Original Medicare with a Medigap plan, or Medicare Advantage? Enter the premiums and your expected out-of-pocket costs to compare this year's total cost between the two paths.
Sample input: Medigap monthly premium ($): 150, Part D (drug) monthly premium ($): 40, Expected annual out-of-pocket with Medigap ($): 500, Medicare Advantage monthly premium ($): 0, Advantage annual out-of-pocket maximum ($): 6000, Expected annual out-of-pocket with Advantage ($): 3000
Medigap cost minus Advantage cost: -220 (Medigap costs less this year)
This year, Medigap is about $220 cheaper (Medigap + Part D $2,780 vs Medicare Advantage $3,000). Medigap gives predictable costs and any-provider access; Advantage has a lower premium but network limits and out-of-pocket risk. The winner depends on how much care you use.
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Medigap (Medicare Supplement) works with Original Medicare to cover much of your cost-sharing, lets you see any provider that accepts Medicare, and gives predictable costs but a higher premium. Medicare Advantage replaces Original Medicare with a private plan that has a lower premium but uses networks and an out-of-pocket maximum; see medicare.gov.
It depends on how much care you use. Advantage often costs less in healthy years thanks to low premiums, while Medigap can cost less if you have serious or frequent medical needs because your out-of-pocket exposure is more predictable. This tool compares one year at your expected use.
You can change during Medicare's annual enrollment periods, but switching from Advantage back to Medigap later may require medical underwriting outside your initial guaranteed-issue window, and you could be denied or charged more. Check current switching rules on medicare.gov.
Medigap does not include drug coverage, so this tool adds a separate Part D premium for that path. Most Medicare Advantage plans include drug coverage in their premium. Compare each plan's drug formulary for your specific medications.