What is the difference between Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement (Medigap)?

The simplest way to keep these straight is that Medicare Advantage changes how you get your Medicare and bundles in extra benefits, while a Medigap policy adds to Original Medicare by covering its out-of-pocket costs. They aren't used together; you pick one approach or the other. Medicare Advantage, also known as Part C, is an all-in-one plan from a private insurer that includes Part A and Part B, usually includes Part D drug coverage, and often adds extras like dental, vision, or hearing. These plans typically use provider networks, such as an HMO or PPO, and may require referrals. Premiums are often low or even zero, and instead you pay copays as you use care, up to a yearly out-of-pocket maximum. A Medicare Supplement policy, or Medigap, works alongside Original Medicare and helps cover the costs it leaves behind, like deductibles, copays, and coinsurance, which makes your spending more predictable. It lets you see any provider in the country that accepts Medicare, with no networks, but it has a monthly premium and does not include drug coverage, so you'd usually pair it with a standalone Part D plan. Neither one is universally better, and it really comes down to your priorities. People who value seeing any doctor and having predictable costs often lean toward Medigap, while people who want lower premiums and bundled extras often lean toward Medicare Advantage. Your health, budget, and doctors should guide the choice. For full details see Medicare.gov or your local SHIP, and a licensed agent can compare both approaches against your needs, at no cost to you.

— Matt Rolph, Los Angeles, CAVerified