Part C 

Medicare Advantage plan or Part C is a private Medicare plan that covers Medicare Part A and B. All the same benefits as Original Medicare, and may include benefits Original Medicare doesn't cover, like hearing, dental, vision care and wellness services. 

Part C also has a yearly limit on out-of-pocket costs for covered medical services, unlike Original Medicare.


Most common types of Medicare Advantage Plans

Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) Plans 
The plan may require members to get referrals from a primary care physician in order to see specialists in their network. They may also change coverage and/or premiums annually. There may be additional costs such as hospital and skilled nursing facility co-payments.

There may be prior authorization (approval) requirements for certain services. Also, providers can choose to no longer participate with an HMO plan during the year. Even participating providers may decide at any point that they are not accepting new patients under the Medicare HMO plan. Generally, members are required to use only health care providers in the HMO plan’s network. 

Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) 
PPOs provide some coverage for services provided outside of their network. Cost-sharing amounts will usually be lower when beneficiaries use network providers than when they use out-of-network providers. A PPO must have a sufficient network of providers so that enrollees can get all services within the plan. Also, with a PPO, a member does not have to get a referral to see a specialist. Premiums are usually more than HMO premiums, but less than premiums for Medicare Supplement insurance. 

Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) Plans  
This type of plan sets its own payment structure. The plan decides how much it will pay its Medicare providers, and how much you will pay as a patient. Under this plan, a person with Medicare may go to any Medicare-participating medical provider or any hospital, as long as the provider or hospital accepts the plan’s payment terms. PFFS plans also have networks of providers and are very similar to PPO plans. No referrals are necessary. Costs may include a monthly premium and an amount per visit or service. 

Special Needs Plans (SNP)  
This plan is designed to serve people with specific health conditions, or meet certain other qualifications. It is only available for those with both Medicare and Medicaid (which may include those with QMB only without Medicaid), institutionalized beneficiaries or those with certain chronic conditions. SNPs may offer more focused and specialized health care as well as better coordination of care for these beneficiaries than other types of Medicare Advantage plans. All SNPs include Part D drug coverage. 

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 (24 hours a day/7 days a week, TTY 1-877-486-2048) to get information on all of your options.