Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage)

What is it? Medicare “Part C,” also known as Medicare Advantage, offers health plan options approved by Medicare but run by private companies. If you choose Part C, you are still enrolled in Medicare. Under Part C, health coverage is provided through private fee-for-service arrangements, managed care plans (such as HMOs) and preferred provider organizations (PPOs). 

If I enroll in Part C, do I lose Part A and Part B coverage? You can enroll in Medicare Part C in place of Parts A and B to receive all your hospital and medical coverage.

What is covered by Part C and what does it cost? The benefits and services you may receive and the difference in what you save or spend depends on the type of Advantage plan you purchase. Generally, the fee-for-service plans are the most flexible, but they are also the most expensive. With a PPO, while you may save on premiums, you will have to pay an additional fee if you do not use an “in-network” provider.

Is Part C the right choice for me? You should make some comparisons between what the Original Medicare (Parts A and B) and what Medicare Advantage plans provide for you before you make a decision. Find out:

• Is there an Advantage Plan available in my area?
• Would the Advantage Plan be more or less expensive in meeting my needs than Original
Medicare?
• Would the Advantage Plan provide more or fewer options for the kinds of care and
services that I need?
If you decide an Advantage Plan is what best meets your needs, compare plans to determine
which one is right for you. Find out:
• What is the premium?
• Is there a deductible—how much?
• Are there co-payments, or coinsurance costs—how much?
• Does the plan cover the extra benefits or services you need such as prescription drugs?
• Do the health care providers you normally see participate in the plan?