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Medicare Advantage
All-in-one Part C coverage
Bundle hospital, medical and often drug, dental and vision coverage into a single plan from a private carrier.
How Medicare Advantage works
Medicare Advantage, also called Part C, is an alternative way to receive your Medicare benefits. Instead of using Original Medicare directly, you enroll through a private insurance carrier approved by Medicare. The plan must cover everything Part A and Part B cover, and most plans add prescription drug coverage plus extras that Original Medicare never includes, such as routine dental, vision, hearing aids and fitness memberships. Many Medicare Advantage plans carry a $0 monthly premium beyond what you already pay for Part B, and every plan has an annual out-of-pocket maximum, a protection Original Medicare does not offer. The trade-off is that plans use provider networks, so confirming that your doctors and preferred hospitals participate is the single most important step before you enroll.
Questions
Medicare Advantage: common questions
Can I keep my own doctor with a Medicare Advantage plan?
Only if your doctor participates in that specific plan's network. HMO plans generally require you to stay in network except for emergencies, while PPO plans let you go out of network at a higher cost. Always verify your doctors and hospitals against the exact plan before enrolling, because network participation can change between plan years.
Does Medicare Advantage replace Original Medicare?
It replaces how you receive your benefits, not your Medicare eligibility. You stay enrolled in Medicare and continue paying your Part B premium, but the private plan administers your coverage instead of Original Medicare.
What is the out-of-pocket maximum?
It is the most you will pay for covered in-network Part A and Part B services in a plan year. Once you reach it, the plan pays 100% of covered services for the rest of the year. Original Medicare has no such cap, which is one of the main reasons people choose Advantage plans.
Not sure which plan is right for you?
That’s the normal starting point. Tell a licensed agent what matters to you (your doctors, your prescriptions, your budget) and they’ll narrow it down. No cost, no obligation.
When we’re available
- Monday – Friday
- 07:00 – 20:00
- Saturday
- 08:00 – 18:00
- Sunday
- 09:00 – 17:00
Outside these hours, submit a quote request and an agent will call you back on the next business day. TTY users dial 711.
Other options
Related coverage you may also need
Most people combine a primary plan with one or two add-ons.
Important information
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or consult your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.
InsuranceQuoteBase LLC is a private entity and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the U.S. government, the federal Medicare program, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), or the Health Insurance Marketplace.