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Retirement · Medicare
Medicare Plan Comparison
The choice between Original Medicare with a supplement and a Medicare Advantage plan is mostly a trade between a predictable premium and a variable out-of-pocket exposure. This tool prices both paths across a full year at a utilization level you set, applies the Part D out-of-pocket cap and the Advantage maximum out-of-pocket limit, and shows the cost at a typical year and at a bad year so you can see the shape of the risk, not just the average.
Data: 2026 CMS Parts A & B and Part D standard benefit parameters
Shared Assumptions STEP 1
Both paths pay the same Part B premium and Part D surcharge. Run the IRMAA tool first if unsure.
Lab work, imaging, therapy, surgery center
Path A: Original Medicare + Medigap + Standalone Part D STEP 2
Quote from your county. Varies widely by plan letter, age, and state.
Pre-filled with the 2026 national average
Cannot exceed the 2026 maximum
Path B: Medicare Advantage STEP 3
Some plans rebate part of the Part B premium
The MA MOOP does not include drug costs
Most MA plans bundle Part D
Constants Panel EDITABLE
Low confidence, verify
Annual Difference
--
Lower-cost path this year
Bad-Year Difference
--
Stress test: more admissions, longer stay, 3x charges
Path A Worst-Case Ceiling
--
Path B is always capped by its MOOP
Original Medicare with no Medigap supplement has no annual out-of-pocket maximum. A single bad year can cost far more than shown here.
The Advantage plan maximum out-of-pocket was entered as $0, which is not a real MOOP value. Treating it as not entered; Path B medical cost sharing is shown uncapped.
Drug coverage is not included on Path B. The enrollee pays the full retail drug cost shown, and may also owe a Medicare Part D late enrollment penalty for going without creditable coverage.
The modeled length of stay exceeds 150 days, using up all 60 lifetime reserve days. Costs beyond that are unlimited under Original Medicare and are not fully captured here.
Path A: Original Medicare + Medigap + Part D
Annual premiums--
Medical cost sharing--
Drug cost sharing--
Path A total annual cost--
Path B: Medicare Advantage
Annual premiums--
Medical cost sharing, before MOOP--
Medical cost sharing, after MOOP--
MOOP reached--
Drug cost sharing--
Path B total annual cost--
Comparison & Risk
Annual difference--
Path A bad-year total--
Path B bad-year total--
Bad-year difference--
Path A worst-case ceiling--
Path B worst-case ceiling--
This compares projected annual cost only. It does not compare networks, formularies, prior authorization rules, or provider access, and those often matter more than the dollar difference. Plan details vary by county. Confirm with the plan and with your State Health Insurance Assistance Program before enrolling.