Coverage Options

You have important decisions to make when you're eligible for Medicare. Be confident in choosing coverage that fits your health care and budget needs.

Get to know your coverage choices

Medicare coverage combinations

Key things to remember when choosing coverage

Get to know your coverage choices

When considering what Medicare coverage to choose, it's important to first understand what each option provides and who provides each. Then, we will walk through how the different options may work together to help ensure you have all the health coverage you need.

Let's review the following: Original Medicare (Parts A & B), Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D), Medicare Advantage (Part C) and Medicare supplement insurance (Medigap).

Original Medicare is provided by the federal government. Part A helps pay for hospital stays and inpatient care, while Part B helps pay for doctor visits and outpatient care. Everyone who enrolls in Medicare gets Part A and Part B first.

Medicare Part D is prescription drug coverage. Part D coverage can be obtained from private insurance companies in one of two ways: (1) as a stand-alone Part D plan, (2) as part of a Medicare Advantage plan that includes prescription drug coverage. With either choice, the different drugs covered will vary from plan to plan.

Medicare Advantage, or Part C is an alternative way to get Part A and Part B coverage benefits. Medicare Advantage plans are "all in one" plans that are offered by private insurance companies. With Medicare Advantage plans, you still enroll in Part A and Part B through the federal government, but then you will enroll in a Part C plan with a private insurance company. Once you do that, you will get your Part A and Part B benefits through your Medicare Advantage plan. Most Medicare Advantage plans also include Part D prescription drug coverage, as well as other benefits such dental, vision, hearing and fitness. There are different types of Medicare Advantage plans, and what additional benefits are provided vary from plan to plan.

Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan, also known as Medigap, helps pay some of the out-of-pocket costs not paid by Original Medicare (Parts A & B). There are 10 plans, organized by letters (ex. Plan G) and standardized by the federal government.* However, it’s important to note that Medigap plans are only available to purchase directly from private insurance companies. Each Medigap plan offers the same basic benefits no matter which insurance company sells it, but costs may vary.

*Note: In Massachusetts, Minnesota and Wisconsin, there are different plan options available.

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Medicare and Medigap coverage combinations

Now that we have looked at the different coverage options, let's see how some of them can be combined to provide you with more complete health care coverage.

Original Medicare, Part D and Medigap can work together. Medicare Advantage and Part D can also work together in certain situations. Medicare Advantage and Medigap do not work together.

In total, there are seven different Medicare coverage combinations.

Original Medicare Combinations

If you get Original Medicare (Parts A & B) you can choose to have only Part A and Part B, or you can add a stand-alone Part D plan, a Medicare supplement insurance (Medigap) plan or both.

Original Medicare (Part A and/or Part B) alone

Original Medicare (Part A and/or Part B)

PLUS a standalone prescription drug plan (Part D)

Original Medicare (Part A and Part B)

PLUS a standalone prescription drug plan (Part D)

PLUS a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan

Original Medicare (Part A and Part B)

PLUS a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan

Medicare Advantage Combinations

If you choose to get your Part A and Part B benefits through a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan, you may or may not need additional coverage. Most Medicare Advantage plans already come with built-in Part D prescription drug coverage, but some do not. You can add a stand-alone Part D plan to the following types of Medicare Advantage plans: Private-Fee-For-Service (PFFS) Medicare Advantage plan or a Medicare Medical Savings Account (MSA) plan.

Medicare Advantage plan (Part C) with included prescription drug coverage (Part D)

Medicare Advantage plan (Part C) without prescription drug coverage (Part D)

Medicare Advantage Private Fee-for-Service plan without drug coverage (Part C) OR a Medicare Savings Account (MSA) plan PLUS a standalone prescription drug plan (Part D)

Choosing the Right Medicare Plan

Video transcript

An illustrated blue computer screen and keyboard sit on a white background, with a blue potted plant on the left edge. White and gold text fill the computer screen.

ON SCREEN TEXT: Medicare coverage

should fit YOUR

unique health and

lifestyle needs.

New text fills the computer screen with a button labeled "Get Started."

ON SCREEN TEXT: Answer each of these

questions to help

guide your choice.

Get Started

A white cursor clicks the button. The computer screen grows larger to fill the whole frame. On a blue background, a white heading sits over a white box with buttons labeled "Yes" and "No." Behind the box, illustrated ℞ bottles decorate the screen.

ON SCREEN TEXT: Do you take prescription drugs?

Yes No

The cursor clicks "yes," highlighting the button in blue, and blue and black text slides onto the box underneath the buttons.

ON SCREEN TEXT: You will want a Medicare plan that provides drug coverage.

Option 1

A Medicare Advantage plan

that includes drug coverage.

Option 2

A standalone Medicare

Part D prescription drug plan.

The cursor clicks "No," and new text slides onto the box.

ON SCREEN TEXT: Ok, but be aware:

You could face a Part D late enrollment penalty if you...

1: Don't enroll in either a Part D plan or

Medicare Advantage plan with prescription drug

coverage when you're first eligible.

The text slides to the left to reveal the rest of the answer.

ON SCREEN TEXT: OR

ON SCREEN TEXT: 2. Don't have creditable drug coverage that

qualifies you for a Special Enrollment Period.

The word "Next" appears underneath the white box and the cursor clicks it.

ON SCREEN TEXT: Next

A new heading and box appear and the cursor clicks "Yes." Graphics of a hearing aid, eye, walking

person, and tooth appear in the background.

ON SCREEN TEXT: Do you want coverage for

dental, vision, fitness or hearing?

Yes No

The answer slides onto the box in blue text.

ON SCREEN TEXT: Medicare Advantage plans offer additional health

benefits like these.

Non-Medicare insurance products may offer

coverage for this at additional costs.

The cursor clicks "No," and the "Next" option appears.

ON SCREEN TEXT: Ok, you don't need to consider these when

choosing your plan then.

After the cursor hits "Next," graphics of a male and female doctor with stethoscopes appear in

background along with a new box and heading.

ON SCREEN TEXT: Do you visit the doctor often?

Yes No

The cursor clicks "Yes."

ON SCREEN TEXT: Frequent visits can get costly. With any plan,

you have to pay the Part B premium. Depending

on the plan, you may also have to pay the Part B

deductible and other costs such as copayments

or coinsurance.

The cursor clicks "No."

ON SCREEN TEXT: After you meet the Part B deductible...

With Original Medicare, you are responsible for

20% of the allowed amount for most doctor services.

A Medicure Supplement plan may help cover this cost.

ON SCREEN TEXT: With most Medicare Advantage plans, you pay

a small copayment for each doctor visit.

ON SCREEN TEXT: It's a good idea to evaluate the costs for the

health services you will need under each

plan you consider.

The cursor clicks "Next." A new heading and box appear with dollar bill graphics in the background.

ON SCREEN TEXT: Is paying for Medicare a concern?

Yes No

The cursor clicks "Yes."

ON SCREEN TEXT: There are a variety of financial assistance programs

available. Visit www.MedicareMadeClear.com

to learn more.

The cursor clicks "No."

ON SCREEN TEXT: It's a good idea to consider your total Medicare

costs and look for ways to save where you can.

Solid dark blue wipes onto the screen with twinkling stars in the background. White text sits at center.

ON SCREEN TEXT: Medicare Made Clear®

by UnitedHealthcare®

See Medicare coverage combination examples

Get a better understanding of how each Medicare coverage combination may work, including costs, in these examples.

Four things to remember when choosing Medicare and Medigap coverage

Original Medicare (Parts A & B) comes directly from the federal government.
Medicare Part D, Medicare Advantage (Part C) and Medicare supplement insurance (Medigap) plans come from private insurance companies only.
There are seven different ways to combine Medicare coverage choices to ensure your health and budget needs are met.
Medicare Advantage and Medigap plans do not work together.

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Scroll for Important Disclosures

UnitedHealthcare pays royalty fees to AARP for the use of its intellectual property. These fees are used for the general purposes of AARP. AARP and its affiliates are not insurers. AARP does not employ or endorse agents, brokers or producers.

AARP encourages you to consider your needs when selecting products and does not make product recommendations for individuals.

Please note that each insurer has sole financial responsibility for its products.

AARP^® Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans

AARP endorses the AARP Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans, insured by UnitedHealthcare.

Insured by UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company, Hartford, CT or UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of America, Schaumburg, IL (for ND residents) or UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of New York, Islandia, NY (for NY residents). Each insurer has sole financial responsibility for its products. Policy form No. GRP 79171 GPS-1 (G-36000-4).

In some states, plans may be available to persons under age 65 who are eligible for Medicare by reason of disability or End-Stage Renal Disease.

Not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. Government or the federal Medicare program.

This is a solicitation of insurance. A licensed insurance agent/producer may contact you.

You must be an AARP member to enroll in an AARP Medicare Supplement Plan.

THESE PLANS HAVE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS, EXCLUSIONS AND LIMITATIONS. FOR COSTS AND COMPLETE DETAILS (INCLUDING OUTLINES OF COVERAGE), CALL A LICENSED INSURANCE AGENT/PRODUCER AT THE TOLL-FREE NUMBER ABOVE.

Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare Prescription Drug plans
Plans are insured through UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or one of its affiliated companies, a Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract and a Medicare-approved Part D sponsor. Enrollment in these plans depends on the plan's contract renewal with Medicare. You do not need to be an AARP member to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan or Medicare Prescription Drug plan.

This information is not a complete description of benefits. Contact the plan for more information.

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