Medicare Plans: Understand & Compare Different Medicare Coverage Types
Learn the difference between Medicare Supplement, Medicare Advantage, and other Medicare plans – and what fits your healthcare needs
Not sure which Medicare plan is right for you? Contact United Medicare Advisors today.
Explore Medicare Plans
Learn the difference between Medicare Supplement and Medicare Advantage, and figure out what works best for your healthcare needs.
Medicare Supplement Plans
Medigap (another name for Medicare Supplement Insurance) covers all or part of some costs left over after Original Medicare pays its share first.
Medicare Advantage Plans
Medicare Advantage plans, also called Medicare Part C or MA plans, are considered to be all-in-one health care solutions.
Prescription Drug Plans
Original Medicare does not cover the cost of prescription drugs. Medicare Part D helps seniors finance the costs of prescription drugs.
Understanding Medicare Plans & Parts
Choosing the right combination of Medicare plans starts with understanding the basic structure of Medicare (Original Medicare), which is divided into Parts based on the type of care they cover.
- Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance): Primarily covers inpatient care in a hospital, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care, and home health services. To learn more, visit our Original Medicare: Part A and Part B page.
- Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance): Primarily covers certain doctor services, outpatient care, medical supplies, and preventive services. Part B plans are essential for day-to-day healthcare.
- Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage Plans): As an alternative to Original Medicare, these private Medicare Advantage Plans bundle your Part A and Part B coverage and often include Part D and other extra benefits.
- Medicare Part D (Prescription Drug Plans): Helps cover the cost of prescriptions. It's crucial to find a Prescription Drug Plan with a formulary that works for you.
When considering your Medicare health plans, remember that Medicare Supplemental Insurance Plans are designed to work with Part A and Part B, while Medicare Advantage Plans are designed to replace them. Our comprehensive Beginner’s Guide to Medicare can help you start the process.
Orginal Medicare: Medicare Parts A & B
Learn more about Original Medicare, and what you may need to consider as you get started with your Medicare enrollment
How Do Different Medicare Plans Go Together?
The various Medicare plans and parts are designed to fit together in specific ways, which can be confusing. The primary distinction is between the Original Medicare path and the Medicare Advantage path.
The Original Medicare Path: Medicare Part A plus Medicare Part B equals Original Medicare. Please note, there are no specific Medicare Part A plans or Medicare Part B plans. You need to be enrolled in both to have options to enroll in other Medicare plans. This combination covers roughly 80% of your approved healthcare costs. You can then layer on a standalone Prescription Drug Plan (Part D) and a Medicare Supplement Plan (Medigap) to help cover the remaining cost of deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance.
If you decide this path is right for you and are interested in a Medicare Supplemental Insurance Plan, there are ten federally standardized plans to choose from:
- Medicare Supplement Plan A
- Medicare Supplement Plan B
- Medicare Supplement Plan C (not available to new Medicare enrollees who became eligible on or after Jan. 1, 2020)
- Medicare Supplement Plan D
- Medicare Supplement Plan F (not available to new Medicare enrollees who became eligible on or after Jan. 1, 2020)
- Medicare Supplement Plan G
- Medicare Supplement Plan K
- Medicare Supplement Plan L
- Medicare Supplement Plan M
- Medicare Supplement Plan N
Some states — like Wisconsin, Massachusetts and Minnesota — have their own standardized plans
The Medicare Advantage Path: Medicare Part C (or Medicare Advantage Plans) is an all-in-one alternative. It must offer at least the same benefits as Part A and Part B, but it operates like private insurance (often using an HMO or PPO network). Most Medicare Advantage Plans include Part D coverage and additional services like vision and wellness programs. You cannot use a Medicare Supplement Plan alongside a Medicare Advantage Plan.
Understanding this framework is key to making the best decision about your coverage.
Beginner's Guide to Medicare
Medigap (another name for Medicare Supplement Insurance) covers all or part of some costs left over after Original Medicare pays its share first.
Plans Offered by United Medicare Advisors
United Medicare Advisors (UMA) specializes in helping you navigate the complexities of Medicare and how Medicare Supplement Plans can be the right fit for your Medicare journey. Our goal is to provide you with guidance and a comprehensive comparison of Medicare Supplement Plans to ensure you receive coverage that fits your unique health, lifestyle and budget needs.
We often see that the most important decision is made at the outset of your Medicare eligibility. The decision is whether you should enroll in Original Medicare with a Medicare Supplement and Prescription Drug Plan, or enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan that replaces Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B. We provide the human element in this critical decision. Our licensed agents are dedicated to being your Medicare advisor through the process, helping you weigh the stability and flexibility of a Medicare Supplement Plan against the additional benefits and network structure of a Medicare Advantage Plan. If you decide to go the Medicare Supplement route, we can help you choose a plan and enroll on the spot. IIf a Medicare Advantage is a better fit for your needs, we’ll guide you down that path.
While United Medicare Advisors does not sell Medicare Advantage plans, our partner agency — SmartMatch Insurance Agency — does. They can walk you through all the ins and outs, ensuring that you find a plan with your current doctors and hospitals in network, explaining the difference between HMOs and PPOs, and identifying plans with the benefits you need. We can transfer you directly to them, so you can seamlessly enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan on one call.
Looking for Medicare Supplement Plans quotes?
Our licensed insurance agents are able to get you real-time rates from multiple, national insurance carriers, helping you decide on a plan that fits your health, budget and lifestyle needs.
Get Started With Medicare
If you’re ready to start the Medicare plan finder process, our licensed insurance agents are ready to help you compare plans and make an informed decision. We provide personalized advice, eliminating the stress of figuring out which combination of Medicare Part A, Medicare Part B, Medicare Part D, and supplemental coverage is right for you. Our goal is to find you a plan that maximizes your benefits and minimizes your costs for doctor, hospital, and prescription needs.
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