Medicare Advantage Plans (Part C)

Medicare Advantage Part C, or Medicare Advantage, insurance often includes every type of Medicare coverage in one health plan. It’s offered by private insurance companies contracted through CMS to provide a Medicare benefits package as an alternative to Original Medicare. 

Medicare Advantage is optional, but to obtain this private insurance, you must also have Original Medicare, Part A, and Part B. You also continue to pay your Part B premium if you have a Medicare Advantage plan. While Medicare Advantage plans are required to provide all Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B benefits (except hospice care), plans can also include different additional benefits, which vary among the individual private health insurers. 

Many Medicare Advantage plans include prescription drug coverage. Some plans might have a lower deductible, while also allowing you to pay a smaller share of the remaining costs. Medicare Advantage plans may even cover certain health care services that Original Medicare, Part A, and Part B, does not cover, like eye exams, hearing aids, dental care, or health care received while traveling outside the United States.

“Medicare Advantage offers at least the same coverage as Original Medicare and may offer additional benefits. It’s one way of adding coverage for vision, dental, dentures, and more.”