What is Medicare Part C (Advantage)?

Medicare Part C, commonly called Medicare Advantage, is a comprehensive alternative to Original Medicare offered by private insurance companies. Medicare Advantage has become a popular choice among Medicare program beneficiaries in recent years. Since 2022, nearly half of those covered by Medicare insurance were Medicare Advantage members.¹

What Do Medicare Advantage Plans Cover?

As an alternative to Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage plans must cover all Part A and B services. This means the plan aids in paying for hospital stays and most medical services (excluding hospice care).

What sets Medicare Advantage apart is that some plans may cover additional benefits.

Some Medicare Advantage plans also include qualified prescription drug coverage, so you don’t need to purchase a stand-alone Part D drug plan. These plans are marketed as Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug, or MAPD, plans.

What Do Medicare Part C Plans Cost?

Since you’re still enrolled in Medicare insurance, you will still pay any required monthly premiums for Parts A and B. Beyond this, a Medicare Advantage plan’s cost depends on several factors. These factors can be:

• Monthly premiums included in the plan
• Yearly deductibles
• Copayments or coinsurances included in the plan

A brief outline of Medicare Advantage plan costs is available on Medicare.gov.

Is There Anything Else We Should Know About Part C?

Each year, you have two opportunities to make changes to your Medicare Advantage plan. The primary season is the Annual Enrollment Period, which runs from October 15 to December 7. During this period, you can:

• Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, or
• Switch from a Medicare Advantage plan to Original Medicare, or
• Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another

The second time to make a change in your coverage is during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period. This window runs from January 1 to March 31 and allows Medicare Advantage plan holders to make a one-time switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare. If you return to Original Medicare, you can purchase a Medicare Supplement and stand-alone prescription drug plan.

¹ KFF, Medicare Advantage in 2023: Enrollment Update and Key Trends
Read more: Medicare.gov, Your health plan options

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