When signing up for Medicare you need to decide between traditional Medicare (and a supplemental plan) and Medicare Advantage Plan (offered by private insurers) that often come with prescription drug benefits (90%).
Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) can pay most of the 20% costs Original Medicare doesn’t cover, plus some other costs. Many people with Original Medicare choose Medigap.
While Medicare Advantage plans often offer additional benefits like vision and hearing exams, free fitness memberships, they restrict the network of doctors and hospitals.
Whether you choose traditional Medicare of a Medicare advantage plan, you’ll pay two monthly premiums: one for basic medicare and the second one for a Supplement plan or an Advantage plan.
Two excellent resources recommended by Wall Street Journal writer Glenn Ruffenach (Dec. 17, 2018):
Kaiser Family Foundation https://www.kff.org/medicare/
34% of all Medicare beneficiaries (22 million) are enrolled in Medicare Advantage Plans
Read:
An Overview of Medicare https://www.kff.org/medicare/issue-brief/an-overview-of-medicare/
Medicare Advantage: https://www.kff.org/medicare/fact-sheet/medicare-advantage/
Medicare Rights Center https://www.medicarerights.org/
“Medicare Interactive (MI) is a free and independent online reference tool thoughtfully designed to help older adults and people with disabilities navigate the complex world of health insurance.”
Trusted Resources link: https://www.medicarerights.org/resources/additional-resources
Medicare Plan Finder: https://www.medicare.gov/plan-compare/#/?lang=en
Source: Financial Planning for Women