If you live in New York, you have several options for Medicare coverage, including Original Medicare (parts A and B), Medicare Advantage (Part C), and Medicare Part D (drug coverage).

Medicare is a health insurance program offered by the United States government.

New Yorkers are generally eligible for Medicare when they turn 65 years old, but you may be eligible at a younger age if you have certain disabilities or medical conditions.

This article reviews Medicare plan options for those residing in New York, including what to consider when choosing a plan and how to enroll.

2025 Medicare trends in New York

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reported the following information on Medicare trends in New York for the 2025 plan year:

  • A total of 3,887,499 residents of New York are enrolled in Medicare.
  • The average Medicare Advantage monthly premium changed from $30.35 in 2024 to $42.90 in 2025.
  • There are 280 Medicare Advantage plans available in New York for 2025, compared with 241 plans in 2024.
  • All New York residents with Medicare have access to a Medicare Advantage plan, including plans with $0 premiums.
  • There are 10 Medigap plans offered in New York for 2025. Plan C and F are no longer available to new Medicare members.

When you sign up for Medicare in New York, you can choose either Original Medicare (parts A and B) or Medicare Advantage (Part C).

You may also purchase a Medicare Part D plan and a Medigap plan. Part D offers prescription drug coverage, while Medigap provides supplemental insurance for costs not covered by Original Medicare.

Original Medicare

Original Medicare has two parts:

  • Part A (hospital insurance): Part A helps you pay for inpatient hospital stays, hospice care, and home health care. In certain circumstances, it may cover short-term skilled nursing care.
  • Part B (medical insurance): Part B covers a long list of medically necessary services. These include doctors’ services, outpatient care, health screenings, preventive services, and durable medical equipment.

Medicare Advantage plans

Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans are another option. These bundled plans must cover everything covered by Original Medicare. They often also include prescription drug coverage.

Depending on the plan, you could get other types of coverage as well, such as dental care, vision care, or even gym memberships.

When you start shopping for Medicare plans in New York, you’ll notice there are plenty of options. Here are some of the insurance companies that sell Medicare Advantage plans in New York for 2025:

Medicare Advantage plans vary by county. To research plans in your area, you can enter your ZIP code into this online Medicare search tool.

Medicare Part D

Medicare Part D is Medicare’s prescription drug coverage. You may purchase a Medicare Part D plan from Medicare or as part of a Medicare Advantage plan.

Medicare supplement plans (Medigap)

Medigap (Medicare supplement insurance) policies help fill the gaps in Original Medicare. Medigap policies may cover coinsurance, copayments, and deductibles, as well as extra benefits such as foreign travel emergency coverage.

In New York, several insurance companies offer Medigap plans. For 2022, some of the companies offering Medigap plans in New York include:

In total, you have 12 different types of Medigap plans (including high deductible versions of plans F and G) that are available to choose from this year if you live in New York.

When deciding which type of plan works best for you, consider the following:

  • Out-of-pocket costs: Monthly plan premiums aren’t the only cost to consider as you compare plans. You’ll also pay coinsurance, copayments, and deductibles until you meet your plan’s annual out-of-pocket limit.
  • Services covered: All Medicare Advantage plans cover Medicare Part A and Part B services, but other covered services may vary. Make a list of services you’d like your plan to cover, and keep your wish list in mind as you shop around.
  • Doctor choice: Medicare plans generally have a network of doctors and other healthcare providers. Before you choose a plan, make sure your current doctors are in the network.
  • Star ratings: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has a 5-star rating system that can help you find high quality plans. CMS ratings are based on customer service, care coordination, healthcare quality, and other factors that affect you. To check a plan’s rating, go to CMS.gov and download the Star Ratings Fact Sheet.
  • Healthcare needs: If you have a chronic health condition, such as diabetes or HIV, you may want to look for a special needs plan. These plans offer tailored coverage for people with specific health conditions.

In New York State, you’re eligible for Medicare if you fall into one of the program’s eligibility groups:

If you qualify for Medicare based on your age, your first chance to apply is during your initial enrollment period. This period starts 3 months before the month you turn 65 years old and ends 3 months after your birth month. You can sign up for Medicare at any time during this 7-month period.

If you miss your initial enrollment period, you can sign up for Medicare during the general enrollment period. This runs from January 1 through March 31 every year. If you sign up late, you may need to pay higher monthly premiums for your coverage.

You may qualify for a special enrollment period that lets you sign up for Medicare at any time without paying a penalty. If you have job-based coverage, you can sign up at any time. You can also qualify for a special enrollment period if you lose your job-based coverage.

Original Medicare is the default for new enrollees, but it’s easy to sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan if that’s what you prefer. You can sign up for one of these Medicare plans during your initial enrollment period. You can also sign up during Medicare’s fall open enrollment, which runs from October 15 to December 7

What should I do next?

When you’re ready to get Medicare or learn more about your plan options, here’s what you can do:

  • To get Medicare parts A and B, fill out the Social Security Administration’s online application. If you prefer, you can also apply in person or by phone.
  • If you want to sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan, you can shop for plans at Medicare.gov. After you choose a plan, you can enroll online.

To learn more about Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans, you can contact:

If you live in New York, you have a number of different Medicare options to choose from.

You can sign up for Original Medicare (parts A and B) and decide whether to add Medicare Part D (drug coverage) or a supplemental insurance plan, also called Medigap.

You may also decide to enroll in a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan. Several private insurance companies in New York offer Medicare Advantage and Medigap plans. It’s important to note, however, that you cannot have Medicare Advantage and Medigap together.