Medigap vs Medicare Advantage: how to choose in South Florida
By Luckny Dubreus, founder, PlainPlan Benefits · Updated September 28, 2026Medigap (a Medicare Supplement) costs more each month but leaves you paying little when you get care, and lets you see any doctor in the U.S. who takes Medicare. Medicare Advantage often costs $0 a month but uses a network and charges copays up to a yearly limit. The right choice depends on your doctors, your health, your budget and how much you travel, and in Florida it's easiest to choose Medigap at 65.
You can't have both. A Medigap policy works only with Original Medicare, and it's illegal for a company to sell you one if you're in a Medicare Advantage plan. So this is a real fork in the road. Here's how to choose, using real numbers from Broward and Palm Beach counties.
The two paths, side by side
Everyone starts with Original Medicare: Part A (hospital) and Part B (medical). Original Medicare leaves you paying deductibles and 20% coinsurance, with no yearly limit. You then pick one of two paths to cover those gaps.
| Compare | Path 1: Original Medicare + Medigap + Part D | Path 2: Medicare Advantage (Part C) |
|---|---|---|
| Who runs it | Medicare pays first; a private Medigap policy pays most of the rest | A private insurance company approved by Medicare |
| Monthly premium | Part B + Medigap + Part D | Part B + plan premium (often $0) |
| Costs when you get care | Little or none (Plan G: only the $283 Part B deductible in 2026) | Copays and coinsurance, up to a yearly maximum |
| Yearly limit on medical costs | Not needed with Plan G; Original Medicare alone has none | Up to $9,250 in-network in 2026 |
| Doctors and hospitals | Any in the U.S. that accept Medicare | The plan's network (HMO or PPO) |
| Referrals and prior authorization | Rarely | Often required |
| Prescription drugs | Separate Part D plan | Usually included |
| Dental, vision, hearing | Not included | Often included, with limits |
| Changing later | Health questions usually apply after your first 6 months | Can switch plans every fall |
What each path really costs in Broward
The premium is only half the story. What matters is your total cost in a healthy year and in a bad year. Here's an illustration for a 65-year-old in Broward, leaving out the Part B premium because everyone pays it on both paths ($202.90 a month in 2026).
| Yearly cost | Plan G + Part D | $0-premium Advantage plan |
|---|---|---|
| Premiums | About $2,700 (Plan G at ~$225/mo) + about $414 (Part D at ~$34.50/mo) | $0 |
| Healthy year (checkups, a few visits) | + $283 Part B deductible ≈ $3,400 | A few hundred dollars in copays ≈ $300 |
| Bad year (surgery, hospital stay) | Still ≈ $3,400 for medical care | Up to the plan's maximum: $3,724 at the Broward average, up to $9,250 in some plans |
Assumptions: Plan G midpoint of published 2026 Broward estimates ($195–$255); national average 2026 Part D premium of about $34.50 (NCOA); Broward average in-network out-of-pocket maximum of $3,724 (MedicareAdvantage.com). Drug costs are extra on both paths and capped at $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Your own numbers will differ.
The pattern is what matters. Medicare Advantage usually wins in healthy years; Medigap usually wins, or at least caps your risk at a known number, in bad years. Medigap is predictable. Advantage is cheaper until you get sick.
Medigap: pros and cons
Pros
- Any doctor, anywhere: no networks, no referrals, in Florida or any other state.
- Predictable costs: with Plan G you pay only the Part B deductible for covered care.
- Standardized coverage: Plan G is the same at every company; only the price differs.
- Guaranteed renewable: the company can't cancel you because of your health.
- Florida issue-age pricing: your premium won't rise just because you get older, though companies can raise rates for everyone.
- Foreign travel: most plans pay 80% of emergency care abroad.
Cons
- Higher monthly cost: about $185–$255 a month for Plan G at 65 in Broward and Palm Beach, plus Part D.
- No extras: dental, vision and hearing aren't included.
- Health questions later: after your first 6 months on Part B, a company can usually decline you.
- Separate drug plan: you manage a Part D plan too.
More detail: Medicare Supplement plans and prices in Broward and Palm Beach.
Medicare Advantage: pros and cons
Pros
- Low or $0 premiums: Broward's 85 plans averaged $21.14 a month in 2026.
- All in one card: medical and usually drug coverage together.
- Extra benefits: many plans include dental, vision, hearing, fitness and allowances.
- A yearly cap: your in-network medical costs are limited by the plan's out-of-pocket maximum.
- Special Needs Plans: D-SNPs for people with Medicare and Medicaid can offer more help.
Cons
- Networks: you use the plan's doctors and hospitals, and networks change every year.
- Prior authorization: the plan must approve some services first.
- Copays add up: a hospital stay or cancer treatment can push you to the yearly maximum.
- Travel limits: HMOs usually cover only emergencies when you're out of the area.
More detail: Medicare Advantage plans in Broward and Palm Beach.
Who each path usually fits
Medigap often fits if you…
- Spend part of the year out of state
- See specialists or want to choose any hospital
- Have health conditions and want predictable costs
- Can afford a higher premium in exchange for fewer surprises
- Are turning 65 and can buy with no health questions
Medicare Advantage often fits if you…
- Stay in South Florida year-round
- Have doctors who are in a plan's network
- Are generally healthy and want a low premium
- Value dental, vision and hearing benefits
- Have Medicare and Medicaid and qualify for a D-SNP
These are patterns, not rules. Broward, where 65% of people with Medicare are in Advantage, and Palm Beach, where only 48% are, show how differently neighbors choose.
Three example situations
A retiree in Boca Raton who spends summers in New York. She sees a cardiologist in Manhattan and a primary care doctor in Boca. An Advantage HMO would cover only emergencies up north. Plan G plus a stand-alone Part D plan lets her keep both doctors, and her yearly medical costs stay close to the Part B deductible.
A couple in Tamarac who stay in Broward year-round. Both are healthy, their doctors are in several Advantage networks, and they want dental coverage. A $0-premium Advantage plan with a reasonable out-of-pocket maximum could save them thousands a year in premiums, as long as they check the network and drug list every fall.
A man in Lauderdale Lakes with Medicare and Medicaid. He qualifies for a Dual Special Needs Plan. A D-SNP can coordinate his Medicare and Medicaid benefits, often with a $0 premium and extra benefits, which usually beats paying for a Medigap policy he may not need.
Why the timing matters in Florida
The biggest mistake we see is choosing Advantage at 65 "for now" and planning to switch to Medigap later. Your Medigap Open Enrollment Period lasts six months from the start of Part B at 65 or older. During it, companies must sell you any Supplement whatever your health. After it, they can usually ask health questions and decline you.
There are safety nets. If you join Advantage when you first become eligible at 65, a trial right lets you switch to Medigap within 12 months with no health questions. If your Advantage plan leaves your area, you also get a guaranteed right to buy certain Medigap plans. Florida doesn't have a yearly "switch anytime" rule like some states. See the turning-65 Medicare timeline for South Florida. Still working? Read signing up for Medicare while you're still working.
Three common myths
- "Medicare Advantage is free." You still pay the Part B premium, plus copays when you use care, up to the yearly maximum.
- "Medigap is only for wealthy people." Plan N and high-deductible Plan G cost less, and Florida's issue-age pricing means buying at 65 locks in your starting rate.
- "I can always switch later." Advantage plans can be changed every fall, but moving to Medigap after your first six months usually means health questions.
Don't forget Part D
On the Medigap path you add a stand-alone Part D drug plan; on the Advantage path, drug coverage is usually built in. Either way, your drug list decides a lot. For 2027 the Part D deductible can be up to $700 and out-of-pocket drug costs are capped at $2,400. How Part D drug plans work in 2027.
How to decide in four steps
- List your doctors and hospitals. If they're not in any Advantage network you'd consider, Medigap is the simpler answer.
- List your prescriptions and pharmacy. Price them in both paths.
- Compare total yearly cost in a healthy year and a bad year, not just the premium.
- Think about the next 10 years, not just next year, especially if you're 65 and inside your six-month window.
We do this with you at no cost, comparing plans from more than 20 insurance companies, in English or Haitian Creole. Here's how we get paid, and why we always show you both paths.
Medigap vs Medicare Advantage questions
Can I have Medigap and Medicare Advantage at the same time?
No. Medigap only works with Original Medicare, and it's illegal for a company to sell you a Medigap policy if you're in a Medicare Advantage plan.
Is Medigap or Medicare Advantage cheaper?
Medicare Advantage usually costs less in premiums and in healthy years. Medigap usually costs less, or is more predictable, in years with major medical care.
Can I switch from Medicare Advantage to Medigap later in Florida?
Within 12 months of first joining Advantage at 65, usually yes, with no health questions. After that, most Medigap companies can ask health questions and may decline you.
Which is better for snowbirds?
Usually Medigap, because it works with any provider that accepts Medicare in any state. Most Advantage HMOs only cover emergencies outside their area.
Does Medigap cover prescriptions?
No. You add a separate Part D plan. Most Medicare Advantage plans include drug coverage.
Do Medigap or Medicare Advantage plans cover dental?
Medigap doesn't. Many Medicare Advantage plans include some dental coverage, with yearly limits.
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