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Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap: What's the Difference?

This is the #1 question I get. Both paths fill the gaps in Original Medicare — they just do it in completely different ways. Here's the honest comparison.

How they work

• Medicare Advantage (Part C): A private plan that replaces Original Medicare as your primary coverage. One card, one plan — often with drug coverage and extras like dental, vision, and hearing bundled in.
• Medigap (Medicare Supplement): Works alongside Original Medicare. Medicare pays first, the Supplement pays most or all of what's left. You add a separate Part D drug plan.

Monthly cost

Advantage plans often have low or $0 premiums (you still pay your Part B premium). Medigap has a higher monthly premium — but then your costs at the doctor are small and predictable. It's the classic trade-off: pay now (Medigap) or pay when you use care (Advantage).

Doctors and networks

Advantage plans typically use provider networks — check that your doctors are in-network. Medigap lets you see any doctor in the U.S. who accepts Medicare, no referrals, no networks. If you travel a lot or split time between states, that flexibility matters.

Prescriptions

Most Advantage plans include drug coverage. With Medigap, you buy a separate Part D plan — which means checking every year that your medications are still covered affordably.

Extras: dental, vision, hearing

Advantage plans frequently bundle these. With Medigap, you'd add standalone dental and vision plans.

Out-of-pocket protection

Both protect you better than Original Medicare alone. Advantage plans have a legal annual cap on your costs. Medigap plans cover most cost-sharing so your bills stay small and predictable.

Can you switch later?

You can move from Medigap to Advantage during enrollment periods fairly easily. Going the other direction — Advantage back to Medigap — can require medical underwriting in most states, meaning you could be denied or charged more. That's why getting it right the first time matters.

So which is right for you?

Honest answer: it depends on your health, your doctors, your prescriptions, your budget, and how you travel. There's no universal winner — anyone who tells you otherwise is selling, not advising. A free review with an independent broker looks at your situation, not a script.

Important disclosures. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent over 30 organizations which offer over 150 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.