Reviewed September 22, 2026. Choosing Medicare coverage requires more than comparing monthly premiums. Use this worksheet to record your prescriptions, pharmacies, doctors, hospitals, travel needs, budget, and preferred level of financial predictability before comparing plans.
Download: Print the Medicare Plan Comparison Worksheet (PDF).
Start with your coverage and enrollment timing
- Write down your Part A and Part B effective dates.
- List employer, union, retiree, COBRA, Medicaid, VA, TRICARE, or Marketplace coverage.
- Ask how other insurance coordinates with Medicare before ending or delaying coverage.
- Confirm the enrollment period and effective date for any planned change.
Medicare provides official tools for comparing coverage, finding plans and getting free help. Open Medicare.gov’s helpful tools.
Build a complete medication list
For every prescription, record the exact name, dose, quantity, refill frequency and preferred pharmacies. Include insulin, inhalers, injections and specialty drugs. When using Medicare Plan Compare, enter the complete list because estimated drug costs depend on the plan’s formulary, cost-sharing rules and pharmacy network.
Compare Medicare health and drug plans on Medicare.gov.
Verify doctors and facilities
List your primary doctor, specialists, hospitals, laboratories, imaging centers, therapy providers, pharmacies and medical-equipment suppliers. For a Medicare Advantage plan, check each provider in the current plan directory and confirm directly with the provider. Also review referral and prior-authorization rules for care you expect to use.
Compare total yearly cost
Compare premiums, deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, prescription costs and the medical out-of-pocket limit when applicable. Estimate a typical year and a high-use year. A lower premium may not produce the lowest total cost for your prescriptions and expected services.
Compare Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage
| Question | Original Medicare | Medicare Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Doctor and hospital choice | You can use any doctor or hospital that takes Medicare anywhere in the U.S.; costs may differ if a provider does not accept assignment. | You may need network providers for non-emergency care, and referrals may apply. |
| Drug coverage | You can join a separate Part D plan. | Most plans include Part D coverage. |
| Medical out-of-pocket limit | No yearly limit unless you have supplemental coverage or other insurance. | Plans have a yearly limit for covered Medicare services. |
| Supplemental coverage | You may be able to buy Medigap, subject to enrollment rights and underwriting rules. | Medigap cannot pay Medicare Advantage cost sharing. |
| Prior authorization | Generally not required for Original Medicare to cover services or supplies. | The plan may require prior authorization for certain services or supplies. |
This comparison summarizes Medicare’s current explanation. Read the official side-by-side comparison on Medicare.gov.
Account for travel and time away from home
- Do you spend part of the year outside your local service area?
- Do you need routine non-emergency care while traveling within the U.S.?
- What urgent and emergency coverage applies away from home?
- Do you need emergency coverage outside the U.S.?
Medicare states that Original Medicare generally does not cover care outside the U.S., except in limited situations. Some Medigap policies and some Medicare Advantage plans may provide limited foreign travel benefits. Review Medicare’s travel coverage rules.
Evaluate extra benefits carefully
For dental, vision, hearing, transportation, meals, fitness and allowance benefits, use the plan’s official documents. Record benefit limits, eligible items or services, provider networks, prior authorization, frequency limits and expiration rules. Treat an advertised benefit as useful only after confirming it applies to the care or item you expect to use.
Final verification checklist
- Use Medicare Plan Compare with your full medication list and preferred pharmacies.
- Review the Summary of Benefits, Evidence of Coverage, formulary and provider directory.
- Verify doctors and hospitals with both the plan and provider.
- Confirm Medigap enrollment or guaranteed-issue rights before leaving existing coverage.
- Save confirmation numbers, applications and effective-date notices.
Primary government sources
- Medicare.gov: Helpful Tools
- Medicare.gov: Compare Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage
- Medicare.gov: Plan Compare
- Medicare.gov: Travel Outside the U.S.
This worksheet and article provide general educational information. Plan benefits, networks, formularies, costs and enrollment rights vary by plan, location, year and individual circumstances. Verify current information with Medicare, the plan, your State Insurance Department or SHIP.
