What is a Medicare Advantage Plan?

A Medicare Advantage Plan, also known as Medicare Part C, is a type of health insurance plan offered by private companies that contract with Medicare to provide Medicare benefits. These plans offer an alternative to original Medicare, which is the traditional fee-for-service program administered by the federal government.  

Medicare Advantage plans provide all the benefits of original Medicare, including hospital insurance (Part A) and medical insurance (Part B), but they often offer additional coverage as well. This can include prescription drug coverage (Part D), as well as benefits for dental, vision, hearing, and wellness services. Some Medicare Advantage plans may also offer coverage for fitness or gym memberships.

These plans work by combining the coverage of original Medicare with additional benefits and services. Instead of using your Medicare card when you receive healthcare services, you typically use a separate card provided by your Medicare Advantage plan. You still need to pay your Medicare Part B premium, along with any premium charged by your Medicare Advantage plan.

Network Restrictions

Medicare Advantage plans may have different rules and restrictions compared to original Medicare. They may require you to use specific doctors or hospitals within their network, and they may have different costs and coverage limitations. However, they must still provide all the same benefits as original Medicare.