Plan guide

Your Medicare options, in plain English.

Five kinds of coverage, explained the same simple way. Open any plan for more detail.

Part C

Medicare Advantage

Hospital, medical and usually drug coverage in one plan.

What it is

A private plan approved by Medicare that gives you your Part A and Part B coverage in one plan. Most include drug coverage, and many add routine dental, vision and hearing.

May fit if you…

Want one plan and one card
Are comfortable using a network of doctors
Like extras built into your plan

Key points

You keep paying your Part B premium
A yearly limit on out-of-pocket costs for covered Part A and B services
Costs, networks and drug lists can change each year

More about Medicare Advantage

Plan types

HMO plans generally use the plan’s network and often need a referral for specialists. PPO plans let you go out of network, usually at a higher cost. Special Needs Plans are built for people with both Medicare and Medicaid or certain chronic conditions.

Doctors and prescriptions

Before you choose, we check that your doctors, hospital and pharmacy are in the network, and that every prescription is on the plan’s drug list at your dose.

When you can join or switch

When you first get Medicare, during Annual Enrollment (Oct 15 – Dec 7), and once from Jan 1 – Mar 31 if you’re already in a plan. Some life events, like moving, open other windows.

Source: Medicare Advantage on Medicare.gov. Benefits vary by plan and area.

Medigap

Medicare Supplement

Helps pay what Original Medicare leaves behind.

What it is

Private insurance that works with Original Medicare (Parts A and B) to help pay your share, such as copays, coinsurance and deductibles.

May fit if you…

Want to see any doctor in the U.S. who accepts Medicare
Prefer more predictable costs when you get care
Travel or split time between states

Key points

Works only with Original Medicare, not Medicare Advantage
Standard plan letters in most states, like Plan G or Plan N
No drug coverage, so most people add a Part D plan

More about Medicare Supplement

Your Medigap Open Enrollment Period

Six months that start the first month you’re 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. During it, you can buy any policy sold in your state and can’t be turned down for health reasons. It happens once.

Switching later

Annual Enrollment isn’t a special window for Medigap. Outside your open enrollment, most states let insurers ask health questions. In New York, Medigap is available all year without health questions.

Same letter, same benefits

A Plan G from one insurer has the same basic benefits as a Plan G from another. Price and service are what differ, so we compare them with you.

Source: Medigap on Medicare.gov. Benefits vary by plan and area.

Drug plans

Part D

Coverage for your prescriptions.

What it is

Drug coverage from private companies that follow Medicare’s rules. Plans differ in which drugs they cover, which pharmacies they prefer and what you pay.

May fit if you…

Have Original Medicare, alone or with Medigap
Take prescriptions now, or may later
Want to avoid a late enrollment penalty

Key points

Each plan has its own drug list (formulary)
A yearly cap on out-of-pocket drug costs
Most Medicare Advantage plans already include it

More about Part D

The late enrollment penalty

If you go without Part D or other creditable drug coverage for a while after you’re first eligible, you may owe a penalty for as long as you have Part D.

Help paying for drugs

Extra Help, and state programs like New York’s EPIC and New Jersey’s PAAD and Senior Gold, can work alongside a Part D plan if you qualify.

Lists change every year

Drug lists, preferred pharmacies and costs can change each January. Annual Enrollment is the time to check that your plan still fits.

Source: Part D on Medicare.gov. Benefits vary by plan and area.

Routine care

Dental, Vision & Hearing

For the routine care Medicare leaves out.

What it is

Original Medicare generally doesn’t cover routine dental care, eye exams for glasses or hearing aids. You can get that coverage inside a Medicare Advantage plan or as a separate plan.

May fit if you…

Want cleanings, glasses or hearing aids covered
Have Original Medicare and a Medigap plan
Want more than your current plan includes

Key points

Many Medicare Advantage plans include some benefits
Separate plans can pair with Original Medicare
Benefits vary by plan and area

More about Dental, Vision & Hearing

Two ways to get it

Built into a Medicare Advantage plan, or as a stand-alone dental, vision or hearing plan. We compare both with you.

What to check

Which dentists and eye doctors you can see, any waiting periods, yearly limits, and what counts as routine care.

We read the fine print

What’s included and how much is covered varies plan by plan, so we look at the details with you before you choose.

Source: Coverage options on Medicare.gov. Benefits vary by plan and area.

Fixed benefit

Hospital Indemnity

A set benefit paid to you for hospital stays.

What it is

A plan that pays a set amount for a covered hospital stay, usually straight to you, to use however you need.

May fit if you…

Have a Medicare Advantage plan with hospital copays
Want a cushion for costs coverage doesn’t touch
Like knowing the benefit amount ahead of time

Key points

Works alongside Medicare and doesn’t replace it
Pays a fixed amount per covered stay or day
Not a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan

More about Hospital Indemnity

How it pays

The policy spells out a fixed benefit per covered stay or per day. The money usually goes to you, not the hospital.

What to check

What counts as a covered stay, any waiting periods, and the health questions on the application.

Where it fits

Some people pair it with a Medicare Advantage plan to help with hospital copays. We’ll tell you plainly if it makes sense for you.

Source: Joining a plan on Medicare.gov. Benefits vary by plan and area.

Side by side

Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap

Each fits different people, and you can’t use both at the same time.

Comparison of Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement (Medigap) with Part D
Topic	Medicare Advantage	Medigap + Part D
How it works	One private plan that gives you your Part A and B coverage.	Works alongside Original Medicare to help pay your share.
Doctors	Usually a network. PPOs allow out of network, at a higher cost.	Any doctor in the U.S. who accepts Medicare. No network.
Drugs	Most plans include drug coverage.	Not included. Most people add Part D.
Dental, vision, hearing	Many plans include some routine benefits.	Not included. Can be added as a separate plan.
Travel	Emergency care anywhere in the U.S. Routine care in the service area.	Anywhere in the U.S. Some plan letters help abroad.
Changing later	Each year during Annual Enrollment, and once Jan 1 – Mar 31.	Outside your open enrollment, most states allow health questions.

Source: Compare Original Medicare & Medicare Advantage on Medicare.gov. Costs, benefits and networks vary by plan and area.

How we help

We do the checking with you.

What we check, plan by plan

Your doctors, specialists and hospital
Every prescription, at its dose
Your pharmacy
Extras like dental, vision and hearing
Your enrollment window and deadlines

Helpful to have nearby

Your red, white and blue Medicare card, if you have it
A list of your medications, or just the pill bottles
The names of your doctors and pharmacy

About 20–30 minutes, at your pace. Family is welcome on the call.

Other situations we help with

Already on MedicareWe review what you have against your doctors, drugs and budget.
Extra Help & MedicaidIf your income is limited, we help you see if you qualify.
NY EPIC & NJ PAADWe coordinate these state programs with your drug coverage.
MovingA new state or county can change your options. We sort out what and when.
Leaving work coverageRetiring or losing job coverage? We help you line up Medicare.

Common questions

Questions people often ask.

Don’t see yours? Call or text, and a licensed agent will walk you through it.

Is there a cost for your help?

No. There is no cost to you for our help, and no obligation to enroll in anything.

Are you Medicare or the government?

No. Continental Coverage is an independent insurance agency, not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.

When can I sign up if I’m turning 65?

Your Initial Enrollment Period lasts 7 months: it starts 3 months before the month you turn 65, includes your birthday month, and ends 3 months after it.

What can I change during Annual Enrollment?

From Oct 15 to Dec 7 you can join, switch or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan. Changes start Jan 1, 2027.

Do I need both Medigap and Part D?

Medigap policies sold today don’t include drug coverage, so many people with Medigap also choose a Part D plan.

Can I have Medicare Advantage and Medigap together?

No. You can’t use both at the same time. We’ll help you weigh which one fits you.

I’m still working past 65. Does that change things?

It can. If you or your spouse have job-based coverage, your timing may be different. We look at your employer plan with you first.

Can a family member join the call?

Of course. Many people like a son, daughter or spouse on the line. A review usually takes about 20–30 minutes.

Not sure which fits?

We’ll compare them side by side with you.

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