Beyond Original Medicare
Coverage options
Medicare Part A and Part B (Original Medicare) don’t cover all medical expenses. Additional coverage can help you manage or reduce your out-of-pocket costs.
Your options
Three ways to add coverage
Part C
Medicare Advantage
Provides all Medicare Part A and Part B benefits, often with extra services like wellness programs, hearing aids, and vision care.
Part D
Prescription Drug Coverage
An option for people with Original Medicare that helps pay for prescription drugs. Most Medicare Advantage plans already include drug coverage, so you usually don’t need a separate Part D plan.
Medicare Supplement
Medigap
An option for people with Original Medicare that helps pay out-of-pocket costs Parts A and B don’t cover. If you have Medicare Advantage, you can’t use a Medigap plan.
Side by side
Comparison of your options
| Medicare Advantage (Part C) | Prescription Drug Coverage (Part D) | Medigap (Medicare Supplement) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium | You continue to pay your Part B premium. You may also have a separate monthly premium for your Medicare Advantage plan. | Most Part D plans charge a monthly premium, which may change each year. You’re notified of changes in the fall, before Open Enrollment. | You continue to pay your Part B premium plus a separate premium for your Medigap plan. |
| Deductible | Some plans have deductibles. | Some plans have deductibles. | Depends on the plan you choose. |
| Copays | Copayments may apply to specific services. | Many plans charge a fixed copay each time you fill a prescription. | Depends on the plan you choose. |
| Coinsurance | May apply to specific services. | Some plans charge coinsurance each time you fill a prescription. It varies by plan. | Many plans pay some or all of your Original Medicare coinsurance. |
| Yearly limit | All plans have an annual limit on your out-of-pocket costs for covered services. | Out-of-pocket drug costs are capped each year ($2,100 in 2026). Once you reach it, you pay nothing for covered drugs for the rest of the year. The old coverage gap, or “donut hole,” ended in 2025. | Helps pay costs Original Medicare leaves behind, like deductibles and coinsurance. |