Spoiler: No — But People Ask It Constantly

This one pops up all the time — usually right after someone sees two great commercials and thinks, “Can I just sign up for both?” Here’s the truth: you can’t double up on Medicare Advantage or Supplement plans. Medicare isn’t like car insurance where “more coverage” equals “better protection.” In fact, having two plans can cause serious issues.

How Medicare Works Behind the Scenes

Think of Medicare like a team:

• Original Medicare (Parts A & B) covers hospital and medical services.
• You can add a Supplement (Medigap) to fill in gaps (like the 20% Medicare doesn’t pay).
• Or you can join a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan, which replaces Original Medicare with a private plan.

But you can’t have both a Supplement and an Advantage plan at the same time. If you enroll in an Advantage plan, your Supplement automatically becomes inactive — they’re mutually exclusive.

Tip:

You can, however, have a separate Part D drug plan if you’re on Original Medicare and a Supplement — but not if you’re on most Advantage plans, since those usually include drug coverage already.

The Bottom Line

When it comes to Medicare, more isn’t always better — it’s about picking the right fit, not the most plans. If you’re not sure which setup is right for you, I’ll walk you through the pros, cons, and costs (without the confusion).

Doreen Marino | 65+ Insurance Solutions | www.dmarinomedicare.com