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Key takeaways

Medicare Advantage usually has lower premiums but more costs when you use care. A Medicare Supplement costs more each month but has few surprise bills.
Check your doctors, hospital, and prescriptions before choosing a plan.
You can change plans during the Annual Enrollment Period, October 15–December 7.
Switching to a Supplement later can require health questions, so your first decision at 65 matters most.

If your mailbox has been flooded with Medicare postcards since you turned 64 and a half, you’re not imagining it. Every fall, Medicare plans compete hard for your attention, and almost all of that marketing boils down to one decision: Medicare Advantage or a Medicare Supplement?

The right answer depends on your doctors, your budget, your health, and how much you travel. Here’s how the two paths compare, what’s different about choosing in Colorado, and what to check before the Annual Enrollment Period ends on December 7.

What’s the difference between Medicare Advantage and a Medicare Supplement?

Medicare Advantage replaces Original Medicare with a private plan that usually has a network and copays. A Medicare Supplement works alongside Original Medicare to cover most of the costs Medicare leaves behind.

Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans are offered by private insurance companies. Most use a provider network, include prescription drug coverage, and charge copays as you use care, up to an annual out-of-pocket maximum. Many have low or $0 monthly premiums.

A Medicare Supplement (Medigap) pays most of what Original Medicare doesn’t, like deductibles and coinsurance. You pay a higher monthly premium, but you’ll have few out-of-pocket costs and can see any provider in the country who accepts Medicare. Drug coverage comes from a separate Part D plan.

In short, Medicare Advantage usually costs less each month but more when you need care. A Supplement usually costs more each month and much less when you need care.

Who is Medicare Advantage a good fit for?

Medicare Advantage tends to fit people who want low monthly premiums, have doctors in the plan’s network, and don’t expect frequent specialist care.

It’s often a good fit if you:

Want a low monthly premium and are comfortable with copays when you use care
Have doctors in the plan’s network and plan to stay in the area
Like having drug coverage, and often dental, vision, or hearing extras, in one plan
Are generally healthy and don’t expect frequent specialist visits

Networks matter. Before choosing a plan, confirm your doctors, hospital system, and prescriptions are covered. Plans can change their networks, benefits, and drug lists every year.

Who is a Medicare Supplement a good fit for?

A Medicare Supplement tends to fit people who want predictable costs, see specialists often, or travel outside Colorado.

It’s often a good fit if you:

Want predictable costs and very few surprise bills
See specialists regularly or are managing ongoing health needs
Travel often or spend part of the year outside Colorado
Want to see any provider who accepts Medicare, with no network to worry about

The two most popular plans are Plan G and Plan N. Plan G covers nearly everything after the Part B deductible. Plan N has a lower premium but adds small copays for some office and emergency room visits. Supplement benefits are standardized, so Plan G is the same coverage from any company. That’s why comparing prices across carriers matters so much.

What’s different about choosing Medicare coverage in Colorado?

In Colorado, plan options and networks vary a lot by county, so where you live can change which plan makes sense.

Mountain and rural counties can have fewer options. Plan choices along the Front Range can look very different from those in Eagle, Routt, or Mesa County. If you live in a smaller community, check which hospitals and specialists each plan includes.
Your health system matters. Whether you use UCHealth, Intermountain Health, or a CommonSpirit facility like Penrose-St. Francis or St. Mary-Corwin, confirm it’s in the plan’s network before you enroll.
Plans change every year. Carriers update and sometimes discontinue Medicare Advantage plans. If you’re already enrolled, read your Annual Notice of Change carefully. It explains what’s different for next year.

Can I switch from Medicare Advantage to a Medicare Supplement later?

Sometimes, but outside your first six months on Part B, Supplement companies can usually ask health questions and decline you.

Annual Enrollment Period (October 15–December 7): Anyone with Medicare can switch Medicare Advantage plans, move back to Original Medicare, or change Part D plans. Changes take effect January 1.
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1–March 31): If you’re in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can switch to another one or return to Original Medicare once.
Medigap Open Enrollment Period: You get a one-time, six-month window that starts the month you’re 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. During that window, Supplement companies must accept you regardless of your health.

Some special situations give you a guaranteed right to buy a Supplement later, but many people who start with Medicare Advantage can’t easily switch down the road. If you’re turning 65, that first decision deserves extra thought. You can read more about enrollment periods on Medicare.gov.

What should I check before the Medicare enrollment deadline on December 7?

Before December 7, confirm your doctors, prescriptions, out-of-pocket costs, and any plan changes for next year.

Are your doctors and preferred hospital in the plan’s network for next year?
Are your prescriptions on the plan’s drug list, and what will they cost?
What’s the plan’s annual out-of-pocket maximum?
Did your Annual Notice of Change show new costs or dropped benefits?
Do you travel or spend time outside Colorado?
If you’re considering a Supplement, will you need to answer health questions to qualify?

If any of those answers make you nervous, it’s worth a second look.

Local Medicare help across Colorado

Lighthouse Group is an independent, family-owned insurance brokerage at 1271 Kelly Johnson Blvd #111 in Colorado Springs. We help Medicare clients in [Colorado Springs], [Denver], [Pueblo], [Fort Collins], [Grand Junction], and mountain communities like [Vail] and [Steamboat Springs], mostly through virtual consultations. Call 719-645-6281 or request a consultation.

We compare Medicare plans across multiple carriers, check your doctors and prescriptions, and explain the trade-offs in plain English. We’ll give you an honest recommendation, even if that means staying in the plan you already have.

Have us review your Medicare plan before December 7.

Frequently asked questions

Is Medicare Advantage or a Medicare Supplement better?

Neither is better for everyone. Medicare Advantage usually has lower premiums and higher costs when you use care. A Supplement has higher premiums but more predictable costs and no network restrictions.

Does Medicare Advantage cover me if I travel outside Colorado?

Many plans cover emergencies anywhere in the U.S., but routine care outside the network may cost more or not be covered. PPO plans tend to offer more flexibility than HMOs.

Do Medicare Supplement plans include drug coverage?

No. You’ll need a separate Part D prescription drug plan alongside a Medicare Supplement.

Is Plan G or Plan N better?

Plan G covers more and has very few out-of-pocket costs after the Part B deductible. Plan N has a lower premium but includes some copays. If you see doctors often, Plan G usually wins.

Is there a Medicare broker near me in Colorado Springs?

Yes. Lighthouse Group is an independent Medicare broker in north Colorado Springs, and we help clients across Colorado through virtual consultations.

Does it cost more to use a Medicare broker?

No. Brokers are paid by the insurance companies, and your plan costs the same whether you enroll on your own or with our help.

Talk to a local Medicare broker

Medicare decisions are easier when someone walks you through them. Lighthouse Group is an independent, family-owned insurance brokerage at 1271 Kelly Johnson Blvd #111 in Colorado Springs. We compare Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans across multiple carriers, check your doctors and prescriptions, and explain your options in plain English.

We help Medicare clients in [Colorado Springs], [Denver], [Pueblo], [Fort Collins], [Grand Junction], and mountain communities like [Vail] and [Steamboat Springs], mostly through virtual consultations. You’ll get an honest recommendation, even if that means staying in the plan you already have.

Call us at 719-645-6281 to review your Medicare plan

Medicare Advantage vs. Medicare Supplement in Colorado: How to Choose Before December 7