The two main paths through Medicare work very differently, and the right one depends on your doctors, your prescriptions, and your budget. A licensed broker compares both with you, in plain language, at no cost.
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Tell us your situation in under a minute, and a licensed broker will compare Advantage and Supplement plans for your zip code, doctors, and prescriptions.
We do not offer every plan in your area. Currently we represent the carriers we are appointed with. You can always review every option at Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
Almost everyone on Medicare ends up choosing one of two paths. Here is how they actually compare, side by side.
A private plan that replaces Original Medicare and bundles hospital, medical, and usually drug coverage together, often with added benefits.
Best for people who want a low premium, built-in extras, and are comfortable using a plan network.
Works alongside Original Medicare and pays the deductibles and coinsurance Medicare leaves behind, so your costs stay predictable.
Best for people who travel, want their choice of doctors, or want the fewest surprises at the point of care.
Medicare is built from four parts. Knowing what each one does makes the Advantage versus Supplement choice a lot clearer.
Covers inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing care, hospice, and some home health care. Most people pay no premium for Part A.
Covers doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive services, and medical equipment. Part B has a standard monthly premium.
A private all-in-one alternative that bundles Parts A and B, usually adds drug coverage, and often includes extra benefits.
Covers prescription medications. It can be a standalone plan you pair with a Supplement, or built into a Medicare Advantage plan.
Medicare runs on specific windows. Miss one and you may wait a year or face a penalty, so it helps to know yours.
The seven month window around your 65th birthday: the three months before, your birthday month, and the three months after. This is when most people first sign up.
October 15 to December 7 every year. Anyone can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, with coverage starting January 1.
January 1 to March 31. If you are already on a Medicare Advantage plan, you get one chance to switch plans or move back to Original Medicare.
Triggered by life events such as moving, losing employer coverage, or qualifying for extra help. These open a window outside the usual dates.
National 1-800 lines push whatever plan they sell that day. As independent Medicare brokers, we compare many carriers for you and stay with you long after you enroll.
We are appointed with many A-rated carriers and have no reason to favor one over another. We look for the plan that fits your life.
You are paired with a licensed advisor who learns your doctors, your medications, and your priorities, and explains the tradeoffs clearly.
Billing question, denied claim, plan change at renewal: we handle it with you, every year, not just at enrollment.
Your premium is identical whether you enroll on your own or through us. The carriers pay us, so the guidance is free.
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The questions we hear most from people weighing Advantage against a Supplement. Still unsure? A real person is one call away.
Talk to a Real PersonOne short call. No pressure, no obligation to enroll, and no cost for our help. We will compare your options and explain them in plain language.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to get information on all of your options.
Maher Insurance Group is a private, independent insurance agency and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government, the federal Medicare program, or the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Enrollment in a plan may be limited to specific enrollment periods. Plan availability, benefits, premiums, and provider networks vary by location and are subject to change.
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Related: Medicare FAQs · Supplemental Insurance · Our Service Area
