Medicare
Advantage, Medigap, Part D — every NJ plan, side by side, in plain English.
Explore Medicare
Medicare Advantage
All-in-one Part C plans bundling hospital, doctor, and most often drug coverage.
Medigap (Supplement)
Fills the 20% Original Medicare leaves behind. Pair with Part D for full coverage.
Drug Coverage (Part D)
Stand-alone prescription drug plans. We compare formularies against your meds.
Special Needs Plans
D-SNP, C-SNP, I-SNP — Medicare Advantage for dual-eligibles or specific conditions.
Part A & Part B
Original Medicare — hospital + doctor coverage. The foundation everything else builds on.
Turning 65 Guide
Your IEP starts 3 months before your 65th birthday. We walk through every step.
AEP·Upcoming Oct 15 – Dec 7
AEP (Annual Enrollment Period)·Medicare Advantage & Part D·Upcoming Oct 15 – Dec 7
Medicare choices
Two steps to your Medicare coverage.
After you enroll in Original Medicare (Parts A & B), you have two ways to round out your coverage. They're mutually exclusive — you pick one path.
Enroll in Original Medicare.
Original Medicare
Provided by the federal government
Part A
Helps pay for hospital stays and inpatient care.
Part B
Helps pay for doctor visits and outpatient care.
Decide if you need additional coverage. You have two ways to get it.
Add one or both of the following to Original Medicare:
Medicare Supplement (Medigap)
Offered by private companies
Helps pay some of the out-of-pocket costs that come with Original Medicare (the 20% Part B coinsurance, Part A hospital deductible, etc.).
Medicare Part D Plan
Offered by private companies
Helps pay for prescription drugs. Stand-alone PDPs are sold separately from your Medigap plan.
Choose a Medicare Advantage plan:
Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C)
Offered by private companies
Combines Part A + Part B in one plan.
Usually includes prescription drug coverage (MAPD plans).
May offer additional benefits not provided by Original Medicare — dental, vision, hearing, fitness.
Not sure which path fits? A Yumi advisor will look at your doctors, your prescriptions, your budget, and your travel patterns before recommending one over the other.
Talk to a Yumi advisorCompare your paths
Medicare Advantage, Medigap, or Original Medicare?
The three main ways to get Medicare coverage — at a glance. Specifics vary by plan; your Yumi advisor pulls the exact numbers for your ZIP before any enrollment.
| Benefits & Features | Medicare Advantage | Medicare Supplement (Medigap) | Original Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helps pay for hospital stays | |||
| Helps pay for doctor visits | |||
| Helps pay for preventive services | |||
| Helps pay for prescription drugs | |||
| Routine vision coverage | |||
| Routine hearing exam & hearing aids | |||
| Routine dental coverage | |||
| Annual out-of-pocket cost limit | No protection |
Benefits vary by plan. Source: Medicare.gov coverage categories. Yumi advisors compare specific plan benefits in your NJ ZIP before any enrollment.
When you can enroll
Your annual enrollment windows.
Three windows govern when you can sign up for or change Medicare coverage. Miss them and you may face a Late Enrollment Penalty or have to wait until the next AEP.
Annual Enrollment
Oct 15 – Dec 7
Add, drop, or switch any Medicare coverage for the next plan year.
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment
Jan 1 – Mar 31
Already in MA? Switch to a different MA plan or back to Original Medicare — once.
Special Enrollment
Anytime — if you qualify
Triggered by life events: retirement, moving, losing coverage, qualifying disability.
The Parts of Medicare
Medicare is divided into distinct parts, each covering a different aspect of your healthcare. Here is what each one does.
Part A
Hospital Insurance
Covers hospital stays, skilled nursing, hospice, and some home health care. Most people don't pay a premium for Part A if they worked and paid Medicare taxes for 10+ years.
Learn morePart B
Medical Insurance
Covers doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive services, and medical equipment. You pay a monthly premium that's based on your income.
Learn morePart C
Medicare Advantage
Private plans that combine Parts A, B, and usually D into one card. Many include dental, vision, and hearing — often with a $0 premium.
Learn morePart D
Prescription Drug Coverage
Helps pay for your prescriptions. You can get it as a standalone plan or it's usually included in Medicare Advantage. Each plan covers different drugs, so check yours.
Learn moreMedigap
Medicare Supplement
Extra coverage that helps pay what Original Medicare doesn't — like copays, coinsurance, and deductibles. Sold by private insurers with standardized plan letters (A through N).
Learn moreSNP
Special Needs Plan
A type of Medicare Advantage plan designed for people with specific chronic conditions (like diabetes or heart disease), dual Medicare-Medicaid eligibility, or who live in certain care facilities.
Learn moreCMS Star Ratings
CMS rates every Medicare Advantage and Part D plan on a 1–5 star scale each year, based on quality of care, customer service, member experience, and chronic condition management.
We recommend 4-star plans and above. Higher-rated plans tend to have lower member complaints and better care outcomes. Verify any plan's rating at medicare.gov/plan-compare
Am I Eligible?
Most people become eligible for Medicare at age 65, but there are other qualifying circumstances as well.
Age 65 or Older
U.S. citizens and permanent legal residents who have lived in the U.S. for at least 5 continuous years are eligible at age 65.
Under 65 with Disabilities
If you have received Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) for 24 months, you automatically qualify for Medicare Parts A and B.
End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)
Individuals with permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant may qualify for Medicare regardless of age.
ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease)
If you are diagnosed with ALS, you are automatically enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B starting the first month you receive disability benefits.
Get Your Medicare Quote
A licensed NJ Medicare advisor will review your options and tell you exactly which plans you qualify for — always free, no obligation.