The No. 1 Mistake When Choosing Your Medicare Plan
Updated October 2026. We no longer sell Medicare Advantage plans, but this advice still matters to anyone choosing between Medicare Advantage and a Medicare Supplement.
A Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C) replaces Original Medicare with coverage from a private, Medicare-approved insurer. Most plans bundle in drug coverage and extra benefits like dental and vision, often for a $0 monthly premium, in exchange for using a plan network.
| Plan type | Part C, private insurer replaces Original Medicare |
| Who it's for | Medicare-eligible people who want lower costs and extra benefits, and are OK with a provider network |
| Typical monthly premium | Often $0, plus your Part B premium ($202.90/mo in 2026) |
| Drug coverage included | Usually yes (MAPD plans) |
| Provider network | Yes, HMO or PPO |
| Enrollment windows | Initial Enrollment Period, Oct 15–Dec 7 (AEP), Jan 1–Mar 31 (MA OEP) |
| Annual out-of-pocket max | Yes, included by law |
A Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C) is an alternative way to get your Medicare Part A and Part B benefits through a private, Medicare-approved insurance company instead of Original Medicare. Most Medicare Advantage plans also include prescription drug coverage and extra benefits Original Medicare doesn’t offer, such as dental, vision, and hearing coverage, often for a $0 monthly premium. In exchange, most plans require you to use a network of doctors and hospitals, and set an annual limit on what you’ll pay out of pocket for covered services.
Medicare Advantage plans must provide all of your Part A and Part B benefits, excluding hospice services (which Original Medicare continues to cover even while you’re in a Medicare Advantage plan) and, for a temporary time, some new benefits added by legislation or national coverage determinations. Plans must cover all emergency and urgent care, and almost all medically necessary services Original Medicare covers.
Many Medicare Advantage plans in Southwest Florida are available for a $0 monthly premium, though you’ll still pay your standard Medicare Part B premium ($202.90/month in 2026 for most people) directly to Medicare. Instead of a large monthly premium, Medicare Advantage plans typically use copays and coinsurance for specific services, along with an annual out-of-pocket maximum that caps what you’ll pay in a plan year, a protection Original Medicare alone doesn’t include.
Medicare Advantage plans typically cost less month to month and often bundle in extra benefits, but limit you to a plan network and can involve more coordination if you need specialty or out-of-area care. A Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan costs more monthly but lets you see any provider who accepts Medicare nationwide, with more predictable out-of-pocket costs. For a deeper look at the trade-offs, see Medicare Advantage vs. Medicare Supplement.
If you’re not yet 65 or still comparing coverage before Medicare eligibility, see our individual health insurance page. And if final expenses are a concern alongside your Medicare coverage, we can also help with final expense insurance.
You can enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan during your Initial Enrollment Period (the 7-month window around your 65th birthday), during the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7) for coverage starting the following January, or during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 – March 31) if you want to make a one-time switch after already being enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan.
To compare Medicare Advantage plans in your ZIP code and enroll, use the Medicare.gov Plan Finder or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), available 24 hours a day. If you’re deciding between Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare with a Medigap plan, our side-by-side comparison walks through the trade-offs. If you choose Original Medicare, we can help you compare Medicare Supplement plans across carriers at no cost to you.
We help with Medicare Supplements, life insurance and final expense. Talk with Charles “Chuck” Lunsford, a Florida-licensed agent since 1994. No cost, no obligation.
Original Medicare (Parts A and B) is run directly by the federal government and lets you see any provider who accepts Medicare nationwide. Medicare Advantage (Part C) delivers your Medicare benefits through a private insurer, usually with a plan network, often bundled with drug coverage and extra benefits, plus an annual out-of-pocket maximum.
Most do, these are often called MAPD (Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug) plans. A few Medicare Advantage plans don’t include drug coverage, in which case you’d need a separate Part D plan; you generally can’t have both a stand-alone Part D plan and a Medicare Advantage plan that already includes drug coverage.
Yes. You can switch during the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7) or the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 – March 31) if you’re already in a Medicare Advantage plan. Depending on your situation, you may also want to look into a Medicare Supplement plan at that time.
Plan availability varies by county and ZIP code. You can see which plans, networks, and carriers are available where you live by entering your ZIP code in the Medicare.gov Plan Finder.
Most Medicare Advantage plans cover emergency and urgent care anywhere in the U.S., even out of network. Routine, non-emergency care outside your network typically isn’t covered unless your plan specifically allows it, worth checking if you travel often.
Before you enroll, check the plan’s provider directory and drug formulary against your doctors and medications. The Medicare.gov Plan Finder lets you enter your prescriptions, and your doctor’s office can confirm which plans they accept.
Many plans have a $0 monthly premium, but you still pay your Part B premium, plus any copays or coinsurance when you use care.
No, they can’t be used together, you choose one approach or the other.
You’ll typically qualify for a Special Enrollment Period to choose a new plan available in your new location.
No. To join a Medicare Advantage plan you must have both Part A and Part B, keep paying your Part B premium, and live in the plan’s service area. The same is true for a Medicare Supplement.
Updated October 2026. We no longer sell Medicare Advantage plans, but this advice still matters to anyone choosing between Medicare Advantage and a Medicare Supplement.
Many veterans ask whether they need Medicare if they already have VA health care. You aren’t required to sign up, but for most veterans enrolling
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