Original Medicare
There is no limit to what you pay under Original Medicare. The more services you use, the more you keep paying and paying and...paying. It's for this reason why most people seek additional coverage through a Medicare Supplement or Medicare Advantage plan.
Original Medicare
33,948,778
Medicare Advantage
31,799,519
Medicare Part D
51,591,776
Lets Talk Numbers
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services latest enrollment figures.
Medicare Options
When it comes to obtaining extra coverage alongside your Medicare plan, you'll find two distinct routes available for your consideration. These options allow you to explore and select additional benefits that align with your healthcare needs, ensuring a more comprehensive and personalized approach to your medical coverage under Medicare.
Medicare Supplement (Medigap)
Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans help cover GAPS in costs left behind by Medicare, such as deductibles, coinsurances and copayments. They are sold by private insurance companies and are used alongside Original Medicare.
There are 10 Medicare Supplement plans to choose from. Each plan is labeled with a letter and each letter provides different coverage. The more coverage a letter provides, the more it will cost you in premiums. Click here to view the different types of coverage.
But they don't cover prescription drugs.
If you decide a Medicare Supplement plan is right for you, you'll also need to purchase a separate Part D plan for prescription drug coverage.
Prescription Drugs (Part D)
Original Medicare doesn't cover most prescriptions. And Medicare Supplements don't cover them at all. So most people have to purchase a Medicare Part D plan separately to cover their medications.
Part D plans are administered by private insurance companies and they vary in cost and covered drugs from company to company.
You can obtain Part D Prescription drug coverage by:
1) Enrolling in a stand-alone Part D plan. You will pair your Part D plan alongside Original Medicare & a Medicare Supplement.
2) Enrolling in a Part C Medicare Advantage plan. Most Medicare Advantage plans INCLUDE Part D drug coverage at no additional cost.
Medicare Advantage (Part C)
Medicare Advantage plans offer All-In-One coverage under a single plan. They pull together the services covered under Part A & Part B of Original Medicare, combine it with Part D drug coverage AND toss in EXTRA BENEFITS at no additional cost. Most plans offer this all-inclusive coverage at NO MONTHLY PREMIUM.*
No monthly premium?
Yes! Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private companies who are approved by Medicare. They are paid by the federal government to manage your benefits. You're still required to pay your Medicare Part B premium, but with a $0 premium Medicare Advantage plan there won't be anything in addition to that.
Medicare Advantage plans were created as an alternative to Medicare Supplements. They have become increasingly popular because of their VALUE through All-In-One coverage. Approximately 40% of Medicare beneficiaries in the St. Louis metro area are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan.
Medicare 101: A Healthy Solution for Your Fit Life
Medicare can be complicated - even confusing - with the multiple parts and the many choices it has to offer. There are lots of letters, plan names and terms to understand. Learning the Medicare lingo is the first step in understanding how Medicare works.