My plan’s benefits and network will stay the same”

It’s a common assumption that once you pick a plan, its features are locked in. The reality is that insurance companies can and do make changes to their plans every single year. This applies to both Medicare Advantage and Part D prescription drug plans. Your plan’s provider network, list of covered drugs, and even your copays and deductibles can be different next year. A doctor who is in your network today might not be next year, and a prescription that’s affordable now could become more expensive. This is why it’s so critical to review your coverage annually.

The most important document you’ll receive is the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC), which your plan mails out each fall. This document clearly outlines every single change for the upcoming year—from network updates to cost adjustments. While the standardized benefits of a Medicare Supplement plan don’t change, their premiums can increase. For Medicare Advantage plans, however, the network and extra perks are always subject to review. Taking 30 minutes to read your ANOC is the best way to ensure your plan will continue to work for you and avoid any surprises in January.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I choose a Medicare Advantage plan, do I still have Medicare? Yes, you absolutely do. Think of a Medicare Advantage plan as a different way to receive your Medicare benefits. You are still in the Medicare program and must continue to pay your Part B premium. The main difference is that a private insurance company, approved by Medicare, manages your care instead of the federal government.

Which option is better if I travel a lot? If you spend a significant amount of time away from home, a Medicare Supplement plan is often the more flexible choice. It allows you to see any doctor or visit any hospital in the U.S. that accepts Medicare, without being tied to a local network. Most Medicare Advantage plans have regional networks, meaning your routine care is typically only covered within a specific service area.

Why would I pay a monthly premium for a Supplement plan when many Advantage plans are $0? This comes down to how you prefer to pay for your healthcare. With a Medicare Supplement plan, you pay a higher, predictable monthly premium, but you’ll have very few, if any, out-of-pocket costs when you receive medical care. With a $0-premium Medicare Advantage plan, you save on the monthly cost, but you will have copays and deductibles when you visit the doctor or hospital. It’s a trade-off between paying more upfront for greater cost predictability later.

What happens if I pick a plan and realize it’s not the right fit for me? You aren’t locked in forever. Each year, during the Annual Enrollment Period from October 15 to December 7, you have the opportunity to change your plan. You can switch from one Advantage plan to another, or move from an Advantage plan back to Original Medicare. This annual window gives you the flexibility to reassess your coverage as your needs change.

Do I really need a separate plan for my prescriptions? That depends on which path you choose. Most Medicare Advantage plans bundle prescription drug coverage (Part D) right into the plan, so you have one policy for everything. If you choose a Medicare Supplement plan, you will need to purchase a separate, standalone Part D plan to have your medications covered, as Supplement plans do not include this benefit.

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