Advantage & Medigap
Medicare plans: Advantage, Medigap and Part D
The short answer
Medicare is federal health insurance for people 65 or older and some younger people with disabilities. You can keep Original Medicare and add a Medigap plan and a Part D drug plan, or replace Original Medicare with one Medicare Advantage plan. Annual enrollment runs October 15 to December 7, 2026, and changes start January 1, 2027.
A licensed agent calls you at no cost.
Updated and reviewed by the licensed agents at Health Insurance Solutions in Orlando, Florida. How we research and review
Medicare at a glance
- Initial enrollment
- 7 months
- The 3 months before the month you turn 65, your birthday month and the 3 months after.
- Annual enrollment
- Oct 15 to Dec 7
- Switch plans or join, change or drop a drug plan. Changes take effect January 1, 2027.
- Advantage change period
- Jan 1 to Mar 31
- If you are in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can switch plans or go back to Original Medicare once.
- Part B premium in 2026
- $202.90 a month
- The standard amount, with a $283 yearly deductible. Higher incomes pay more.
Who needs Medicare help?
There are two main paths: Original Medicare with a Supplement and a Part D drug plan, or a Medicare Advantage plan that bundles them. The right one depends on your doctors, prescriptions, travel and budget. We lay out the trade-offs plainly.
- People turning 65 in the next few months
- Anyone retiring off employer coverage after 65
- Current Medicare members reviewing their plan each fall
- Adult children helping a parent sort through options
What does Medicare cover?
Usually included
- Part A: hospital stays, skilled nursing care after a hospital stay, hospice and some home health care
- Part B: doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive services, lab tests and medical equipment
- Part D: prescription drugs, from a separate plan or a Medicare Advantage plan that includes them
- Medicare Advantage (Part C): the services Original Medicare covers in one private plan, usually with drug coverage and often extras such as dental, vision or hearing
Usually not included
- Routine dental, vision and hearing care under Original Medicare, in most cases
- A yearly limit on what you pay. Original Medicare has none, which is why many people add Medigap or choose Advantage
- Long term custodial care
- Most care outside the United States
How much does Medicare cost?
Most people pay no premium for Part A because they or a spouse paid Medicare taxes while working. Part B has a monthly premium, and you also pay deductibles and coinsurance unless a Medigap or Advantage plan covers them.
Part B
The standard premium is $202.90 a month in 2026, with a $283 deductible. After that you usually pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount. People with higher incomes pay from $284.10 up to $689.90 a month.
Medicare Advantage
Many plans charge a low or no extra premium and have copays. The most a plan can require you to pay in network for Part A and B services in 2027 is $9,850, up from $9,250 in 2026.
Medigap
Premiums depend on the plan letter, your age and your state, and they are higher than an Advantage plan's. In return, your costs at the doctor are lower and more predictable. You cannot use Medigap and Advantage at the same time.
Drug plans
Part D plans cap what you pay for covered drugs each year. The cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Plans and drug lists change every year, so check yours each fall.
Medicare enrollment window calculator
Enter a birth date to see when your seven-month Initial Enrollment Period starts and ends.Medicare Part B premium and IRMAA calculator
Enter your income and filing status to see your 2026 Medicare Part B premium and any high-income surcharge.How do Medicare Advantage and Medigap compare?
Medicare Advantage replaces Original Medicare with one private plan that usually has a network, copays and a yearly limit. Medigap works alongside Original Medicare and helps pay your share of costs.
| What to compare | Medicare Advantage | Medigap |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | Often a low or no extra premium. | Higher premiums, but costs at the doctor are lower and more predictable. |
| Choice of doctors | Usually has a network. | Works with any provider that accepts Medicare. |
| Drug coverage | Many plans include it. | Does not include it. You add a Part D plan. |
| Extras such as dental or vision | Many plans include some. | Not included. |
| Switching later | You can change plans every fall. | Outside your first six months or a special right, insurers in many states can use health questions. |
When should you check before enrolling in Medicare?
- You are still working and have job based coverage. You may be able to delay Part B without a penalty, so ask your benefits office and us before you do.
- You are under 65 and do not have a disability. You are not eligible yet, and an individual and family plan is the option to look at.
- Your income and savings are limited. Medicaid or a Medicare Savings Program may help pay your costs, and some people qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid.
How do we help you choose a Medicare plan?
Map your timeline
We confirm your enrollment windows so you avoid penalties for enrolling late.
Compare the two paths
Advantage vs. Supplement + Part D, priced against your own doctors and drugs.
Review every year
Plans change annually. We check in before each Annual Enrollment Period.
Get help
What's your ZIP code?
Plans and prices depend on where you live.
We do not offer every plan available 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.
Common questions
When can I first sign up for Medicare?
Your Initial Enrollment Period lasts 7 months: the 3 months before the month you turn 65, your birthday month and the 3 months after. Coverage always starts on the first of a month. Sign up before your birthday month and Part B starts the month you turn 65. Sign up later and it starts the month after.
What is the difference between Medicare Advantage and Medigap?
Medicare Advantage replaces Original Medicare with one private plan that usually has a network, copays and a yearly out-of-pocket limit. Medigap, also called Medicare Supplement, works alongside Original Medicare and helps pay your share of costs. You cannot use both at the same time.
When is the Medicare annual enrollment period?
Medicare's annual enrollment period runs October 15 to December 7, 2026. During those weeks you can switch between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, change Medicare Advantage plans, and join, change or drop a Part D drug plan. Changes take effect January 1, 2027.
How much does Medicare Part B cost in 2026?
The standard Medicare Part B premium is $202.90 a month in 2026, and the yearly deductible is $283. After the deductible you usually pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for covered services. People with higher incomes pay more, from $284.10 up to $689.90 a month.
What happens if I sign up for Part B late?
If you do not sign up for Medicare Part B when you are first eligible and you do not qualify for a special enrollment period, you pay an extra 10% of the standard premium for each full 12 months you could have signed up. The penalty is added to your premium for as long as you have Part B.
What is the Medicare Part D out-of-pocket cap?
Medicare drug plans cap what you pay out of pocket for covered drugs each year. The cap is $2,100 in 2026 and rises to $2,400 in 2027. After you reach it, you pay nothing for covered prescriptions for the rest of the year.
Does it cost extra to use an agent for Medicare?
No. You do not pay us a fee. Insurance companies pay agents, and a plan costs the same whether you enroll through an agent or on your own. Free, unbiased Medicare counseling is also available from your state's SHIP program.
Guides that go deeper
Talk to a licensed agent
We compare plans, explain the tradeoffs and help you enroll. It costs you nothing.
Sources
Rules change. Confirm dates, limits and eligibility with the source, your state insurance department or a licensed agent before you decide. We last checked these on .
- Medicare.gov: Joining a plan and enrollment periods(opens in a new tab)
- Medicare.gov: When can I sign up for Medicare?(opens in a new tab)
- Medicare.gov: What does Medicare cost?(opens in a new tab)
- CMS: 2026 Medicare Parts A and B premiums and deductibles(opens in a new tab)
- Medicare.gov: Medigap policies(opens in a new tab)
- Medicare.gov: Medicare Advantage plans(opens in a new tab)
- CMS: 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D rate announcement(opens in a new tab)
- SHIP national locator for free Medicare counseling(opens in a new tab)