Every Medicare plan type, honestly compared.
There are four building blocks: Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement, Part D drug coverage and targeted add-ons. The Professor teaches you how each works, then helps you assemble the right combination for your doctors, prescriptions and budget. Free, always.
Start with the fork in the road
Once you have Original Medicare (Parts A and B), you face one big decision: bundle everything into a Medicare Advantage plan, or keep Original Medicare and back it up with a Medicare Supplement plus a Part D drug plan. Nearly everything else flows from that choice.
Neither path is universally better. Advantage plans trade network rules for low premiums and built-in extras. Supplements trade a higher fixed premium for near-total freedom and predictable costs. Anyone who tells you one answer fits everybody is selling, not teaching.
Medicare Advantage compared with Medicare Supplement plus Part D
| What matters to you | Medicare Advantage | Medigap + Part D |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly premium | Often $0 to low (plus your Part B premium of $202.90 in 2026) | Medigap premium plus Part D premium, plus Part B |
| Doctor choice | Plan network; referrals may apply | Any U.S. doctor that accepts Medicare |
| Costs when you use care | Copays and coinsurance up to a yearly out-of-pocket maximum | Little to nothing beyond the premium on most plans |
| Drug coverage | Usually built in | Separate Part D plan required |
| Extras (dental, vision, hearing) | Often included in some form | Purchased separately as add-ons |
| Travel and snowbirds | Emergency care covered; routine care usually tied to service area | Coverage follows you nationwide |
| Underwriting risk later | Can switch plans every year, no health questions | Easiest to buy in your first 6 months on Part B |
The four building blocks
Medicare Advantage (Part C)
Private plans that replace how you receive your Part A and B benefits, usually adding drug coverage and extras like dental allowances. Strong fit for people whose doctors are in network, who like one card and one bill, and who want a low premium.
Learn moreMedicare Supplement (Medigap)
Standardized plans, lettered A through N, that pay the deductibles and 20 percent coinsurance Original Medicare leaves behind. Strong fit for frequent travelers, snowbirds splitting the year between states, and anyone who wants to choose any specialist without a referral.
Learn morePart D prescription drug plans
Stand-alone drug coverage with a 2026 out-of-pocket cap of $2,100. The cheapest premium is often the most expensive plan once your actual prescriptions are priced, so we always run your exact drug list.
Learn moreAdd-on coverage
Dental, vision and hearing plans, hospital indemnity, cancer and heart plans, and final expense life insurance. Not everyone needs these; the ones you do need are usually cheaper than people expect.
Learn moreNot sure which path fits? Bring your doctor list and prescriptions to a free review. We will compare every option in writing.
Ask the professor
Plan questions we answer daily
Can I switch between Medicare Advantage and Medigap later?
You can switch from Medigap to Medicare Advantage during the Annual Enrollment Period with no health questions. Going the other direction is harder: outside your first year on Advantage or another guaranteed-issue window, Medigap carriers in most states, including Florida, can review your health history and decline coverage. That is why the first choice matters so much.
Do I need a plan at all if I am healthy?
Original Medicare alone has no yearly cap on what you can spend out of pocket, and it leaves 20 percent of outpatient costs on your shoulders indefinitely. Healthy today does not mean healthy at claim time, and late enrollment usually costs more. Even the healthiest clients typically pair Original Medicare with either an Advantage plan or a Medigap plan plus Part D.
How does The Medicare Professor get paid?
Carriers pay licensed agents a commission that is built into the plan pricing whether you use an agent or not. Your premium is the same either way, which is why our guidance is free and why we can honestly recommend you keep a plan we did not sell you.
What should I bring to a plan review?
Three things: your doctor list, your prescription list with dosages, and your priorities, such as budget, travel or a specialist you refuse to give up. With those, we can compare every plan we represent in your county and show the math in writing.
Want the comparison run on your actual doctors and drugs?
A 30-minute review turns this page from theory into your personal answer, in writing, free.
- Independent. 11+ carriers compared side by side.
- Free forever. Carriers pay us; your premium never changes.
- Year-round backup. Claims help and annual reviews included.