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Compare Medicare plans side-by-side.
Choose with confidence.
Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement and Part D — laid out side-by-side, along with health and life plans, so you can make an informed decision about your coverage. And when the fine print gets thick, a licensed agent compares it with you, free.
HMO vs PPO vs EPO vs HDHP —
what actually changes.
Those four letters decide your premium, your deductible, and whether you need a referral to see a specialist. Here's how the plan types stack up, feature by feature.
| Feature | HMO Health Maintenance Org. | PPO Preferred Provider Org. | EPO Exclusive Provider Org. | HDHP High-Deductible + HSA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Premium | Lowest | Highest | Medium | Low |
| Deductible | Low | Low–Medium | Medium | High |
| Primary Care Required | Yes | No | No | No |
| Specialist Referrals | Required | Not required | Not required | Not required |
| Out-of-Network Coverage | Emergency only | Yes (higher cost) | Emergency only | Yes (after deductible) |
| Best For | Lower costs; you don't mind referrals | Flexibility; keeping existing specialists | Balanced cost and flexibility | Healthy individuals; HSA tax benefits |
← Swipe to see all four plan types →
Term vs whole life:
renting protection or owning it.
Same goal — protecting your family — but very different price tags and timelines. Here's the honest side-by-side, with real ballpark numbers.
Term Life Insurance
- Coverage Period
- 10, 20, or 30 years
- Premium Cost
- Low
- Cash Value
- None
- Best For
- Young families, temporary needs
Example: $500,000 of coverage for a healthy 35-year-old runs roughly $25–$40/month.
Whole Life Insurance
- Coverage Period
- Lifetime
- Premium Cost
- High
- Cash Value
- Yes — builds over time
- Best For
- Estate planning, permanent needs
Example: $500,000 of coverage for a healthy 35-year-old runs roughly $400–$600/month.
Compare Medicare Advantage vs
Medicare Supplement (Medigap).
This is the single biggest fork in the Medicare road — and there's no one right answer. Here's what you trade either way.
🧭 Medicare Advantage (Part C)
- ✓ Many plans have no separate plan premium — you still pay your Part B premium
- ✓ Usually includes prescription drug coverage
- ✓ Often carries extra benefits (dental, vision)
- ✗ Provider networks
- ✗ Offered county by county
- ✗ Benefits can change each plan year
Best for: a capped yearly maximum and extra benefits.
🛡️ Medicare Supplement (Medigap) + Part D
- ✓ No provider networks — any doctor who takes Medicare
- ✓ Works anywhere in the US
- ✓ Coverage that does not change each year
- ✗ Higher monthly premiums
- ✗ Needs a separate Part D plan
- ✗ No extra benefits like dental or vision
Best for: flexibility, travel, and keeping your existing doctors.
Medicare Part D plan comparison:
what actually differs.
Drug plans look alike from the outside and behave very differently at the pharmacy counter. Compare them in this order, not in price order.
📋 Compare these first
- ✓ The formulary. Is every drug you take on the list — and on which tier?
- ✓ The restrictions. Prior authorization, step therapy and quantity limits apply drug by drug.
- ✓ The pharmacy network. A preferred pharmacy and a standard one can charge different amounts for the same prescription.
- ✓ The deductible and the annual out-of-pocket limit on covered drugs.
Then: look at the monthly premium.
⚠️ Where people get caught
- ✗ Choosing the cheapest premium, then finding one drug sits on a specialty tier.
- ✗ Assuming last year's plan still covers the same drugs — formularies change every plan year.
- ✗ Filling at a pharmacy that is in the network but not the preferred one.
- ✗ Comparing on the plan name rather than on their own prescription list.
The fix: bring your actual medication list, with doses.
Compare Medicare Supplement plans:
what differs and what doesn't.
Most people compare Medigap plans the hard way. In most states the coverage itself is set by law, which makes the comparison much smaller than it looks.
🔒 Identical between carriers
- ✓ The benefits. In most states Medigap plans are standardized by letter, so Plan G pays the same way whichever company sells it.
- ✓ Your doctors. There is no network to match, so no carrier gives you better access than another.
- ✓ Claims handling. Medicare pays first and the policy pays its share of what's left.
- ✗ Massachusetts, Minnesota and Wisconsin standardize their plans differently.
So: a cheaper Plan G is not a lesser Plan G.
💵 Where carriers really differ
- ✓ Price for the same lettered plan, which can vary a great deal in one zip code.
- ✓ Rate-increase history — the premium you are quoted is not the premium you keep.
- ✓ Discounts, such as household or annual-payment discounts.
- ✓ Underwriting. Outside your Medigap open enrollment window, health questions can decide whether you are accepted at all.
Read next: Plan G vs Plan N · Advantage vs Supplement
Need help comparing?
Our experts compare plans against your medications, doctors, and budget — and help you find the right coverage for your needs. Free, with zero obligation.
Six comparison tips —
and one promise.
Whichever line of coverage you're shopping, the same checklist keeps you out of trouble. And here's exactly what you can hold us to.
Comparison Tips
- ✓Compare total annual costs — premium × 12 plus what you'll actually spend, not just the monthly sticker price.
- ✓Check provider networks — confirm your doctors and hospitals are in-network before you enroll.
- ✓Review prescription coverage — make sure your medications are on the plan's formulary, at a tier you can afford.
- ✓Consider your health needs — a plan that fits a healthy 30-year-old rarely fits someone managing chronic conditions.
- ✓Look at out-of-pocket maximums — that's your real worst-case number for the year.
- ✓Read the fine print — exclusions, waiting periods, and prior-authorization rules hide there.
Our Promise
- ✓Unbiased comparisons — we work for you, not a carrier.
- ✓Multiple carrier options — independent means we shop the market.
- ✓No hidden fees — our guidance costs you nothing.
- ✓30+ years of experience in the financial & healthcare industries.
- ✓Ongoing support — year-round, not just at enrollment.
— Raymond Arce, iCoach Solutions
Don't compare alone.
Bring an expert — free.
We'll put your real options side-by-side — costs, networks, prescriptions, fine print — and help you choose the coverage that truly fits. No pressure, no cost, in English or Español.