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Medicare Advantage (Part C) is an alternative to Original Medicare offered by private insurance companies. These plans bundle Part A and Part B coverage, and most include prescription drug coverage. Many also include dental, vision, hearing, fitness programs, and over-the-counter allowances — sometimes at $0 additional premium.

Medicare Advantage is a Medicare-approved plan from a private company that offers an alternative to Original Medicare for your health and drug coverage. By law, it covers the same benefits as Original Medicare (Parts A and B together). For certain benefits, such as hospice care, Original Medicare may help cover the cost even if you have a Medicare Advantage plan.

These plans also typically cover additional benefits that vary by plan. Additional benefits can include prescription drugs, routine dental, vision and/or hearing, telemedicine and/or possibly more. There may not be a plan in your area that has all of these benefits in one plan.

Medicare Advantage is popular among beneficiaries, with more than half of all Medicare members now choosing private Medicare Advantage coverage over Original Medicare.

Medigap, or a Medicare supplement plan, is a supplemental policy that you can buy to cover some or nearly all of the out-of-pocket costs under Original Medicare.

These supplement plans are federally standardized in all but three states (Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin), and there are 10 plan types: A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N. This means that each plan type will cover the same benefits regardless of the company selling it. The difference is in premiums and the company selling the plan.

Note: If you're new to Medicare as of January 1, 2020, you won't be able to get Medigap Plan C or Plan F.

Original Medicare doesn't cover prescriptions. If you take regular medications or just want prescription drug coverage, you have two options with Medicare: a standalone Part D drug plan or a Medicare Advantage plan that covers prescriptions (most do).

Costs, like premiums, deductibles and how much you pay out of pocket for medication, depend on different factors, including where you live, the carrier selling the plan and the plan itself.

Always check a plan's formulary — its list of covered drugs — and the cost breakdowns to make sure you're getting the coverage you need that works for your budget.

Yes, as of 2025, there's now an out-of-pocket maximum for Part D. It limits what you have to pay out of pocket for prescriptions once you meet the plan's deductible. The cap changes each year. In 2026, it's $2,100.

The new cap essentially replaces the initial coverage limit and catastrophic coverage phases under Part D and combines them into a structure more like a regular health plan. In other words, you pay for your prescriptions based on the terms of the plan, including the deductible, and once you reach a certain threshold, your plan pays 100% of the cost of covered medications for the rest of the plan year.

You can also spread your Part D out-of-pocket costs throughout the year in even payments.

Original Medicare covers hospital-related care through Part A and outpatient medical care through Part B. Visit Medicare's website directly (here) for a full overview.

Generally speaking, Original Medicare covers a lot of your health benefits. That includes treatments and services like hospitalization, wellness visits, vaccinations, cancer screenings, outpatient procedures, durable medical equipment and more.

Medicare Advantage plans cover at least the same benefits as Original Medicare, and may include drug coverage (often) and other additional benefits (usually).

Original Medicare doesn't cover everything. The list of non-covered benefits isn't long, but some of these may be important to you, especially as you get older. In general, Original Medicare does not cover:

• Prescription drugs
• Routine yearly physicals
• Long-term (custodial) care
• Most dental care or dentures
• Routine eye exams or corrective eyewear
• Hearing aids or exams for fitting them
• Cosmetic surgery
• Massage therapy

This list only applies to Original Medicare (Parts A and B).

If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, some of these benefits might be covered. Most Advantage plans cover prescription drugs, for example, and many include some coverage for routine dental, vision, and/or hearing, along with other benefits. There may not be a plan in your area that has all of these benefits in one plan.

Each portion of Medicare has its own set of costs. Here are the costs of Medicare in 2025:

Part A. Most people don't pay a premium for Part A because work taxes cover it by the time you retire. Premiums depend on how many work credits you have (check with Social Security) and can change each year. Part A also has deductibles and coinsurance for hospital care and skilled nursing care.

Part B. With the exception of people who get cost assistance, everyone pays a Part B premium, even if you have Medicare Advantage. Most people pay the standard monthly premium, which changes each year. You may pay more if your income is higher. Part B also has a 20 percent coinsurance once you meet the annual deductible.

Part C (Medicare Advantage). These are Medicare-approved plans offered by private companies, which means how much you pay out of pocket will depend on the plan. You'll pay your Part B premium (and Part A, if you have to), plus a premium for the Advantage plan if there is one. Some Advantage plans don't have a monthly premium. Deductibles, copays, and coinsurance vary. Note that even with a $0 premium Medicare Advantage plan, you'll still pay a monthly premium for Part B, and a Part D premium if your Medicare Advantage plan does not include prescription drug coverage (MA-PD).

Part D. As with Part C, the cost of standalone Part D drug plans depends on the plan. In 2026, there's a cap of $615 on the annual deductible for Part D, meaning no plan can have a higher deductible. Some may have a lower one. Premiums and cost sharing vary.

Medigap. Costs vary widely with Medicare supplement plans as well. Remember that these plans are standardized in all but three states, so the cost difference between plans of the same letter type is not based on coverage. Plan G in Georgia will cover the same benefits as Plan G in Texas, regardless of the company selling the plan. Costs vary for other reasons, including your location. Plans that cover more Medicare cost sharing may have a higher premium.

Generally, no, you can't buy a marketplace plan as an adult aged 65 or older because you qualify for Medicare. In fact, it's actually illegal for someone to sell you a marketplace plan if you have Medicare. But there are exceptions.

For instance, if you have to pay a premium for Part A (remember that most people get it for free), then you may be able to get a marketplace plan instead.

But Medicare tends to be an affordable way to get health insurance, so if you're considering a marketplace plan instead when you qualify for Medicare, make sure you read over the guidelines first. Otherwise, if you enroll in Medicare after your initial eligibility, you might have a late enrollment penalty added to your premiums.

Once you're eligible for Medicare, you'll enroll in Parts A and B directly through Social Security. You can do this online, via phone (1-855-328-6205 / TTY:1-855-328-6205) or in person at your local Social Security office.

Your Initial Enrollment Period starts 3 months before your 65th birthday, includes the month of your birthday, and ends 3 months after your 65th birthday. During this time, you can enroll in Parts A and/or B for the first time.

After you enroll in Original Medicare, you can decide whether to add Part D coverage, enroll in Medigap, or switch to a Medicare Advantage plan. Remember that these plans are sold by individual insurance companies, so choosing one isn't as straightforward as enrolling in Medicare.

Note: If you want to enroll in Medigap, you have a 6-month initial signup window to get any Medigap plan sold in your state (and available to you). It starts on the first of the month after you're 65 and enrolled in Part B. Example: You enroll in Part B at age 65 on February 4. Your initial Medigap signup window would start on March 1. After that window, your ability to get a Medigap plan, as well as your premium, will depend on your health history since these are not guaranteed issue after the 6-month signup window.

It's important to keep in mind that Original Medicare may not offer enough coverage for you. Consider private add-ons or a Medicare Advantage plan for broader coverage.

We've partnered with HealthCompare, an Allstate company, to make finding private Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplement plans more convenient for you. Choose the plan with the coverage you need and compare plans side by side online. Or if you need additional assistance, call 1-855-328-6205 (TTY: 711) Mon - Fri 8am-9pm, Sat 9am-8pm EST, to speak with a licensed insurance agent who can walk you through your options.

Most people become eligible for Medicare when they turn 65. This is usually the best time to enroll. You have 7 months to sign up: 3 months before you turn 65, the month you turn 65 and the 3-month period following your birthday month. So if, for example, your birthday is June 22nd, your enrollment period would run from March 1st through September 30th the year you turn 65.

Note: If your birthday falls on the first of the month, then your enrollment period still lasts 7 months but runs as follows: the 4 months before your birthday month until the 2 months after your birthday month. So a June 1st birthday would open an enrollment window from February 1st through August 31st.

You may be able to delay signing up for Medicare, but there could be penalties. Talk to your benefits advisor about options, especially if you haven't retired yet at age 65.

If you enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan during your initial enrollment period, then you have 3 months to make changes to your coverage. You can return to Original Medicare or switch to a different Advantage plan within those first 3 months that you have Parts A and B.

Otherwise, you'll need to wait to change your coverage. Here's an overview of the different Medicare enrollment periods:

Annual Enrollment Period. From October 15th through December 7th each year, you can make any changes you need to your existing Medicare coverage. That includes switching from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage, changing to a new Medicare Advantage plan, adding or changing Part D coverage, or returning to Original Medicare.

Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment. This window runs alongside the General Enrollment Period, from January 1st through March 31st. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, you can make a one-time change to your coverage during this window.

Special enrollment periods. You can change your health or drug plan outside of official enrollment windows only if you experience special circumstances, such as moving out of your plan's service area. Contact Medicare directly for more information about special enrollment periods.