Part C is called Medicare Advantage -— for no additional premium, you get extra coverage — dental, drugs, optical. Plans vary on what they cover and how much.
Part D is drug coverage only, since traditional Medicare doesn’t cover drugs.
Go go medicare.gov to find companies with plans in your area. I made a spreadsheet so I can compare pros and cons.
Make sure that you verify coverage information also on the carrier’s website, because the medicare.gov site is sometimes off on information, and doesn’t have the level of detail on coverage that the carrier’s site would have.
I have been using United Healthcare Medicare Advantage for the past three years with no complaints. Of course, fortunately, I haven’t had to use it much. I got notice that they were no longer offering my plan for 2026, and they don’t have any good alternatives, so I am now looking at Humana. From comparing them to other carriers, they just seem to have better coverage. Humana also has a larger variety of plans that are tailored to different needs.
I have been on Medicare supplemental with Premera for many years and it has worked well. Premera is called the Blues for Blue Cross and Blue Shield. It is only available in Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho and I believe in Texas.
A friend has the Humana supplemental and that has worked well with a huge heart surgery.
As someone suggested look to see what is available in your area. I read a while a go that if you start with and Advantage plan you cannot later change to Supplemental but I don’t know if that is true or not.
I have the cheap Supplemental at 129 per month but it has high deductible. My friend on Humana has virtually everything paid for.
Last year I was out of pocket about 6 grand on 60,000 of surgery. I feel I have saved money by taking my chances on only paying for cheap plan for years and then coughing up dough later. Different people have different comfort levels, but think of paying 170 a month less for ten years but then shelling out six grand later.