Medicare Advantage (Part C) How do Medicare Advantage Plans work?Medicare Advantage Plans, sometimes called "Part C" or "MA Plans," are offered by private companies approved by Medicare. If you join a Medicare Advantage Plan, you still have Medicare. You'll get your Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) coverage from the Medicare Advantage Plan and not Original Medicare. Covered services in Medicare Advantage PlansMedicare Advantage Plans cover all Medicare services. Most Medicare Advantage Plans also offer extra coverage, like vision, hearing and dental coverage. Learn more about what Medicare Advantage Plans cover. Rules for Medicare Advantage PlansMedicare pays a fixed amount for your care each month to the companies offering Medicare Advantage Plans. These companies must follow rules set by Medicare. Each Medicare Advantage Plan can charge different out-of-pocket costs. They can also have different rules for how you get services, like:
These rules can change each year. Costs for Medicare Advantage PlansWhat you pay in a Medicare Advantage Plan depends on several factors. Learn about these factors and how to get cost details. Drug coverage in Medicare Advantage PlansMost Medicare Advantage Plans include prescription drug coverage (Part D). You can join a separate Medicare Prescription Drug Plan with certain types of plans that:
You’ll be disenrolled from your Medicare Advantage Plan and returned to Original Medicare if both of these apply:
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Medicare Supplement (MediGap)
A Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policy helps pay some of the health care costs that Original Medicare doesn't cover, like:
Medigap policies are sold by private companies.
Some Medigap policies also cover services that Original Medicare doesn't cover, like medical care when you travel outside the U.S. If you have Original Medicare and you buy a Medigap policy, here's what happens:
A Medigap policy is different from a Medicare Advantage Plan. Those plans are ways to get Medicare benefits, while a Medigap policy only supplements your Original Medicare benefits.
Medigap policies generally don't cover long-term care, vision or dental care, hearing aids, eyeglasses, or private-duty nursing.