Original Medicare
Includes Part A Hospital and Part B Medical coverage.
This option might be good for you if:
- You only want basic Medicare coverage.
- You want to be able to see any provider that accepts Medicare.
Keep in mind
Original Medicare has coverage gaps — it only pays a portion of the costs for covered services.
Prescription drug coverage is not included.
- There’s no limit on what you payout-of-pocket for medical expenses each year.
- There are no extra benefits like dental, vision, hearing.
- You must pay a monthly premium for Part B coverage.
Original Medicare + Part D Prescription Drug Coverage
Adds a Part D prescription drug coverage plan from a private insurer to the Original Medicare plan.
This option might be good for you if:.
- You want prescription drug coverage to go with basic Medicare coverage.
- You want to be able to see any provider that accepts Medicare.
Keep in mind
- Original Medicare has coverage gaps — it only pays a portion of the costs for covered services.
- There’s no limit on what you payout-of-pocket for medical expenses each year.
- There are no extra benefits like dental, vision, hearing and wellness.
- You will pay a separate premium to a private insurance company for your Part D coverage.
Original Medicare + Medigap Coverage
Adds supplemental coverage from a private insurer to Original Medicare.
This option might be good for you if:
- You want coverage to help fill the gaps in Original Medicare.
- You want to be able to see any provider that accepts Medicare.
Keep in mind
- Prescription drug coverage is not included.
- Depending on the Medigap plan, there may or may not be a limit on what you pay out-of-pocket for medical expenses each year.
- There are no extra benefits like dental, vision, hearing and wellness.
- You will pay a separate premium to a private insurance company for your Medigap coverage.
Original Medicare + Medigap + Part D Prescription Drug Coverage
Adds supplemental coverage and a Part D prescription drug plan from private insurers to Original Medicare.
This option might be good for you if:
- You want supplemental coverage that helps fill the gaps in Original Medicare.
- You want coverage for your prescription drugs.
- You want to be able to see any provider that accepts Medicare.
Keep in mind
- Depending on the Medigap plan, there may or may not be a limit on what you pay out-of-pocket for medical expenses each year.
- There are no extra benefits like dental, vision, hearing and wellness.
- You will pay separate private insurance plan premiums for both your Medigap and Part D coverage.
Medicare Advantage
An all-in-one option for receiving your Medicare benefits through a private insurer.
This option might be good for you if:
- You want to receive Part A hospital, Part B medical and often Part D prescription drug coverage together in one plan.
- You want predictable costs and a firm limit on what you pay out-of-pocket for medical expenses each year.
Keep in mind
- Medicare Advantage plans typically come with a network of contracted providers.
- Some plans may give you the ability to use out-of-network providers, but usually at a higher cost.
- You must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium. Some plans may pay some or all of your Part B monthly premium.
- Depending on the plan, you may pay a separate premium to a private insurance company.