While Original Medicare (Parts A and B) will cover some of your health care expenses, it won’t cover everything. For instance, Medicare Part B covers 80% of your health care costs. You will be responsible for the other 20%. It also won’t pay for any prescription drugs, vision or dental care. You’ll have to cover the cost of those yourself. For many seniors, those items can be some of the most expensive. So, one option is to add supplemental insurance to help with those gaps in coverage. You can add Part D, the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan. And you can add a Medicare Supplement to help with your co-pays, deductibles and emergency coverage when you travel outside the country.

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Or, you can choose a better alternative with more coverage: Medicare Supplement. Here are some of the benefits:

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• If you want lower premiums: Part C plans often have lower premiums than Medigap supplements.

• If you want to cap your health spending: Medicare Advantage plans have a $6,700 per year maximum. Once you hit that limit, the plan will pick up all expenses. Original Medicare has no out-of-pocket maximum.

• If you want to eliminate the financial uncertainty of 20% co-insurance: Original Medicare Part B only picks up 80% of the cost.

• If you want prescription drug coverage included: No need to buy Part D.

• If you want dental and vision care: Original Medicare won’t cover these.

• If you prefer all-in-one coverage: You’ll get all of your health care needs to be taken care of from one insurance carrier – so there aren’t so many moving “Parts”. That makes your health care much more convenient and easier to manage.