Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage | How Are They Different?
- February 25, 2021
- Reviewed by John Krahnert
Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Part B) is the federal health insurance program for people age 65 and older and people younger than 65 who have a qualifying disability or certain medical conditions.
Medicare Advantage plans (Medicare Part C) are sold by private insurers as an alternative to Original Medicare and provide at least the same benefits as Medicare Part A and Part B combined into one plan.
Learn More About Medicare
Join our email series to receive your free Medicare guide and the latest information about Medicare and Medicare Advantage.
By clicking "Sign me up!” you are agreeing to receive emails from MedicareAdvantage.com.
Find a $0 premium Medicare Advantage plan today.
Speak with a licensed insurance agent
Coverage
The chart below provides a side-by-side comparison of the features and benefits of Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage.
| Feature/Benefit | Original Medicare | Medicare Advantage |
|---|---|---|
|
Helps cover hospital and medical costs |
✔ |
✔ |
|
May cover routine dental care |
✘ |
✔ |
|
May cover routine vision care |
✘ |
✔ |
|
Usually covers prescription drugs |
✘ |
✔ |
|
Has an out of pocket maximum |
✘ |
✔ |
Every Medicare Advantage plan must provide the same hospital and medical benefits as Medicare Part A and Part B, which includes:
- Hospital care
- Skilled nursing facility care
- Hospice
- Doctor’s services
- Durable medical equipment
- Mental health services
Many Medicare Advantage plans may offer some benefits that Original Medicare doesn’t cover, such as:
- Prescription drug coverage
- Dental coverage
- Vision coverage
- Hearing coverage
- Health and wellness program benefits, such as SilverSneakers
Medicare Advantage plans also have an annual out-of-pocket maximum, which limits how much you have to pay out of pocket for health care expenses in a single year. Original Medicare does not have an out-of-pocket maximum.
Costs
Whether you choose Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage, there are some out-of-pocket costs you must pay, including premiums, deductibles and coinsurance or copayments.
Premiums
Most people do not pay a premium for Medicare Part A, as long as they paid sufficient Medicare taxes while working. If you do have to pay a Part A premium, you could pay up to $471 a month in 2021.
The 2021 standard Medicare Part B premium is $148.50 per month.
Some Medicare Advantage plans feature $0 monthly premiums, and there may be $0 premium plans available where you live.
If you enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan that has a premium, you’ll pay your Medicare Advantage premium in addition to your Part B premium. If your Medicare Advantage plan does not have a premium, you’ll only pay your Part B premium.
Deductibles
In 2021, the Medicare Part A deductible is $1,484 per benefit period, and the Part B deductible is $203 per year.
Medicare Advantage plan deductibles vary depending on the specific plan you enroll in.
Coinsurance
If you’re enrolled in Original Medicare you typically pay a 20 percent Part B coinsurance for covered services after you meet your Part B deductible, and Medicare pays the remaining 80 percent.
For inpatient hospital stays in 2021, you first have to meet your Part A deductible for the benefit period. After that, you pay $0 coinsurance for days 1-60, $371 per day for das 61-90 and $742 per day for each lifetime reserve day after day 90. After your lifetime reserve days are used, you are responsible for paying all costs.
Medicare Advantage plan coinsurance amounts vary depending on the specific plan you enroll in.
Enrolling in Original Medicare
Before you can enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, you must enroll in Original Medicare.
Some people are automatically enrolled in Original Medicare three months before their 65th birthday, and some people must manually sign up for Medicare.
You will typically be automatically enrolled in Original Medicare if one or more of the following applies to you:
- You get benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board at least four months before you turn 65
- You’ve been getting disability benefits for at least 24 months
- You have ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) and receive disability benefits
If you aren’t automatically enrolled in Original Medicare, you can manually enroll by:
- Visiting your local Social Security office
- Calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY users 1-800-0778), Monday through Friday 7AM-7PM
- Going to the Social Security website at www.SocialSecurity.gov
Enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan today
Once you’re enrolled in Original Medicare, you can sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan.
Compare Medicare Advantage plans that may be available in your area and speak with a licensed insurance agent who can help you sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan that’s right for you.
Compare Medicare Advantage plans in your area
Compare PlansOr call TTY Users: 711 to speak with a licensed insurance agent. We accept calls 24/7!
About the author
Christian Worstell is a licensed insurance agent and a Senior Staff Writer for MedicareAdvantage.com. He is passionate about helping people navigate the complexities of Medicare and understand their coverage options.
His work has been featured in outlets such as Vox, MSN, and The Washington Post, and he is a frequent contributor to health care and finance blogs.
Christian is a graduate of Shippensburg University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. He currently lives in Raleigh, NC.
Where you've seen coverage of Christian's research and reports:
