When you join Medicare, you have two main options. One is “traditional Medicare,” run by the government. The other is called a “Medicare Advantage plan,” run by private companies.
Traditional Medicare lets you go to most doctors and hospitals in the U.S. without delays for approval.
Medicare Advantage plans make you use a smaller network of doctors. It also usually requires extra steps, like getting permission before you get care, which means delays or denials can happen.
Costs also work differently. With traditional Medicare, many people buy extra insurance to help cover deductibles and copays so they pay less when they need care. With Medicare Advantage, you can’t buy that extra insurance, and there are limits on what the plan will cover if you go out of network.
Thinking about how often you need care, which doctors you want to see, and what you can afford can help you decide what works best for you.
Last Reviewed: October 27, 2025