Senior Health Plans

A senior plan guide should answer one practical question: which of the five common coverage paths fits your doctors, prescriptions, and budget, without a sales pitch getting in the way first. Most people comparing senior health plans are really choosing between five options: Original MedicareMedicare AdvantageMedicare Supplement (Medigap)retiree or employer coverage, and standalone dental, vision, or hearing policies. This senior plan guide walks through what each path covers, the trade-offs between them, and the questions worth answering before you sign anything.

Here is what each path actually means, in plain terms:

• Original Medicare is the federal program made up of Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance), administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. See Medicare.gov's overview of how Original Medicare works for the official coverage rules.
• Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans are sold by private insurers as a replacement for Original Medicare. They often bundle in drug coverage and extra benefits, but typically use a provider network. Our Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage comparison breaks down the network and cost differences.
• Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policies work alongside Original Medicare to pay some or all of your share of the cost, such as deductibles and coinsurance. Plan letters like Plan G and Plan N determine what's covered; our Plan G vs. Plan N comparison covers the difference if you're weighing Medigap options.
• Retiree or employer coverage continues insurance you already have through a current or former job. It can work alongside Medicare or delay the need to enroll, depending on the employer's size and plan rules. Our guide to Medicare and employer coverage covers how the two interact.
• Standalone dental, vision, or hearing policies fill the gaps Original Medicare does not cover, since routine dental care, glasses, and hearing aids are largely excluded from Parts A and B.

Cost is usually the deciding factor. Medicare Advantage plans often carry a $0 premium but use provider networks and can require prior authorization for some services. Medigap policies charge a separate monthly premium on top of Part B, but let you see any provider who accepts Medicare. According to KFF's research on Medicare enrollment trends, more than half of Medicare beneficiaries are now enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans, which shows how far the market has shifted toward bundled, network-based coverage over the past decade.

If money is tight, check whether you qualify for help before ruling out Medigap or Advantage entirely. Our guide to Medicare Savings Programs covers state assistance that can lower premiums and cost-sharing. If a plan choice was forced by losing job-based coverage, our article on enrolling in Medicare after losing employer coverage covers the enrollment deadlines that apply.

Whatever path you're weighing, confirm the terms against Medicare.gov's official coverage options page before you sign anything. If a caller pressures you to decide immediately or asks for payment information you didn't expect, treat that as a red flag. Our guide to Medicare scams covers the tactics to watch for.