Medicare Advantage plans are an alternative to Original Medicare. These Medicare-approved plans provide all your Medicare Part A (hospital insurance), Medicare Part B (medical insurance), and Medicare Part D (prescription drug) coverage as part of one package.^[1] 

Many private insurance companies offer Medicare Advantage plans, and the out-of-pocket cost is typically lower than Original Medicare. In fact, the average premium for people in Medicare Advantage plans is $29 per month, according to a 2022 study by the Kaiser Family Fund.^[2] Your coverage can also go beyond what Original Medicare offers, including prescription drug coverage and routine dental and vision care.^[3]

Deciding on health insurance can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. We’ll break down what’s important to know about Medicare Advantage and how to decide if it’s right for you.

What is a Medicare Advantage plan?

Medicare Advantage, sometimes called Medicare Part C, is available to everyone eligible for Medicare. To participate, you can buy coverage through private companies, and Medicare will pay these companies to cover the costs of your Medicare benefits.

Medicare Advantage offers the same coverage as Original Medicare Parts A and B rolled into one plan. You may also qualify for additional benefits, such as coverage for prescription drugs, dental care, eyeglasses, and wellness programs.

Medicare Advantage vs. Original Medicare

Medicare Advantage plans are Medicare-approved and offer similar coverages. With the plan, you can visit any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare wherever you are in the country when you need medical care. But these plans have some key differences that can affect your healthcare options.

Original Medicare doesn’t cover vision, hearing, or dental services. It also doesn’t include coverage for pharmaceutical drugs. For that, you’ll need to join a separate Medicare drug plan, Medicare Part D, or purchase supplemental coverage.

Medicare Advantage plans typically include Part D, and many offer extra benefits to provide dental and vision care, hearing aids, and wellness options. However, you must see a doctor in your plan’s network.

See More: The 10 Best & Worst Medicare Advantage Plans

Medicare Advantage plan vs. Medigap plan

Medicare Advantage is a stand-alone program that bundles your coverage with Original Medicare and additional benefits. But if you choose to stick with your Original Medicare plan, you may want to purchase supplemental insurance called Medigap.

Medigap is supplemental insurance to help pay for out-of-pocket healthcare costs that Original Medicare doesn’t cover. After Original Medicare covers its share of your costs, a Medigap plan can cover the cost of copays, co-insurance, and deductibles. 

Learn More: Medigap vs. Medicare Advantage: Which Plan Is Best for You?

How do Medicare Advantage plans work?

Every Medicare Advantage plan comes from a private, Medicare-approved company. But each plan must offer the same coverage and follow the same rules as Original Medicare. Many offer additional benefits, such as dental care, vision care, and hearing aids. 

You’ll likely pay certain fees out of your own pocket for:

• Premiums: Most Medicare Advantage plans require you to pay for premiums, though some plans are available with premiums as low as $0.

• Copayments and co-insurance: These costs may be a set amount, like $20, or a percentage of the service’s total cost.

• Deductibles: You’ll typically pay a health insurance deductible each year before your plan’s coverage kicks in. You may have a different deductible for medical care and prescription drugs.

Medicare Advantage plans have out-of-pocket limits and must provide certain preventive services at no additional cost, such as flu shots and cancer screenings. How much you pay out of pocket depends on your plan, although the most you’ll spend in 2023 is $8,300 for in-network services.^[4]

Learn More: How To Switch Back to Medicare From Advantage Plans

The parts of Medicare

Medicare consists of different parts that cover different types of services:

• Part A provides coverage for inpatient hospitalizations, skilled nursing facility stays, hospice care, and home healthcare.

• Part B provides coverage for outpatient care, wheelchairs and other medical equipment, and preventative services.

• Part C refers to Medicare Advantage plans that include Part A and Part B. Plans may also offer additional coverage for vision, hearing, and dental treatment.

• Part D provides coverage for prescription drugs. You can purchase Part D if you have Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan without drug coverage.

• Medigap, sometimes called Plan G or Plan K, provides supplemental insurance that helps pay for your share of costs under Original Medicare.^[5]

What do Medicare Advantage plans cover?

Medicare Advantage plans cover all Medicare Part A and Part B benefits with a few exceptions: clinical trials and hospice services. Medicare Advantage providers also cover most medically necessary services that are covered by Original Medicare and Medicare Drug Coverage (Part D). 

Medicare Advantage plans may offer benefits beyond Original Medicare, such as discounts for fitness programs, dental and vision checkups, and additional wellness services. Plans may also cover transportation to medical appointments, over-the-counter medications, and health promotion services.  

Remember that benefits beyond what Medicare Parts A and B cover can vary by plan, so review available coverage options before enrolling.^[6]

Learn More: What Is an FSA?

What do Medicare Advantage plans exclude?

Medicare Advantage plans may not pay for services from doctors not in the plan’s network or outside of the U.S. They also won’t cover services that aren’t medically necessary, alternative medicine, long-term care, and non-medical services like private hospital rooms or copies of medical records.

How much does a Medicare Advantage plan cost?

How much you pay for Medicare Advantage depends on the plan you choose. Some of the 3,998 available programs have premiums as low as $0.^[7] Medicare Advantage plans are projected to cost $18 a month on average in 2023, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Original Medicare Part A doesn’t have a premium for most people, and Part B costs $164.90 per month (or more, depending on your income). If you need prescription drug coverage, CMS projects the average cost for Part D coverage to be $31.50 per month. If you purchase Medigap for supplemental insurance, you’ll also have an additional cost, but premiums will vary.^[8]

Why consider a Medicare Advantage plan?

Medicare Advantage plans aren’t necessarily the best choice for everyone. Though they typically offer lower premiums than Original Medicare, you can’t customize your coverage quite as much with Medicare Advantage.

You might choose Medicare Advantage if you don’t have a chronic condition or significant health needs. It’s a good choice if paying lower premiums is important and you want access to the dental and vision benefits that some plans provide. But depending on your health needs, you may pay more out of pocket than you would with Original Medicare.

Pros and cons of Medicare Advantage plans

Consider the advantages and drawbacks of a Medicare Advantage plan before enrolling.

Read More: Medicare & Ambulances: How To Get It Covered & Save Money

Types of Medicare Advantage plans

Choosing a Medicare Advantage plan is a lot like selecting coverage when you were employed — plans are available in various shapes and sizes.

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Plan Type	Key Features	Advantages	Disadvantages	Costs
Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)	Visit specialists without a referral	Flexibility Out-of-network coverage	Higher premiums Coordinate your own care	Premium Deductible Copays Co-insurance
Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)	Usually low-cost and includes additional benefits like vision, hearing, dental care	Usually includes drug coverage	Must use in-network doctors and providers Can’t buy separate Medicare drug plan	Premium Deductible Copays Co-insurance
Point-of-Service (POS) plans	Offers out-of-network coverage for some benefits	Access to out-of-network providers Usually includes Medicare drug coverage	Higher copayments or co-insurance for out-of-network services	Premium Deductible Copays Co-insurance
Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS)	Flexible provider options	You can go to any Medicare-approved doctor, provider, or hospital No referral needed for specialist visits	Allows providers to charge up to 15% more than Medicare- approved amount, which is your responsibility to pay	Premium Deductible Copays Co-insurance
Special Needs Plans (SNPs)	Tailored coverage for specific diseases and healthcare needs	All plans include prescription drug coverage (Part D) Flexible network of providers	Limited membership Can only stay enrolled if you continue to meet the special condition of the plan	Premium Deductible Copays Co-insurance
Medical Savings Account (MSA)	The medical savings account can help cover healthcare costs	Medicare deposits money into the account on your behalf each year Can go to any Medicare-approved doctor, provider, or hospital	Doesn’t include prescription drug coverage	None

How to enroll in Medicare Advantage

Medicare beneficiaries can enroll in Medicare Advantage during the seven-month period that starts three months before the month you turn 65. If you want to switch to Medicare Advantage from Original Medicare, you’ll need to wait for the Annual Enrollment Period that runs from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 each year. Find out more about special enrollment periods.^[9]

Here’s how to enroll:

1. Compare Medicare Advantage plan options available in your area. Visit Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE to look at costs and coverage options.

2. Enter your ZIP code and county to find a plan. You can continue without logging in, but you’ll get more personalized options if you log in for this step.

3. Choose your plan. You may need to call the plan you want to join if online enrollment isn’t available.

4. Complete the paper enrollment form. The plan will provide you with the form and you’ll need to return it after filling it out.

Medicare Advantage plans can have different costs, coverage, and provider networks, so it’s important to compare your options. Fortunately, online tools are available to make it easy. Medicare.gov allows you to search and view plan details, including costs and coverage, side by side for easy comparison.

Medicare Advantage FAQs