They are two different structures, not two grades of the same thing. Neither is universally better, and the right answer depends on how you use care.
Medicare Advantage (Part C). A private plan takes over administering your Medicare benefits. Premiums are often low or $0 beyond your Part B premium, drug coverage is usually built in, and many plans add dental, vision, hearing, or over-the-counter allowances. In exchange you use a provider network, you may need referrals, and you pay copays as you go up to the plan’s annual out-of-pocket maximum.
Medigap (Medicare Supplement). You stay on Original Medicare and buy a standardized supplement that pays the deductibles and coinsurance Medicare does not. There is no network, so any provider who accepts Medicare accepts your plan, anywhere in the country. Premiums are higher and predictable, and you add a separate Part D drug plan.
The trade that actually matters. Medicare Advantage tends to cost less in a healthy year and more in a heavy one, up to its out-of-pocket cap. Medigap costs roughly the same every year regardless of how much care you use. It is a question of variable cost versus fixed cost, and of network versus no network.
The switching rule people miss. Moving from Medicare Advantage to Medigap later is not automatic. Outside a guaranteed issue situation, a Medigap carrier can require medical underwriting and decline you. That makes the decision at 65 more consequential than it first appears.
| Provider access | Advantage: network. Medigap: any provider accepting Medicare |
| Drug coverage | Advantage: usually included. Medigap: add a separate Part D plan |
| Monthly premium | Advantage: often low or $0. Medigap: higher and level |
| Cost when you use care | Advantage: copays up to a cap. Medigap: little to nothing |
Related on this site: The full comparison guide · Medigap cost comparison calculator
Sources
- How to compare Medigap policies (CMS) · accessed September 14, 2026
- Medicare costs at a glance (CMS) · accessed September 14, 2026
This page is general information, not advice about your specific situation, and it is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. Rules and figures change, so confirm current requirements with CMS, Social Security, or a licensed agent before you act. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 5 organizations which offer 300 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.