Compare Medicare plan types
Medicare isn't one plan — it's a set of pieces you can combine in a few different ways. The table below lays out how Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medigap, and D-SNP generally differ across the things people care about most: what you pay, which doctors you can see, whether referrals are involved, and how drug coverage and out-of-pocket costs work. These are general descriptions of each plan type, not the details of any specific plan.
| Original Medicare | Medicare Advantage | Medigap | D-SNP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly premium | Usually $0 (Part A); Part B premium applies | Often $0–low, varies by plan | Monthly premium on top of Original Medicare | Usually $0 — Medicaid coordinates cost-sharing |
| Doctor choice | Any doctor who accepts Medicare | Limited to plan network in most cases | Any doctor who accepts Medicare | Limited to plan network in most cases |
| Referrals needed | No | Often, for specialists (HMO plans) | No | Often, for specialists |
| Drug coverage | No — needs separate Part D plan | Usually included | No — needs separate Part D plan | Usually included |
| Out-of-pocket cap | No annual cap | Annual cap required by law | Very low out-of-pocket costs | Annual cap required by law |
| Travel coverage | Covered nationwide | Limited outside plan network/area | Covered nationwide | Limited outside plan network/area |
| Have Medicare and Medicaid? | Medicaid may cover remaining costs | Can enroll, but a D-SNP is built for this | Not typically needed if Medicaid covers costs | Built for this — the plan type to consider |
This table is a starting point, not a complete picture. It can tell you roughly how the plan types differ in structure, but it can't tell you which one fits your doctors, your prescriptions, or your county's actual plan options — those details vary too much to generalize on a page like this. A licensed agent can look at your specific situation and walk through what each plan type would actually mean for you.
See how these plan types apply to your situation
Tell us a little about your doctors, prescriptions, and ZIP code, and a licensed agent will call back to go through your actual options.
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