Medicare Choices
Before choosing a plan we want to be sure you know the difference between your many options, in particular how Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans and Medicare Advantage Plans differ. Many people sign up for Medicare Advantage Plans thinking they are Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans; they are not.
Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans
A Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan is used with Original Medicare. Any caregiver that accepts Medicare will take a Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan because they only need to bill Medicare. Medicare pays their part (generally 80% of Medicare-covered benefits) and sends the remainder of the bill to the Supplement, which pays their part (generally 20%). It is important to note that Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans do NOT include prescription drug coverage (Part D, PDP), and for those that do not get a PDP when first eligible there will be a penalty when they do get a PDP (there are exceptions to this). A Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan does not change year to year (although the cost does generally go up, the coverage does not change).
Since 2020, Plan G and Plan N are the most common choices for people new to Medicare. Plan G covers everything Original Medicare leaves except the Part B deductible. Learn more about Medicare Supplement plans.
Medicare Advantage Plans
Medicare Advantage Plans, sometimes called “Part C” or “MA Plans,” are an “all in one” alternative to Original Medicare. They are offered by private companies approved by Medicare. If you join a Medicare Advantage Plan, you still have Medicare. These “bundled” plans include Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance), and usually Medicare drug coverage (Part D).
Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans
Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (Part D). These plans (sometimes called “PDPs”) add drug coverage to Original Medicare, some Medicare Cost Plans, some Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) Plans, and Medicare Medical Savings Account (MSA) Plans.
Each Medicare Prescription Drug Plan has its own list of covered drugs (called a formulary). Many Medicare drug plans place drugs into different “tiers” on their formularies. Drugs in each tier have a different cost.
A drug in a lower tier will generally cost you less than a drug in a higher tier. In some cases, if your drug is on a higher tier and your prescriber thinks you need that drug instead of a similar drug on a lower tier, you or your prescriber can ask your plan for an exception to get a lower copayment.
Parts of Medicare
Part A (Hospital Insurance): Helps cover inpatient care in hospitals, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care, and home health care.
Part B (Medical Insurance): Helps cover services from doctors and other health care providers, outpatient care, home health care, durable medical equipment (like wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds, and other equipment), and many preventive services (like screenings, shots or vaccines, and yearly “Wellness” visits).
Part D (Drug coverage): Helps cover the cost of prescription drugs. You join a Medicare drug plan in addition to Original Medicare, or you get it by joining a Medicare Advantage Plan with drug coverage. Plans that offer Medicare drug coverage are run by private insurance companies that follow rules set by Medicare.
Part C: How Medicare Advantage Works
Part C is the official name for Medicare Advantage. Instead of Original Medicare paying your claims, a private plan approved by Medicare handles your Part A and Part B benefits. Most plans use a provider network, such as an HMO or PPO, and many include Part D drug coverage in the same plan.
Each Medicare Advantage plan sets an annual in-network out-of-pocket maximum, which limits what you pay for covered medical care in a year. Some plans may include extra benefits such as dental, vision or hearing, depending on the plan. There are also Special Needs Plans: D-SNPs for people with Medicare and Medicaid, C-SNPs for certain chronic conditions, and I-SNPs for people living in an institution.
You cannot have a Medicare Advantage plan and a Medicare Supplement plan at the same time. Kris can help you compare the two approaches. Learn more about Medicare Advantage.
Medicare Enrollment Periods
Timing matters with Medicare. Signing up late can mean a gap in coverage and lifelong penalties. These are the main windows to know for plan year 2027.
| Enrollment period | When it happens |
|---|---|
| Initial Enrollment Period | 7 months: the 3 months before the month you turn 65, your birthday month, and the 3 months after |
| Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) | Oct 15 – Dec 7, 2026; coverage starts Jan 1, 2027 |
| Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment | Jan 1 – Mar 31, 2027; Medicare Advantage enrollees can switch Medicare Advantage plans once or return to Original Medicare |
| General Enrollment Period (Part B) | Jan 1 – Mar 31 each year; coverage starts the month after you sign up |
| Medigap Open Enrollment | 6 months starting the month you are 65 or older and enrolled in Part B |
| Special Enrollment Period after employer coverage | 8 months after employment or group coverage ends, whichever happens first |
Medicare Costs for 2026 and 2027
Medicare costs change every year. CMS publishes the Part B premium and deductible each fall. Part A is premium-free for most people with 40 quarters (10 years) of Medicare-taxed work. Higher earners may pay more for Part B and Part D through IRMAA. Try the IRMAA calculator for an estimate.
| Item | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Part B standard premium | $202.90/month | Not yet announced |
| Part B deductible | $283 | Not yet announced |
| Part D national base beneficiary premium | $38.99 | $41.33 |
| Part D maximum deductible | $615 | $700 |
| Part D out-of-pocket cap | $2,100 | $2,400 |
| IRMAA first threshold (MAGI from 2 years prior) | $109,000 single / $218,000 joint | Not yet announced |
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently, we represent 14 organizations which offer 119 products in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options. This is a proprietary website and is not associated, endorsed or authorized by the Social Security Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services or the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This site contains decision-support content and information about Medicare, services related to Medicare and services for people with Medicare. If you would like to find more information about the Medicare program please visit the Official U.S. Government Site for People with Medicare located at www.medicare.gov.