What is the Difference Between Medigap and Medicare Advantage? in General Health Insurance

Medigap insurance and Medicare Advantage can be thought of two approaches to accomplishing the same thing. Original government Medicare is very good medical coverage for seniors, but it does not cover every medical expense you may incur as you get older, nor was it designed to.

Medigap and Medicare advantage health insurance plans are both designed to make up for those shortfalls or “gaps” in traditional Medicare coverage, albeit in different ways. With a Medicare Advantage plan you are enrolling in a Heath Maintenance type of insurance plan from a private insurance company to provide for all of your Medicare Parts A and B coverage, as well as for the benefits traditional Medicare does not offer. Medicare Advantage is also known as Medicare Part C. You pay a monthly premium for your entire Medicare C, or Medicare Advantage insurance policy.

With Medigap, you enroll in traditional government Medicare, and then supplement that coverage with an additional health insurance policy purchased from a private health insurer. Unlike Medicare Advantage, a Medigap Plan does not replace any Parts of original Medicare. Medigap insurance can only be sold to people who are enrolled in original Medicare and is designed to pay for those expenses in whole or in part that Medicare does.

In some of the newer and more affordable Medigap plans, specifically Plan N and Plan M, there may be copays involved. However all Medigap plans will help you to minimize going out of pocket for the medical expenses that traditional Medicare does not cover.

Deciding which is right for you – Medigap or Medicare Advantage is very much contingent upon your lifestyle, medical needs and budget. It is best to discuss your particular situation with a qualified, independent Medigap specialist like you can find here on by clicking on your state on Medigap.com.