Medicare Cost Estimator
Original Medicare vs Advantage. Real numbers for your situation.
Your situation
If yes, Part A is free. If no, you owe up to $535/mo.
Based on your tax return from 2 years ago (2024 for 2026 Medicare).
Your expected care
Rough copay estimate: $9/med/mo after deductible.
Original + Medigap + Part D
$482/mo
About $6,631/year including deductibles
Medicare Advantage
$215/mo
About $2,736/year including deductibles
Cheapest for you
Medicare Advantage
Saves about $3,895/year over the other option — based on the care you expect.
Original Medicare + Medigap Plan G + Part D
- Part A premium
- Free — you earned 40+ work credits
- Part B premium
- No IRMAA surcharge
- Medigap Plan G
- Age 65 in FL (high-cost tier)
- Part D plan
- Prescriptions
- ~$9/med/mo copay average
- Dental + vision add-on
- Plan G caps your hospital and specialist bills at $0 after Part B deductible.
- See any doctor who takes Medicare — no network restrictions.
- Annual deductibles: $257 Part B and up to $590 Part D.
Medicare Advantage (bundled)
- Part A premium
- Free — you earned 40+ work credits
- Part B premium
- Required even with Advantage
- Advantage plan premium
- PPO with out-of-network option
- Primary visits (copays)
- $10/visit × 4/year
- Specialist visits (copays)
- $40/visit × 2/year
- Prescriptions
- Rx usually bundled into the MA plan
- Dental + vision
- Included in most MA plans at no extra premium
- Copays, not deductibles, drive most out-of-pocket spending.
- PPO plans cost more but let you go out-of-network.
- Annual out-of-pocket max protects you, but hospital stays add up fast.
These are estimates — not quotes
What else moves your Medicare bill
IRMAA (income surcharge)
If your 2-year-old tax return shows income above $106k single / $212k joint, Medicare adds a surcharge to Parts B and D. The surcharge is tiered — going one dollar over a bracket costs you the full next step. A major life event (retirement, divorce, widowhood) can let you appeal and drop a tier.
Extra Help (Low-Income Subsidy)
If your income is under about $23k single / $31k joint and your assets under roughly $17k / $34k, Extra Help pays your Part D premium and capped copays. More than 3 million people qualify and don't claim it. Apply free at ssa.gov/extrahelp — no "helper" fee.
Medicare Savings Programs
Your state Medicaid office runs four MSP tiers (QMB, SLMB, QI, QDWI) that pay some or all of your Part B premium. Income limits vary by state — some states have no asset test at all. A SHIP counselor can check eligibility for free.
Working past 65
If you or your spouse work for a company with 20+ employees and have that employer's group plan, you can delay Part B without penalty. Smaller employers flip that rule — Medicare becomes primary at 65. Check with HR before you make a move.
Free, neutral help — never pay a "helper" site
Every state has a federally funded program called SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program). Counselors meet with you one-on-one, by phone or in person, and they do not sell plans. Medicare's own Plan Finder at medicare.gov gives real quotes for every plan in your ZIP code. Both are completely free. If a website charges you to "help" with Medicare, close the tab.