Medicare Advantage vs Medicare Supplement in Florida: How to Choose
Quick answer: Medicare Advantage usually has a lower monthly premium, a local network, copays as you use care, a yearly out-of-pocket limit, and drug coverage built in. A Medicare Supplement (Medigap) usually has a higher monthly premium but lets you see any doctor in the U.S. that accepts Medicare, with very predictable costs, and you add a separate Part D plan. The biggest Florida catch: if you start on Advantage, switching to a Supplement later usually means health questions.
Want us to compare both paths for your doctors and drugs? Call or text 386-401-5644.
I’m Nathan Curry with USA Benefits Group (HealthBrokerFL) in South Daytona. People in Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach, Port Orange, Deltona, New Smyrna Beach, and across Volusia County ask me this question more than any other. Here is how I explain it across the desk.
Both start with Original Medicare
Either way, you need Part A (hospital) and Part B (medical), and you keep paying your Part B premium ($202.90 a month for most people in 2026). Then you choose one of two paths:
Path 1: Medicare Advantage (Part C)
A private plan approved by Medicare replaces how you get your Part A and Part B benefits. Most plans include Part D drug coverage, and many add dental, vision, hearing, or OTC benefits.
Path 2: Medigap plus Part D
You keep Original Medicare, add a Medicare Supplement to cover most of what Medicare leaves to you, and add a standalone Part D plan for drugs.
You can’t have both at once. A Medigap plan does not pay anything toward a Medicare Advantage plan.
Side by side for 2027
| Topic | Medicare Advantage | Medigap plus Part D |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly premium | Often low or $0, plus your Part B premium. Some plans give back part of the Part B premium. | Higher. You pay the Supplement premium, the Part D premium, and your Part B premium. |
| Costs when you get care | Copays and coinsurance as you go | Very predictable. With Plan G, you pay only the Part B deductible ($283 in 2026) for covered care. |
| Yearly limit | In-network limit up to $9,850 in 2027 ($14,800 combined on a PPO). Many plans set it lower. | No limit needed on Plan G, because it covers the 20% Part B coinsurance. |
| Doctors | Plan network. HMOs usually need in-network care and referrals. | Any provider in the U.S. that accepts Medicare. No referrals. |
| Prior authorization | Common for many services | Rare under Original Medicare |
| Drugs | Usually built in | Separate Part D plan. Out-of-pocket cap of $2,400 in 2027. |
| Extras | Dental, vision, hearing, OTC, and fitness vary by plan and year | Not included. You can buy a separate dental and vision plan. |
| Switching later | You can change plans every fall | Changing to a different Supplement later usually means health questions |
2026 and 2027 Medicare costs at a glance
| Cost | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Part B premium | $202.90 a month | Not announced yet |
| Part B deductible | $283 | Not announced yet |
| Part A hospital deductible | $1,736 per benefit period | Not announced yet |
| Medicare Advantage out-of-pocket limit (federal maximum) | $9,250 in network | $9,850 in network, $14,800 combined |
| Part D out-of-pocket cap | $2,100 | $2,400 |
Annual Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7, and changes you make take effect January 1, 2027. Your plan’s Annual Notice of Change shows exactly what is changing for you. Higher earners also pay more for Part B and Part D because of IRMAA.
Four questions that decide it
1. Do you travelor split the year outside Florida?
With a Supplement, any provider in the U.S. that accepts Medicare works. Most Advantage HMOs only cover emergency and urgent care outside the service area, and PPO out-of-network rules vary. If you spend months up north, this question often decides it.
2. Which doctors and hospitals can’t you lose?
List your specialists and the hospitals you prefer, such as Halifax Health or AdventHealth campuses, then check them against each Advantage plan’s 2027 network. On a Supplement, you only need to confirm they accept Medicare.
3. Do you want a low premium or predictable costs?
Advantage keeps the monthly bill low but you pay as you use care, up to the plan’s yearly limit. A Supplement costs more each month but makes a bad health year far more predictable. Think about what a hospital stay or a cancer treatment year would cost you on each path.
4. Are you inside a protected window for Medigap?
Your Medigap Open Enrollment Period lasts 6 months from the first month you are 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. During it, a company can’t turn you down or charge more for your health. After it, most Florida companies can ask health questions. That’s why I want people to weigh this choice carefully at 65. See Turning 65 and Medicare in Volusia County.
Switching later in Florida
- Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 to December 7: switch Advantage plans, go back to Original Medicare, or change Part D. See the AEP checklist for Volusia County.
- Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, January 1 to March 31: if you are on Advantage, you can make one switch to another Advantage plan or go back to Original Medicare and add Part D.
- Going back to Original Medicare does not guarantee a Supplement. Unless you have a guaranteed issue right, the Medigap company can ask health questions and decline you.
- Guaranteed issue rights include your Advantage plan leaving your area or not renewing (a service area reduction) and a 12-month trial right if you joined Advantage when you first got Medicare at 65. If your plan is ending for 2027, read what to do if your Medicare Advantage plan is leaving.
More detail: Can I switch from Medicare Advantage to a Supplement in Florida?
Learn more about each path
- Medicare Advantage plans in Daytona Beach
- Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans in Florida
- Medicare Advantage Part B giveback plans in Florida
- Dental and vision plans if you choose a Supplement
Local help from South Daytona
USA Benefits Group (HealthBrokerFL) is an independent agency at 913 Big Tree Road in South Daytona. I have been licensed for 14 years, and our agency is appointed with 80+ insurance companies and licensed in 30+ states. There is no cost to you for our help. The insurance company pays us, and your premium is the same whether you enroll with us or on your own.
A carrier’s call center can only show you its own plans. We compare Advantage and Supplement options from many companies for your ZIP code, doctors, drugs, and travel. Meet us face to face at our South Daytona office or by phone. Learn more about us, meet our team, or read our Medicare FAQ.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference between Medicare Advantage and a Medicare Supplement?
Medicare Advantage is a private plan that replaces how you get your Part A and Part B benefits, usually with a network, copays, a yearly out-of-pocket limit, and drug coverage built in. A Medicare Supplement (Medigap) works alongside Original Medicare to pay costs Medicare leaves to you, with no network. Most people add a separate Part D plan to a Supplement.
Can I have Medicare Advantage and a Medigap plan at the same time?
No. Medigap only works with Original Medicare. If you join a Medicare Advantage plan, a Medigap policy will not pay toward your Advantage plan’s costs, so you choose one path or the other.
Which is better in Florida, Advantage or a Supplement?
Neither is better for everyone. Advantage often fits people who want a low premium and extras and are comfortable with a local network. A Supplement often fits people who want to see any doctor that accepts Medicare, travel a lot, or want predictable costs and can afford a higher monthly premium. Your doctors, drugs, travel, budget, and health all matter.
What is the most I can pay on a Medicare Advantage plan in 2027?
Medicare caps a plan’s in-network maximum out of pocket at $9,850 for 2027, or $14,800 combined in and out of network on a PPO. Many plans set lower limits. Drug costs are separate and capped at $2,400 for 2027.
If I choose Medicare Advantage now, can I switch to a Supplement later?
You can go back to Original Medicare during the Annual Enrollment Period or the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, but in Florida a Medigap company can usually ask health questions and decline you unless you have a guaranteed issue right. Rights include your plan leaving your area and the 12-month trial right if you joined Advantage when you first got Medicare at 65.
Is a Medicare Supplement better for travel?
Usually. With Original Medicare and a Supplement, you can see any provider in the U.S. that accepts Medicare. Medicare Advantage HMOs generally cover only emergency and urgent care outside the service area, and PPO rules vary by plan.
Do Medicare Advantage extras like dental and OTC stay the same every year?
No. Carriers can change extras every year. Read your Annual Notice of Change each fall and compare before December 7.
What does Medicare cost in 2026?
The standard Part B premium is $202.90 a month and the Part B deductible is $283. The Part A hospital deductible is $1,736 per benefit period. Higher earners pay more for Part B and Part D because of IRMAA. The 2027 Part B premium and deductibles have not been announced yet.
Is a Medicare Supplement or Medicare Advantage cheaper?
Medicare Advantage usually has a lower monthly premium, often $0 plus your Part B premium, but you pay copays as you use care, up to the plan’s out-of-pocket limit ($9,250 in network in 2026 and $9,850 in 2027 at most). A Supplement has a higher premium but very few bills when you use care. Which one costs less over a year depends on how much care you use.
Does it cost more to use a broker to compare both paths?
No. There is no cost to you for our help. The insurance company pays us, and your premium is the same whether you enroll with us or on your own.
Do Medicare plans in Florida cover Ozempic or other GLP-1 drugs?
Part D plans and Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage generally cover GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic only for a medically accepted use, such as type 2 diabetes, and not for weight loss alone. Coverage, drug tiers and prior authorization rules vary by plan, so we check your drug list against each plan.
Book your free Advantage vs Supplement review
Bring your doctors, your medications, and your travel plans. We will compare both paths for your ZIP code and explain the Medigap timing rules before you enroll.
Call or text 386-401-5644 or email ncurry@healthbrokerfl.com. Office hours are Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm, and Saturday by appointment.
This page is general education, not personal insurance, tax, or legal advice. Plan availability, benefits, premiums, networks, and out-of-pocket limits vary by location and plan year. Confirm details on Medicare.gov. HealthBrokerFL.com is an independent insurance agency and is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.
We represent all of the Medicare plan organizations available in Volusia County. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.