Trevor Snell

Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private insurance companies—like Medicare Advocates—contracted by the federal government. Medicare Advantage, also referred to as Medicare Part C, covers the same healthcare services as Original Medicare, with the exception of hospice care. Many Medicare Advantage plans usually include prescription drug coverage.
In addition, many Medicare Advantage plans may include coverage for vision, dental and hearing care. Health and wellness benefits like fitness programs may be offered, as well.

With Medicare Advantage plans, instead of paying your healthcare bills directly, the federal government pays private insurance companies—like Humana—to administer your coverage.
While there may be a monthly premium for Medicare Advantage plans, many private insurance companies choose to offer affordable or $0 plan premiums to compete for your business. They also set the amounts for your deductible, coinsurance and copays. This information is readily available on private insurers’ websites, or you can make an appointment with a licensed Medicare Advocate sales agent to learn the details for Carrier plans.
As with Original Medicare members, Medicare Advantage members must continue to pay their Part B premium.

Anyone who has Original Medicare (Part A or Part B) is eligible for Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D). Part D benefits are available as a standalone plan or built into Medicare Advantage, unless you have a Medicare private fee-for-service (PFFS) plan. The prescription drug benefits work the same in either plan. Joining a Medicare prescription drug plan is voluntary, and you pay an extra monthly premium for the coverage. Some beneficiaries with higher incomes will pay a higher monthly Part D premium. For more information, visit our webpage Medicare Premiums: Rules for Higher-Income Beneficiaries, or visit  www.ssa.gov/benefits/medicare/mediinfo.html 

Medicare Supplement insurance, often called Medigap coverage, helps pay some of the healthcare costs that Original Medicare doesn’t cover. That may include:

• Copayments
• Coinsurance
• Deductibles
• Medical care when you travel outside the U.S., opens new window

You’ll pay a monthly premium for a Supplement plan in addition to your Part B premiums. 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.

With Original Medicare, a primary care doctor is not required. You can visit any doctor who accepts Medicare.
With a Medicare Advantage plan, your choice of doctor depends on whether you select a health maintenance organization (HMO) or preferred provider organization (PPO) plan.
With an HMO plan, you can choose your primary care physician from any doctor in the plan’s network. If you opt for a PPO plan, generally, choosing a primary care physician is optional. With both types of plans, you’ll usually save money by visiting a network provider.
It’s important to note that Medicare Advantage plans must offer emergency coverage outside of the plan’s service area, anywhere in the U.S.