Medicare Plans
Medicare Advantage vs Medigap in Columbus, OH
Nearly every Columbus senior we talk to is weighing the same two paths: a Medicare Advantage plan that bundles hospital, doctor and drug coverage into one lower-premium private plan, or a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy that rides behind Original Medicare and pays what Medicare leaves unpaid.
Neither option wins on its own. The right pick depends on your doctors, your prescription list, how much you travel, and how much monthly cost you're willing to trade for predictability.
- Two different routes to cover Original Medicare's gaps
- Network access at Riverside Methodist and Mount Carmel drives the local decision
- The premium is only half of what a plan actually costs you
- Free side-by-side comparison for Franklin County residents
Side by side
Where the two paths actually diverge
| Compare | Medicare SupplementMedigap · rides alongside Original Medicare | Medicare AdvantagePart C · one private plan, one card | Part D Drug PlanDrug coverage only · add-on |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it covers | Picks up your leftover Part A and Part B bills: deductibles, copays and coinsurance. | Bundles hospital, medical and (usually) drug coverage under one plan and one card. | Handles your prescriptions and nothing else on the medical side. |
| Doctor networks | None at all. Any provider nationwide who takes Medicare works. | HMO or PPO rules apply. Confirm OhioHealth Riverside Methodist or OSU Wexner Medical Center is in-network first. | Just a pharmacy network. Preferred pharmacies save you money. |
| Monthly premium | Costs the most of the three, on top of your Part B premium. | Frequently $0, on top of your Part B premium. | A modest monthly add-on, on top of your Part B premium. |
| Costs when you use care | Almost nothing once the Part B deductible on Plan G is met. | You pay a copay per visit, but a yearly out-of-pocket cap limits the damage. | A deductible plus copays that shift by tier on the plan's formulary. |
| Prescription drugs | Skipped entirely. Pair it with a standalone Part D plan. | Baked in on most plans sold in the Columbus area. | This plan is your drug coverage, full stop. |
| Extras (dental, vision, hearing) | Off the table. Add a standalone policy if you want these. | Often bundled in, though the dollar allowance swings widely by plan. | Not part of the package. |
| Health questions to enroll | None during your 6-month open enrollment window; underwriting kicks in afterward. | None. You're guaranteed a spot during any valid enrollment period. | None asked. |
| Best if you | Travel a lot, see specialists frequently, and want a predictable bill. | Are settled with your Columbus doctors and want a low premium plus perks. | Already picked Medigap or Original Medicare and still need drug coverage. |
| Read more | Medicare Supplement details | Medicare Advantage details | Part D Drug Plan details |
Medicare Supplement
Medigap · rides alongside Original Medicare
- What it covers
- Picks up your leftover Part A and Part B bills: deductibles, copays and coinsurance.
- Doctor networks
- None at all. Any provider nationwide who takes Medicare works.
- Monthly premium
- Costs the most of the three, on top of your Part B premium.
- Costs when you use care
- Almost nothing once the Part B deductible on Plan G is met.
- Prescription drugs
- Skipped entirely. Pair it with a standalone Part D plan.
- Extras (dental, vision, hearing)
- Off the table. Add a standalone policy if you want these.
- Health questions to enroll
- None during your 6-month open enrollment window; underwriting kicks in afterward.
- Best if you
- Travel a lot, see specialists frequently, and want a predictable bill.
Medicare Advantage
Part C · one private plan, one card
- What it covers
- Bundles hospital, medical and (usually) drug coverage under one plan and one card.
- Doctor networks
- HMO or PPO rules apply. Confirm OhioHealth Riverside Methodist or OSU Wexner Medical Center is in-network first.
- Monthly premium
- Frequently $0, on top of your Part B premium.
- Costs when you use care
- You pay a copay per visit, but a yearly out-of-pocket cap limits the damage.
- Prescription drugs
- Baked in on most plans sold in the Columbus area.
- Extras (dental, vision, hearing)
- Often bundled in, though the dollar allowance swings widely by plan.
- Health questions to enroll
- None. You're guaranteed a spot during any valid enrollment period.
- Best if you
- Are settled with your Columbus doctors and want a low premium plus perks.
Part D Drug Plan
Drug coverage only · add-on
- What it covers
- Handles your prescriptions and nothing else on the medical side.
- Doctor networks
- Just a pharmacy network. Preferred pharmacies save you money.
- Monthly premium
- A modest monthly add-on, on top of your Part B premium.
- Costs when you use care
- A deductible plus copays that shift by tier on the plan's formulary.
- Prescription drugs
- This plan is your drug coverage, full stop.
- Extras (dental, vision, hearing)
- Not part of the package.
- Health questions to enroll
- None asked.
- Best if you
- Already picked Medigap or Original Medicare and still need drug coverage.
Local networks
What this means at Columbus-area hospitals
Medigap: no network to worry about
Any provider who accepts Original Medicare works with your Medigap plan. That covers OhioHealth Riverside Methodist, OSU Wexner Medical Center, and specialists anywhere else in the country, no referral needed.Advantage: the network is the plan
Columbus Advantage plans vary on which health system they contract with. Some lean heavily on Riverside Methodist, others on Mount Carmel. Networks get re-confirmed every January.Prescriptions work differently on each side
Advantage plans usually build Part D in. With Medigap you buy a standalone Part D plan and can shop it separately each fall, often the cheaper route if your drugs are pricey.
Choose Advantage if
Signs a Medicare Advantage plan fits you
- You want the lowest monthly premium possible, often $0 beyond Part B
- Your doctors and preferred hospital already sit inside the plan's Columbus network
- Extras like dental, vision, hearing and gym access matter to you
- You're fine with copays as you go and a yearly out-of-pocket cap
- You rarely leave Central Ohio for routine care
Choose Medigap if
Signs a Medicare Supplement fits you
- You'd rather pay one predictable premium than copays at every visit
- You see multiple specialists or split time between Columbus and another state
- You want to keep any doctor who takes Medicare, no referrals required
- You're managing an ongoing condition where per-visit copays add up fast
- You're inside your 6-month Medigap open enrollment window and can skip health questions
The timing detail that catches people off guard
You can join or change an Advantage plan each fall during Open Enrollment. Moving back to a Medigap plan later can require health underwriting in Ohio. That one-way street should shape your first decision.
Total cost
Compare the whole year, not just the premium
A $0-premium Advantage plan still costs money. Total up realistic copays for your primary care visits, specialist appointments, imaging and any planned procedure, then compare that figure to a year of Medigap premiums plus a standalone drug plan. For a healthy 66-year-old, the Advantage math often wins. For someone managing a chronic condition with frequent specialist visits, Medigap frequently costs less over twelve months.
We run those numbers using your actual drug list and doctors. Start with our Medicare checklist, or read the mistakes to avoid before you sign anything.
Go deeper on each path
No cost, no pressure
Still not sure which side fits you?
Bring your doctors and prescriptions. We'll price both paths for a full year and show you the actual difference.