How to Choose a Medicare Plan (With Human-Verified Accuracy)

What are the different Medicare plans?

Original Medicare: Parts A and B

Original Medicare consists of Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance). Part A helps cover inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care, and some home health care. Part B covers medically necessary services from doctors and other healthcare providers, as well as outpatient care, durable medical equipment, and many preventive services. When you have Original Medicare, you can go to any doctor or hospital in the U.S. that accepts Medicare, and the government pays a portion of the costs for covered services.

Medicare Advantage (Part C)

Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private health insurance companies that are approved by Medicare. While these plans are legally required to offer the same coverage as Original Medicare, they may also include additional routine benefits, like dental, vision, or hearing. 

Prescription Drug Coverage (Part D)

Prescription medications you take at home are not typically covered by Original Medicare. If you want prescription drug coverage, you have two options:

1. Enroll in a stand-alone Medicare Part D plan (Prescription Drug plan) that works alongside Original Medicare

2. Choose a Medicare Advantage plan that also includes prescription drug coverage

Most Medicare Prescription Drug plans charge a monthly premium. You’ll need to pay this in addition to the Medicare Part B premium. If you join a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C) that includes Medicare prescription drug coverage, the plan’s monthly premium may include an amount for drug coverage. Deductibles vary among Part D plans, and Medicare prescription drug plans may also have copayments or coinsurance.

What is a Medigap policy?

Medicare Supplement insurance plans, also commonly referred to as Medigap plans, help with gaps in coverage from Medicare Parts A and B, including copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles. Medicare Supplement plans generally cover Medicare Part A coinsurance and hospital costs up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits are exhausted. 

Costs Medigap Plans May Cover:

• At least 50% of Medicare Part B coinsurance or copayment

• The first three pints of blood received in a medical procedure

• Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment

• The skilled nursing facility care coinsurance

• Medicare Part A deductible

• Medicare Part B deductible

• Medicare Part B excess charges

• Foreign travel emergencies up to plan limits

Most Medigap plans have a monthly premium. Premiums are based on age, health status, gender, and various other factors. You must pay this premium even if you do not use any medical services. 

How to Compare Medicare Plans

Deciding what kind of coverage is right for you can be complex and overwhelming, especially when there are so many different types of Medicare plans available. At SelectQuote, we can help you review your options in just minutes. 

Our licensed insurance agents will do the heavy lifting by: 

1. Taking the time to learn about your coverage needs.

2. Quickly comparing the Medicare plans available to you

3. Helping you review your options to find the right fit

How to Check if Your Doctor Accepts Medicare

Whether you can keep seeing your current doctor depends on the type of Medicare coverage you choose. With Original Medicare (Parts A and B), you can generally see any doctor or specialist in the U.S. who accepts Medicare patients. There are no provider networks, which gives you more flexibility when choosing healthcare providers.

Some Medicare Advantage plans, however, use provider networks:

• HMO plans typically require you to use doctors and hospitals within the plan’s network, except in emergencies.

• PPO plans offer more flexibility and may allow you to see out-of-network providers, but your costs are usually lower when you stay in-network.

Because provider networks can vary by plan and location, it’s important to confirm that your preferred doctors, specialists, hospitals, and pharmacies are covered before enrolling. A SelectQuote licensed agent can help you compare plans and quickly verify whether a specific doctor is in-network, making it easier to choose coverage that fits your healthcare needs and budget.

Evaluating Out-of-Pocket Maximums and Copays

Original Medicare covers only about 80% of costs, leaving you responsible for coverage gaps such as deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance. Original Medicare also does not have an annual out-of-pocket maximum, which means your healthcare costs could continue to add up throughout the year. Additional coverage, such as a Medicare Supplement plan or Medicare Advantage plan, can help cover these out-of-pocket expenses. 

Medicare Advantage vs. Medicare Supplement Plans Chart