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No 1-800 numbers and no online quote mills — just licensed Minnesota agents out of our Chaska office who pick up the phone when your plan changes and actually remember your name.
It’s the biggest decision you’ll make at 65, and the TV ads only muddy it. Here’s the honest comparison — what each one costs, how the doctor networks differ, and why Minnesota’s Medigap plans don’t look like the “Plan G” and “Plan N” you hear about everywhere else. No sales pitch, just the trade-offs.
Both paths start with Original Medicare (Parts A and B). The fork is what you add on top: a Medicare Advantage plan that bundles everything through a private network, or a Medigap policy that fills Original Medicare’s gaps and lets you go anywhere. Neither is “better” — they’re different trade-offs, and the right one depends on your doctors, your budget, and how much surprise you can stomach.
Because we’re an independent broker, we earn the same either way. So we have no reason to steer you — only to explain it straight.
Medicare Advantage usually has a low or $0 monthly premium and bundles in drugs and extras — but you’re tied to a network, may need referrals and prior authorizations, and pay copays as you go (up to a yearly cap that varies by plan). Medigap usually costs more each month (a bare-bones high-deductible version can be cheaper), but lets you see any provider in the country that takes Medicare, with little to no surprise at the point of care.
| Medicare Advantage (Part C) | Original Medicare + Medigap | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly premium | $0 to about $210/mo in our area (many are $0), plus Part B ($202.90) | Medigap premium (MN: about $60–$490 depending on plan), plus Part B ($202.90) and a separate Part D plan |
| See any doctor? | ✗ Network only (HMO/PPO) | ✓ Any provider nationwide that takes Medicare |
| Referrals / prior auth | ✗ Often required | ✓ None |
| Yearly out-of-pocket cap | ✓ Yes, but varies by plan — in-network up to $9,250 (2026); PPOs set a higher combined in/out limit (locally ~$10,100) | ✓ Varies by plan — from near-total coverage (Extended Basic) to a set deductible or cost-share cap; predictable either way |
| Drug coverage (Part D) | ✓ Usually built in (MAPD); a few are medical-only (MA-only) | ✗ Always add a separate Part D plan |
| Dental / vision / hearing | ✓ Often included | ✗ Buy separately |
| Cost when you’re sick | Copays add up toward the cap | Mostly covered — you front more monthly for fewer surprises |
| Best for | Lower premium + extras, fine staying in-network | Freedom to see any doctor, travel, and predictable bills |
2026 figures: standard Part B premium $202.90/mo. Medicare Advantage out-of-pocket maximums vary by plan — in-network limits can’t exceed $9,250, and PPOs set a higher combined in-and-out-of-network limit (we’re seeing some around $10,100 in our area). Original Medicare on its own has no out-of-pocket cap, which is the gap Medigap fills.
Almost every national article and ad describes Medigap as lettered plans (A through N). That’s not how it works here. Minnesota — along with Massachusetts and Wisconsin — has a federal waiver to standardize its own way. Instead of letters, here’s the actual menu you choose from, ordered by monthly premium:
| Minnesota Medigap plan | Monthly premium* | The trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| High Deductible Plan | $56–$126 | Lowest premium; you cover a $2,950 plan deductible first, then $0 |
| 50% Cost Sharing Plan | $95–$155 | You pay ~10% of Part B services up to $8,000, then $0 the rest of the year |
| 75% Cost Sharing Plan | $162–$220 | You pay ~5% up to $4,000, then $0 |
| $20 & $50 Copay Plan | $171–$293 | Simple, flat $20 and $50 copays for Part B services |
| Basic Plan | $200–$326 | Core gaps covered; add optional riders (Part A deductible, foreign travel, and more) |
| Extended Basic Plan | $303–$490 | Most comprehensive — covers the Part A deductible ($1,736) and nearly all cost-sharing |
* Example 2026 monthly premiums from Medicare.gov for a 66-year-old non-tobacco enrollee in our area; ranges reflect different carriers offering the same standardized plan. The standard Part B premium ($202.90) is separate, and every Medigap plan needs its own Part D drug plan. Figures shown are the versions available to people who became Medicare-eligible in 2020 or later; legacy versions of the Extended Basic and High Deductible plans remain for those eligible before January 1, 2020.
Because the state sets the benefits, the same plan covers the same things at every carrier — so the real shopping is on price and company reputation. Minnesota also uses community rating, which means age generally doesn’t change your premium: a 65-year-old and a 75-year-old typically pay the same for the same plan (your ZIP code still matters).
You want the lowest monthly premium and built-in extras, you’re comfortable using a network, and you don’t travel for months at a time.
You want to keep any doctor, you split time across states or snowbird, or you’d rather pay more monthly for very predictable bills.
Your first 6 months on Part B is the easy window to buy Medigap with no health questions. Switching later can mean medical underwriting — so it’s worth getting right the first time.
Tell us your doctors, your prescriptions, and how you like to get care. We’ll lay out Advantage and Medigap side by side for your situation — free, and with no nudging toward either.
We’ll get back to you within one business day.
No 1-800 numbers and no online quote mills — just licensed Minnesota agents out of our Chaska office who pick up the phone when your plan changes and actually remember your name.
