Medicare 2026

Medicare Supplement Letter Plans in San Tan Valley

SAN TAN VALLEY, Ariz. — If you're getting ready for Medicare, one of the biggest choices you'll face isn't which company to pick. It's which kind of coverage to use. Most people land in one of two lanes: Original Medicare paired with a Medigap policy (and usually a separate Part D drug plan), or a Medicare Advantage plan that bundles things together. They're built differently, and understanding that difference up front can save you a lot of second-guessing later.

Here's a plain-language walk-through of how each path is put together, and what to think about before you commit.

The two lanes, side by side

Original Medicare is the federal program itself — Part A (hospital) and Part B (doctor and outpatient). You can go to any doctor or hospital in the country that accepts Medicare, and you don't need referrals. Original Medicare pays its share, and you're responsible for the rest. There's no yearly cap on what you might owe out of pocket on your own.

That's where Medigap (also called Medicare Supplement Insurance) comes in. A Medigap policy is sold by a private insurer and helps pay the deductibles, copays, and coinsurance Original Medicare leaves behind. Medigap does not include drug coverage, so people on this path usually add a stand-alone Part D plan.

Medicare Advantage (Part C) is different. It's a private plan approved by Medicare that replaces the way you get your Part A and Part B benefits. Most Advantage plans include drug coverage and often add extras like dental, vision, or hearing. In exchange, you generally use the plan's network of doctors and hospitals, and you may need referrals or prior approval for certain care. Advantage plans have a yearly out-of-pocket maximum for medical services, which Original Medicare alone does not.

How the pieces fit together

Think of it this way:

• Path 1: Original Medicare + Medigap + a Part D drug plan. Three pieces, more freedom to choose doctors nationwide, more predictable bills, usually a higher monthly premium total.
• Path 2: A Medicare Advantage plan (often with drug coverage built in). One card, network rules, benefits that can change each year, and an annual cap on medical out-of-pocket costs.

Neither path is "better" in the abstract. The right fit depends on your health, your doctors, your budget, whether you travel, and how you feel about networks versus premiums.

What's the same no matter which lane you pick

Some rules apply across the board, and they're worth knowing:

• The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Once you hit it, you pay nothing for covered drugs the rest of the year.
• The Part D deductible can be no higher than $615.
• The old "donut hole" coverage gap is gone as of 2025. Part D now has three phases instead of four.
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread your drug costs into monthly payments instead of paying big amounts at the pharmacy counter. It's optional and free to join.
• IRMAA — the income-related surcharge on Part B and Part D — kicks in for single filers with income above $109,000 in 2026.

These figures come from Medicare and apply whether you go with Original Medicare + Medigap or Medicare Advantage.

The Medigap timing trap

One thing many people don't realize until it's too late: your best window to buy a Medigap policy is the six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period that starts when you're 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. During that window, insurers can't turn you down or charge you more because of health problems.

After that window closes, in most states an insurer can use medical underwriting — meaning they can review your health and decline you or charge more. That's important if you ever want to switch from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare + Medigap later. It's still possible, but not always guaranteed. If you're weighing the two paths, factor this in.

The San Tan Valley picture

San Tan Valley is in Pinal County, where Medicare plan availability is set at the county level. That means the specific menu of Medicare Advantage plans, stand-alone Part D plans, and Medigap options offered to you depends on Pinal County's market, not the city itself.

To see what's actually available at your address, the official plan finder at Medicare.gov/plan-compare lets you enter your ZIP code and your medications and compare plans side by side. Arizona's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), called SHIP Arizona, offers free one-on-one counseling and does not sell insurance.

Key dates to circle

• Annual Enrollment Period: October 15 – December 7, 2026. This is when anyone with Medicare can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan for 2027 coverage.
• Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: January 1 – March 31. If you're already in an Advantage plan, you get one chance during this window to switch to a different Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare (and add a Part D plan).
• Your Initial Enrollment Period around your 65th birthday is a separate seven-month window tied to you personally.