What is Medicare Advantage?

Medicare Advantage is a type of health insurance that private companies offer and Medicare approves. If you join, you'll get your care from a group of doctors and hospitals that the plan chooses. Instead of using traditional Medicare, you can get your Part A (hospital insurance), Part B (medical insurance), and Part D (drug coverage) benefits from a Medicare Advantage plan. These plans often have networks of doctors, like HMOs or PPOs. They must cover the same things as Original Medicare Part A & Part B.

Advantage Plans

When you join a Medicare Advantage plan, Medicare pays the plan a monthly amount for your care, and the plan takes care of your Part A & Part B needs. You still have to pay your Medicare Part B premium. To join, you need to be in both Medicare Parts A and B and live where the plan is offered. Remember, Medicare Advantage plans are not the same as Medigap plans. They work in a different way because they pay for your care instead of Medicare, not after Medicare.