Published February 14th, 2026

Choosing the right Medicare plan is a crucial step for Maryland seniors seeking to protect their health and manage healthcare costs confidently. With options that can feel overwhelming, understanding the differences between Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans is essential to finding coverage that fits your unique needs and lifestyle.

Medicare Advantage plans offer an all-in-one approach through private insurers, often bundling hospital, medical, and prescription drug coverage with extra benefits like dental and vision. In contrast, Medicare Supplement plans work alongside Original Medicare to help cover out-of-pocket expenses, offering greater flexibility in provider choice but requiring separate drug plans.

By comparing benefits, costs, and how each plan aligns with your healthcare habits and preferences, you can make informed decisions tailored to your situation. Our goal is to simplify this complex landscape and provide clear, supportive guidance that helps you navigate Medicare options with confidence and peace of mind. 

What Is Medicare Advantage? An Overview for Maryland Seniors

Medicare Advantage, also called Medicare Part C, is an alternative way to receive your Medicare benefits through a private insurance company. Instead of using Original Medicare alone (Part A for hospital coverage and Part B for medical coverage), you enroll in a Part C plan that manages these benefits for you under one umbrella.

Every Medicare Advantage plan must provide at least the same core coverage as Original Medicare. The difference is how that coverage is delivered and what extras are included. Most plans in Maryland bundle hospital and medical benefits with prescription drug coverage (similar to Part D) in a single card. Many also include added benefits Original Medicare does not cover, such as routine dental, vision, hearing, and fitness programs.

Because these plans run through private insurers, they follow rules that feel familiar from employer health insurance. Many are HMOs or PPOs. That usually means provider networks: lower costs when you see doctors and hospitals in the plan's network, and higher costs or limited coverage outside it. Some plans require referrals to see a specialist, or prior authorization before certain tests or procedures.

Costs with Medicare Advantage work differently than with Original Medicare. Instead of separate Part A, Part B, and Medigap coverage, you pay the Part B premium plus any additional premium the plan charges. You face copays or coinsurance when you get care, but each plan sets an annual out-of-pocket maximum for Medicare-covered services. Extras like dental or vision may have their own limits and rules. Understanding how a specific plan's network, benefits, and cost-sharing line up with your doctors, prescriptions, and travel habits is the key to deciding if this type of coverage fits you. 

Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Plans: How They Work and What They Cover

Medicare Supplement, or Medigap, policies sit alongside Original Medicare, not in place of it. You still have Part A for hospital services and Part B for outpatient care, and the Medigap plan helps pay the pieces that Original Medicare leaves you to handle on your own. These policies are issued by private insurance companies and are designed to reduce your share of deductibles, coinsurance, and certain other out-of-pocket costs.

With Original Medicare, you usually owe a Part A deductible for hospital stays and a 20% coinsurance for most Part B services. A Medigap plan can cover some or all of these amounts, depending on which standardized plan you choose. Some options pay the full Part A and Part B coinsurance, some pay a percentage, and a few include coverage for skilled nursing facility coinsurance or foreign travel emergency care. Medigap plans do not include prescription drug coverage, dental, or vision benefits, so drug coverage comes through a separate Part D plan if you want it.

Medigap policies are standardized into lettered plans (such as Plan G or Plan N). A Plan G from one insurer must provide the same core medical benefits as a Plan G from another insurer; the differences are in price and service, not in what is covered. Plans with broader coverage generally reduce your share of bills but come with higher premiums, while leaner plans leave you paying more at the point of service but may cost less each month. This structure supports a clear Medigap vs Medicare Advantage cost comparison later, because you can see how guaranteed benefits and premiums trade off against each other.

Maryland follows federal Medigap rules, so timing matters. Your six-month Medigap open enrollment window starts when you are both 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. During this period, you have guaranteed issue rights: companies must accept your application for any Medigap plan they sell, and they cannot raise your premium because of health conditions. Outside this window, medical underwriting often applies unless you qualify for a special guaranteed issue situation, such as losing certain other coverage. Medigap works nationwide with any provider who accepts Medicare, and there are no plan network restrictions, referrals, or separate in-network rules. Original Medicare remains the primary payer, and your Medigap plan simply steps in to cover its share of approved charges after Medicare pays first. 

Comparing Costs: Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap in Maryland

Cost is often where the decision between Medicare Advantage and Medigap becomes real. Both routes sit on top of your Part B premium, but they distribute expenses in different ways over the year.

Most Medicare Advantage plans in Maryland advertise lower monthly premiums, and some charge no additional premium beyond what you already pay for Part B. The trade-off is cost-sharing when you use care. Office visits often have flat copays, specialist visits usually cost more than primary care, and outpatient procedures or hospital stays draw coinsurance amounts. Each plan sets an annual out-of-pocket maximum for Medicare-covered services, which caps what you spend on deductibles, copays, and coinsurance within that year. However, this cap does not always include costs for extra benefits like routine dental or vision, or for prescriptions, which may have separate copays and tiers.

Medigap turns that structure around. You usually pay a higher fixed monthly premium for the supplement, and you still carry a Part D premium if you add stand-alone prescription drug coverage. In exchange, a stronger Medigap option often reduces your share of medical bills to small, predictable amounts. For example, someone with a comprehensive Medigap plan might pay the Part B deductible once, then owe little or no coinsurance for covered services for the rest of the year. There is no formal out-of-pocket maximum, but because many major cost-sharing pieces are absorbed by the Medigap policy, surprise bills tend to be fewer and smaller.

Prescription drugs are a key difference in the cost picture. Many Medicare Advantage plans roll drug coverage into the same card, so you manage one premium structure, though you still face copays at the pharmacy and formulary rules. With Medigap, you add a separate Part D plan. That means another monthly premium, plus its own deductible and tiered copays, but it also lets you compare stand-alone drug plans side by side and choose one that fits your specific medications.

Run the numbers based on how often you see doctors and what kind of care you expect. A person who rarely visits the doctor and wants a lower monthly bill might lean toward an Advantage plan, accepting the risk of higher costs in a year with more health issues. Someone who values bill stability, sees multiple specialists, or anticipates procedures may prefer the higher, steady Medigap premium in exchange for lower and more predictable out-of-pocket expenses during the year. 

Pros and Cons: Evaluating Medicare Advantage and Medigap for Your Needs

Comparing Medicare Advantage to Medigap means looking past price tags and asking how each structure fits your health patterns and habits. The trade-offs center on flexibility, depth of coverage, and how much control you want over where and how you receive care.

Medicare Advantage often feels more "all-in-one." Many plans include integrated drug coverage, plus extra benefits like routine dental, vision, hearing aids, and fitness programs. For someone who prefers a single ID card and coordinated care, that simplicity has appeal. The drawback is the network. You usually work within an HMO or PPO system, so out-of-network doctors and hospitals may be limited or more expensive. Travel adds another layer: short trips are usually manageable, but long stays away from home, or snowbird lifestyles, can expose gaps if non-emergency care outside the service area is not well covered.

Medigap tilts the balance toward freedom of provider choice and predictable cost-sharing. As long as a doctor or hospital accepts Medicare, you can typically see them without worrying about network status or referrals. For someone juggling several specialists or who values the option to receive care anywhere during travel, that broad access can lower stress. The trade-off comes in logistics and monthly outlay. You manage a separate Part D plan for medications and may need standalone options for dental or vision. Premiums for these Medigap plans usually run higher than many Medicare Advantage options, even though your bills at the point of service tend to be smaller and more stable.

Maryland seniors also face timing and health-history considerations. Switching from Medicare Advantage to Medigap later might involve medical underwriting outside certain protected periods, which may affect acceptance and pricing. That makes the initial choice more than a one-year decision. An experienced local Medicare advisor who understands how medicare advantage vs medigap trade-offs show up in real households can walk through your doctors, prescriptions, travel patterns, and budget to help weigh these pros and cons in a practical way. 

How to Decide: Choosing the Right Medicare Plan for Maryland Seniors

Choosing between Medicare Advantage and a Medigap supplement starts with an honest look at how you use health care now and how that might change. List your current doctors and specialists, your regular prescriptions, and any ongoing conditions. Add in expected needs, such as upcoming surgeries or therapy. This gives you a baseline to test each plan type against rather than guessing.

Next, match that picture to your budget and risk comfort. Map out how much room you have each month for premiums, then decide how much surprise billing you are willing to tolerate during the year. With that in mind, compare local Medicare Advantage options and Medigap plans side by side. For each option, ask three questions: Will my preferred providers be covered the way I expect? How will my common services be billed? How will my prescriptions be handled under either built-in drug coverage or a separate Part D plan?

Travel and lifestyle often tip the scale. If you stay close to home and like care coordinated through one network, a strong Medicare Advantage plan may line up well with your routine. If you travel frequently, spend extended time in other states, or want the freedom to seek care with any Medicare-accepting provider, pairing Original Medicare with a Medigap plan usually offers wider access. Also consider how you feel about managing multiple pieces: some people prefer one combined plan, while others are comfortable tracking separate medical, drug, and dental arrangements.

Enrollment timing and future flexibility deserve careful attention. Your first Medigap enrollment window, and the conditions for switching later, carry long-term consequences for coverage and cost. A structured Medicare plan comparison for Maryland that factors in your health history, income, and family needs brings clarity to these rules. Working with a knowledgeable Medicare professional and using unbiased educational resources keeps you from overlooking small details that turn into expensive problems. When you base your choice on a clear view of your health patterns, budget, and legal timelines, you protect both your care and your savings for the years ahead.

Deciding between Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans is a pivotal step for Maryland seniors seeking the right balance of coverage, cost, and flexibility. Medicare Advantage offers an all-in-one approach with integrated drug and extra benefits but comes with network limitations and variable out-of-pocket costs. In contrast, Medigap policies provide predictable cost-sharing and broader provider freedom, though often at a higher monthly premium and with separate drug coverage to manage.

Understanding these distinctions in the context of your health needs, lifestyle, and budget is essential. That's where expert guidance makes all the difference. With decades of experience in retirement and Medicare planning, R Noss Insurance & Financial Group supports you in navigating these complex choices with clarity and confidence. Their personalized approach respects your unique situation and helps you explore options that protect your health and finances long term.

Explore your Medicare choices with trusted, community-focused advisors who prioritize education and relationship-building. Learn more about how to safeguard your retirement years by getting in touch for a no-cost consultation or attending an educational event tailored to your needs.