Medicare Part C — Medicare Advantage
Medicare Advantage (Part C) is an alternative to Original Medicare offered by private insurance companies approved by Medicare. Advantage plans must cover everything Original Medicare covers and usually include prescription drugs, and often add benefits like dental, vision, or hearing.
What it means
- You must have both Part A and Part B to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan; you keep paying the Part B premium. - Most Advantage plans use provider networks (HMO, PPO) and require referrals or prior authorization for certain services. - Many plans include Part D prescription drug coverage and extra benefits Original Medicare does not offer. - Costs and covered benefits vary by plan and by county — check the Medicare Plan Finder for your ZIP code.
Action steps
1. Confirm you are enrolled in both Part A and Part B first. 2. Use the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov/plan-compare to compare plans in your county. 3. Verify your doctors and pharmacies are in the plan's network before enrolling. 4. Enroll during your Initial Enrollment Period, the Annual Election Period, or the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period.
Deadlines
- Annual Election Period (AEP): October 15 – December 7 for coverage starting January 1. - Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period: January 1 – March 31 to switch plans or return to Original Medicare.
Answers in this topic
Questions
- Can I have Medicare Advantage and a Medigap plan at the same time?
- No. Medigap only works with Original Medicare. It is illegal for someone to sell you a Medigap policy if you have a Medicare Advantage plan.
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Last verified: 2026-07-18