What Are Your Medicare Coverage Options?

Your Medicare coverage options begin with choosing between Original Medicare (Parts A and B) and Medicare Advantage (Part C). Additional coverage can be added on to Original Medicare, while Medicare Advantage is an all-in-one bundle.

How are Medicare coverage options combined?

There are two ways to combine the parts of Medicare. With Original Medicare, you start with Parts A and B, which are provided directly by the government, and add on additional plans to have a full set of benefits for both medical care and prescriptions. The other option is to get a bundled Medicare Advantage plan from a private insurance company.

There are several things to keep in mind when choosing between the managed care benefits of Medicare Advantage versus the fee-for-service benefits of Original Medicare.

Original Medicare gives you access to most of the doctors in the country, and even though Medigap plans are expensive, they can eliminate most medical expenses, making them a good deal for those who have ongoing health problems.

In contrast, Medicare Advantage includes add-ons like dental and vision coverage that aren't available through Original Medicare, but plans have more restrictions about how you get your medical care including a limited network of doctors and needing referrals or preauthorizations.

Learn more: Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap

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What are your options within each part of Medicare?

Each part of Medicare may have multiple plans available. Learn more about your options within Part A, Part B, Part C, Part D and Medigap.

Part A: Hospitalization

With Medicare Part A, hospitalization and inpatient coverage is standardized nationally and administered by the government. This means the benefits and access to care are the same no matter where you live.

You don't need to make any coverage decisions or choose any plans. Medicare Part A is free for 99% of enrollees, and the most important thing to remember is to enroll on time to avoid penalties.

Learn more: How does Medicare Part A work?

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Part B: Doctors and outpatient care

Medicare Part B also provides standardized coverage across the nation, offering the same set of benefits and access for all enrollees.

You won't have any enrollment decisions for plans or coverage. However, the cost of Part B can vary based on your situation. The standard rate is currently $174.70 per month, which is what most people pay. High-income earners pay more each month, while those who have a low income can qualify for savings. There is also a penalty for late enrollment, except in circumstances when you're still working past age 65 and have qualified coverage through your employer.

Learn more: How does Medicare Part B work?

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Part C (Medicare Advantage): Bundled coverage

These all-in-one plans combine multiple types of coverage in a plan that's provided by a private insurance company.

There is a wide variety of plan options including different companies and coverage levels. The plan you choose will determine how much you pay for medical care and which doctors will be the cheapest.

The available plans change based on where you live, and on average, shoppers can choose from 25 different plans. To start comparing your options, we recommend first using Medicare.gov or a plan comparison tool to see what plans are offered in your area.

Then compare companies to find a well-rated insurer that offers affordable rates and has your preferred doctors in their network.

Learn more: How does Medicare Part C work?

Best Medicare Advantage plans

Among the five most popular insurers selling Medicare Advantage plans, Kaiser Permanente has the highest overall ratings on Medicare.gov, while Aetna has the lowest average cost.

Learn more about our picks for the Best Medicare Advantage plans

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Part D: Prescriptions

Medicare Part D plans are sold by private insurance companies, and available options change by location.

Part D plans provide prescription coverage that's used alongside the medical benefits of Original Medicare (Parts A and B). For those enrolling in Medicare Advantage, you can get prescription coverage included in your coverage bundle, and you usually won't be able to sign up for a standalone Part D plan.

All Part D plans are required to cover all essential medication categories. However, the plan you choose will determine how much you pay for prescriptions as well as the specific drugs that are covered.

Your Part D plan options depend on your location, and the first step when shopping is to find out which plans are offered in your area. When comparing options, it’s helpful to look at total annual spending for both the plan and your medications. Someone who needs expensive medications may get the best deal by paying more for better coverage, and a cheap plan is often the best choice for those who need minimal or generic medications.

Learn more: How does Medicare Part D work?

Best Medicare Part D plans

The top-rated insurer for Medicare Part D plans is Kaiser Permanente, according to overall ratings by Medicare.gov. However, moderate star ratings are much more common for Part D plans than Medicare Advantage plans, and 89% of Part D enrollees have a plan that's 3.5 or 4 stars.

Learn more about our picks for the Best Medicare Part D plans

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Medicare Supplement (Medigap): Extra coverage

Medicare Supplement insurance (Medigap) reduces what you'll directly pay for medical care by providing additional coverage beyond the basic medical benefits of Parts A and B.

There are 10 plan options available, named A through N, and the benefits are standardized by plan letter. This means when choosing a Medigap plan, you'll select both the level of coverage you want from a company that has good ratings and affordable rates for your situation.

It's important to sign up for Medigap during your initial enrollment period because during this time, your application can’t be denied and you won’t pay more because of your medical history.

Best Medicare Supplement plans

Aetna has the cheapest overall rates for Medigap Plan G. However, rates can vary widely by location. For new enrollees, Medigap Plan G and Plan N are popular choices that provide the best coverage.

Learn more about our picks for the best Medicare Supplement plans

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Frequently asked questions

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Sources and methodology

Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D costs and star ratings are averages of nationwide data based on public use files from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Medicare Supplement costs are averaged from sample locations using Medicare.gov. Rates are based on a 65-year-old female nonsmoker and include estimates from states that have age-based price increases and states where age is not used to determine premiums. All plan data is based on 2022 rates.