Medicare Advantage

 Medicare Advantage, also known as Part C, is an alternative to Original Medicare (Parts A and B) offered by private insurance companies approved by Medicare. These plans provide all the benefits of hospital (Part A) and medical insurance (Part B), but often include additional coverage, such as prescription drug plans (Part D), vision, dental, hearing, and wellness programs. Medicare Advantage plans typically have network restrictions, meaning you may need to use doctors and facilities within the plan’s network to receive full benefits. Many of these plans offer lower out-of-pocket costs compared to Original Medicare, but they often require copays, coinsurance, and prior authorizations. Since plans vary by location, it’s important for beneficiaries to review and compare options annually to ensure they are getting the coverage that best fits their healthcare needs.