Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap: How to Choose in Texas

If you're approaching 65 in the Houston area, you've probably been flooded with Medicare mail and TV ads. Let me cut through the noise. The biggest decision most people face is Medicare Advantage versus a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan. Here's how they differ.

Medicare Advantage (Part C)

Advantage plans bundle your coverage (often including prescription drugs and extras like dental or vision) through a private insurer, usually with low or no monthly premium. The trade-off: you typically use a network of doctors and may need referrals, and you pay copays as you go.

Medicare Supplement (Medigap)

A Supplement works alongside Original Medicare and covers much of what Medicare doesn't — deductibles and coinsurance — so your out-of-pocket costs are more predictable. You can see any doctor that accepts Medicare, with no networks. The trade-off is a higher monthly premium, and you'd add a separate Part D drug plan.

Which is right for you?

It comes down to your doctors, your prescriptions, your budget, and how much predictability you want. There's no one right answer — only the right answer for you. And timing matters: your Medigap open enrollment window (the 6 months after you enroll in Part B at 65) is the easiest time to get a Supplement.

My Medicare guidance is free to you — it's paid through the plans, not by you. Let's compare your options together. Book a free 15-minute call at (832) 930-7636. — Matthew Powell, CEO, Legacy Stewards

This article is for general educational purposes only and is not insurance or financial advice.