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What do most people choose when they first get Medicare?

What do most people choose when they first get Medicare?

Orientation
Last updated: 
April 10, 2026
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The short answer

Most people start with Original Medicare (Parts A and B), then add either a Medigap supplement plan or switch to a Medicare Advantage plan for additional coverage. A separate Part D plan covers prescriptions if they stay with Original Medicare.

The full explanation

When people first get Medicare, they generally go one of two directions. The first is Original Medicare, which is the federal program that covers hospital stays (Part A) and doctor visits (Part B). Most people who go this route also add a Medigap plan, which is private insurance that helps pay costs Original Medicare doesn't cover, like deductibles and coinsurance. They also add a standalone Part D plan for prescription drugs. The second direction is Medicare Advantage, sometimes called Part C. This is a private insurance plan that bundles hospital, doctor, and usually drug coverage into one plan. Medicare Advantage plans often include extras like dental, vision, and hearing benefits that Original Medicare doesn't cover. Which path makes more sense depends on your health, your doctors, your prescriptions, and your budget. There is no single right answer for everyone. Many people don't realize they have a real choice here, and making the wrong call early can be expensive or hard to undo later, especially when it comes to Medigap eligibility.

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In 

Utah

 specifically

In Utah, Medicare Advantage plans are offered by carriers like SelectHealth, Regence BlueCross, UHC, Humana, Aetna, and others. If you live in a rural county like Garfield or Kane, your plan options may be more limited than someone in Salt Lake or Utah County. The free counseling service through Utah's Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRC) can help you compare what's actually available in your zip code.

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What this means for you

For you, this means the first decision you make with Medicare, choosing between Original Medicare with supplements or a Medicare Advantage plan, sets the foundation for your coverage and costs, so it's worth understanding both options before you enroll.

Related Questions

What is the difference between Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare?

What is Medicare Advantage?

What is Medigap and how does it work with Original Medicare?

What kind of person is usually better off with Medicare Advantage?

What kind of person is usually better off with Medigap?

Still have questions about Medicare?

Book a review with a licensed Medicare advisor.

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Medicare Advantage Plans in 

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Decision area Tool What it answers
Enrollment Initial Enrollment Period Calculator When your 7-month Medicare eligibility window begins and ends based on your 65th birthday
Enrollment When Should I Sign Up for Medicare? The best time to enroll based on your work status, other coverage, and age
Enrollment Special Enrollment Period Checker Whether a life event qualifies you for enrollment outside the standard windows
Enrollment Late Enrollment Penalty Checker How much extra you'll pay monthly if you missed your enrollment window
Enrollment Part B Penalty Calculator The exact 10%-per-year premium increase for delayed Part B enrollment
Enrollment Part D Penalty Calculator The 1%-per-month premium increase for gaps in creditable drug coverage
Costs Cost Scenario Planner Estimated annual spending across plan types at different health utilization levels
Costs Advantage vs. Medigap Cost Comparison True cost difference between Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare with Medigap
Costs IRMAA Calculator Whether your income triggers higher Part B and Part D premiums
Costs Part A Premium Estimator Your monthly Part A premium based on work history and quarters of coverage
Costs M3P Calculator How the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan smooths your drug costs into monthly payments
Coverage Doctor & Drug Assessment Whether your providers and prescriptions are covered by a specific plan
Coverage Part D Shopping Tool Which Part D plan has the lowest total annual cost for your specific medications
Coverage Travel & Network Risk Assessment How your coverage works outside your home area and which plan types travel best
Employer/COBRA COBRA vs. Medicare Why COBRA can trigger permanent Medicare penalties and how costs compare
Employer/COBRA Employer Coverage vs. Medicare Whether your employer plan or Medicare is primary and when to transition
Employer/COBRA HSA & Medicare Compatibility How Medicare enrollment affects HSA eligibility and what to do before enrolling
Planning Caregiver Readiness Checklist Whether you have everything in place to help a loved one with Medicare decisions
Planning Document Gatherer Which documents you need to have ready before enrolling or changing plans
Planning Medigap Fit Assessment Whether Medigap or Medicare Advantage is the better fit for how you use healthcare
Planning Medigap Open Enrollment Window Whether you're inside your one-time guaranteed issue window for Medigap
Planning Medicare Savings Program Eligibility Whether your income qualifies you for help paying Medicare premiums and cost-sharing

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‍Data & Methodology for Research Articles: All provider, facility, quality star ratings, and enrollment data is sourced from primary CMS records (cms.gov), including the December 2025 CPSC Enrollment files and the January 2026 Provider Data Catalog. Calculations for patient-to-provider ratios are performed using indexed clinician and facility data. Everything on restingsycamore.com is for educational purposes and does not constitute an endorsement of any specific plan or provider.

Non-CMS Data Sources: Some  specific data was obtained from https://opendata.gov