Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage: Which Is Right for You?
The biggest decision in Medicare, broken down so you can choose with confidence.
Original Medicare (Parts A & B)
With Original Medicare you can see any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare, nationwide, with no referrals. There is no yearly out-of-pocket maximum, so many people add a Medigap (Supplement) policy to cover the gaps, plus a separate Part D drug plan.
Medicare Advantage (Part C)
Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private insurers and usually bundle hospital, medical, and drug coverage into one plan — often with extras like dental, vision, hearing, and a yearly out-of-pocket cap. In exchange, you typically use a network of doctors and may need referrals.
How to decide
Ask: Do I want to keep specific doctors? How many prescriptions do I take? Do I travel often? What is my budget for premiums vs. out-of-pocket costs? There is no single "best" plan — only the best plan for your situation. A licensed agent can run your doctors and medications through the official Plan Finder and compare real costs side by side, at no charge to you.
Official resources
Have questions about Medicare?
Talk to a licensed agent for a free, no-obligation review of your options.
Get my free Medicare quoteThis article is for general educational purposes only and is not medical, legal, tax, or insurance advice. Edlando is not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare, CMS, or any government agency. We do not offer every plan available in your area; any information we provide is limited to the plans we do offer. To learn about all your options, contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.