Medicare Choices

There are 2 main ways to get your Medicare coverage

1. Original Medicare (Part A and Part B)
2. Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C)

Some people get additional coverage, like Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D) or Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap). 

Use these steps to help you decide what coverage you want:

Step 1: Decide if you want Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage Plan (Iike an HMO or PPO)

Original Medicare includes Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance) and is provided my Medicare.

You have your choice of doctors, hospitals, and other providers that accept Medicare.

Medicare Advantage, sometimes called "Part C" – includes both Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance). Private insurance companies approved by Medicare provide coverage. In most MA plans, you need to use plan doctors, hospitals, and other providers or you pay more or all of the costs. If you want prescription drug coverage, and it's offered by your MA plan, in most cases you must get it through your plan.

Step 2: Decide if you want prescription drug coverage (Part D)

If you want prescription drug coverage, you must choose and join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan. You usually pay a monthly premium. These plans are run by private companies approved by Medicare.

Step 3: Decide if you want supplemental coverage (Medigap Policy)

You may want to get coverage to help pay some of the health care costs that Original Medicare doesn't cover, like copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles. You can choose to buy a Medigap policy from a private company. Some Medigap policies also offer coverage for services that Original Medicare doesn't cover, like medical care when you travel outside the U.S. If you have Original Medicare and you buy a Medigap policy, Medicare will pay its share of the Medicare-approved amount for covered health care costs. Then your Medigap policy pays its share. A Medigap policy is different from a Medicare Advantage Plan. Those plans are ways to get Medicare benefits, while a Medigap policy only supplements your Original Medicare benefits.