Medicare Options

Understand Your Medicare Options

Different Medicare options work differently. Understanding the differences can help you ask better questions and make a more informed decision. No single option is right for everyone.

Original Medicare

Part A and Part B, administered directly by the federal government.

Coverage is accepted by providers who participate in Medicare
No plan network, and no referral requirement
Does not include prescription drug coverage on its own
Costs such as deductibles and coinsurance apply

Medicare Advantage

Also known as Part C, offered by private insurance companies approved by Medicare.

Provides your Part A and Part B coverage through the plan
Plans use provider networks and have their own rules
Many plans include prescription drug coverage
Plan costs, benefits, and networks vary by plan and by area

Medicare Supplement

Also known as Medigap, designed to work alongside Original Medicare.

Helps cover certain costs Original Medicare doesn't fully pay
Standardized plan types with different levels of coverage
Used together with Original Medicare, not instead of it
Prescription coverage is purchased separately through Part D

Prescription Drug Coverage

Part D plans help cover the cost of prescription medications.

Each plan has its own covered drug list, or formulary
Premiums, deductibles, and copayments vary between plans
Pharmacy networks differ from plan to plan
Your specific medications matter when comparing plans

A Side-by-Side View

This comparison is meant to highlight how the options are structured differently — not to suggest that one is better than another. The right fit depends on your doctors, medications, budget, and preferences.

Comparison of Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and Medicare Supplement
Consideration	Original Medicare	Medicare Advantage	Medicare Supplement
How coverage is administered	Federal government	Private plan approved by Medicare	Original Medicare plus a private policy
Provider access	Providers that accept Medicare	Plan network rules apply	Providers that accept Medicare
Prescription drugs	Separate Part D plan	Often included in the plan	Separate Part D plan
Costs to review	Deductibles and coinsurance	Premiums, copays, out-of-pocket maximum	Policy premium plus Medicare costs

How We Approach the Comparison

We start with your situation: the doctors you'd like to keep, the medications you take, the coverage you already have, and how you prefer to handle costs.

From there we explain how each option would work in practice, what questions to ask, and what tradeoffs to weigh — so the decision stays yours.

Review Your Options With Us

Before You Decide

Make a list of your current doctors, specialists, and pharmacies.
Write down each prescription, including dosage.
Note any coverage you have now, including employer, TRICARE, or VA coverage.
Think about how often you travel and where you spend the year.

Not Sure Which Option Fits Your Situation?

We'll explain how each option works, answer your questions, and help you compare them against the coverage you have today.

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