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Part D is Medicare drug coverage: help paying for the prescription drugs you need, from private insurance companies approved by Medicare. It's optional. In 2027, what you pay out of pocket for your covered drugs is capped at $2,400.
Medicare comes in parts. Part A covers hospital care. Part B covers doctors and outpatient care. Part D covers prescription drugs. Part C (Medicare Advantage) is a private plan that bundles them together.
Medigap (Medicare Supplement Insurance) is extra insurance you can buy from a private health insurance company to help pay your share of out-of-pocket costs in Original Medicare, like copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles. You can only buy Medigap if you have Original Medicare. The best time to buy a Medigap policy is during your 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period.
Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) on its own has no yearly limit on what you pay out of pocket. Medicare Advantage plans have a yearly limit; once you reach it, you pay nothing for covered services for the rest of the year. And in 2027, your out-of-pocket spending on covered Part D drugs is capped at $2,400.
They're for two different paths. Medigap only helps pay your costs under Original Medicare, so it can't be used with a Medicare Advantage plan. In most cases, a company can't sell you Medigap while you're in Medicare Advantage.
Original Medicare includes Part A and Part B, and you can use any doctor or hospital that takes Medicare. A Medicare Advantage Plan is another way to get that coverage, through a Medicare-approved plan offered by a private company. In many cases, you'll need to use health care providers who participate in the plan's network. These plans set a limit on what you'll pay out of pocket each year.
Open Enrollment happens from October 15 to December 7 and is the time each year when you can make changes to your coverage. The changes you make are effective January 1 of next year. In most cases, if you join a Medicare Advantage Plan, you must keep it for the calendar year. If you're already in one, you can make one change from January 1 to March 31.
General education, not individualized advice. For your own situation, you can call 1-800-MEDICARE or your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP).
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