Medicare Advantage vs. Supplement, side by side.
Medicare Advantage bundles your coverage into one plan with a network, usually at a low or $0 premium. A Medicare Supplement (Medigap) costs more each month but works with any doctor in America who accepts Medicare, with predictable costs. Neither is "best." One is best for you.
Going the Supplement route? Plan G vs. Plan N
Two plans cover the vast majority of new Supplement enrollments. The trade is simple: premium vs. small copays.
The most comprehensive plan available to new enrollees. After the small annual Part B deductible, covered services generally cost you nothing. Highest premium, fewest surprises.
A noticeably lower premium in exchange for small copays on some office and ER visits, and possible "excess charges" from a minority of doctors. A strong fit for lighter healthcare users.
How to actually decide
Doctors first
If keeping every one of your doctors is non-negotiable, the Supplement route leads. If your doctors sit in strong local networks, Advantage competes hard. This is checkable. We check it.
Drugs second
Your exact medication list can swing the yearly math by thousands of dollars. This is precisely what the Cora Engine compares across every plan in your ZIP.
Budget honesty
A steady monthly premium you always pay, or pay-as-you-go copays that vary? Which would you actually rather live with? There is no wrong answer, only your answer.
Questions, answered
Can I switch from Medicare Advantage to a Supplement later? +
Sometimes. Outside your first months on Medicare, Supplement insurers in most states can ask health questions and decline coverage. If you think you'll eventually want a Supplement, the safest time to choose it is at the start. Talk it through before defaulting to a $0 premium.
Is Medicare Advantage worse than a Supplement? +
No. For many people, a strong local network with built-in drug coverage and extras is exactly right. The failure mode isn't the product. It's enrolling without checking your doctors and medications first.
Do Medicare Supplements cover prescriptions? +
No. Modern Supplement plans pair with a standalone Part D drug plan. We match the Part D plan to your exact medication list, so the combination beats guessing.
What does it cost to figure this out with Medcora? +
Nothing. Brokers are paid by the carriers, and the commission is the same no matter which plan you pick, so our only incentive is the right fit. Your premium is identical with or without us.
Ten minutes with a broker beats ten hours of tabs.
We run your doctors and prescriptions through both routes and show you the real numbers, free.