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