What are the Disadvantages of Medicare?
Despite the advantages of enrolling in Original Medicare, the program also has disadvantages, which include:
-
Out-of-pocket costs
Even after meeting your deductibles for premium-free Part A ($1,676 per benefit period in 2025) and Medicare Part B ($257 per year in 2025), the out-of-pocket costs associated with Medicare can add up rather quickly in the form of coinsurance and copays.
Medicare Part B, for example, typically covers 80% of your medical costs, but you may be responsible for covering the remaining 20%.
-
No vision, dental or hearing benefits
If you receive a routine hearing test, or if you visit an eye doctor or a dentist, Original Medicare generally will not cover the cost.
Learn more about common procedures that Medicare covers.
Medicare Supplement vs. Medicare Advantage Pros and Cons
Also called Medigap, Medicare Supplement insurance plans are sold by private insurance companies. Medigap plans do not replace your Original Medicare benefits.
Instead, they work in tandem with Medicare Part A and Part B to give you more comprehensive and predictive coverage.
What are the Advantages of Medigap?
The main advantages of enrolling in a Medigap plan include:
-
Numerous plan options
In most states, there are 10 standardized Medigap plans to choose from, each providing a different level of basic benefits. This means there are plenty of options to ensure you find a Medigap plan that provides the level of coverage you need.
Medigap plans with comprehensive coverage (such as Medigap Plan F) may be more expensive in some areas, whereas Medigap plans with less comprehensive coverage (such as Medigap Plan A) can sometimes be less expensive. It always helps to compare Medicare Supplement quotes before applying for a plan.
You can use the 2025 Medigap plan chart below to compare the benefits that are offered by each type of plan. Use the scroll bar at the bottom of the chart to view all plans and information.