Medicare Part C

Medicare Part C

Independent Agents | Competitive Pricing | Free Consultation

Medicare Part C

Medicare Part C is also referred to as Medicare Advantage.

Medicare Advantage is offered by private insurance companies contracted with the Center for Medicare Services. Medicare Advantage coverage is an alternative to the Original Medicare Part A and Part B plans you would enroll in with the Social Security office. Instead, you would talk to a licensed agent, such as those at A+ Benefits Group.

Part C plans must still offer the same benefits as Original Medicare Part A and Part B. Included services are inpatient hospital care, outpatient care, doctor’s visits, lab testing, preventative service, preventative screenings, home healthcare, skilled nursing facilities and ambulance services. Medicare Advantage plans may also include Part D (prescription drug coverage). Part C plans may also include extra benefits such as dental, vision and hearing benefits that are not covered under Original Medicare.

Improve Your Medicare Plan

We're now offering virtual appointments

Request an Appointment
Original Medicare Parts A and B include deductibles, coinsurance and monthly premiums. Medicare Advantage plans can include deductibles, copays and monthly premiums. In addition to the costs associated with Part C, you also still have to pay monthly premiums for Medicare Part A and B. Although a Medicare Advantage plan might reflect a $0 monthly premium, you are still required to pay for any Part A or Part B premium you are responsible for. Medicare in turn pays the private insurance company in which you have your Medicare Advantage plan with.  

Original Medicare coverage is Nationwide. Under Original Medicare you would be able to see any doctor or hospital in the United States that accepts Medicare. With Medicare Advantage plans you will have a network of doctors and hospitals that you will need to go to for non-emergency services. Part C plans can be offered with networks such as HMO or PPO. If you travel outside of your network coverage area and need non-emergency care, you might not be covered. Furthermore, if your preferred doctors and/or hospitals are not in your Medicare Advantage Plan network you will need to find new ones. If you are considering Medicare Part C, make sure to check the plans network and ask your doctor if they participate in that Medicare Advantage plan and network. For additional assistance, you can speak to a Part C specialist with A+ Benefits Group.

Part C plans are not offered by every private insurance company. In fact, the companies that do offer Medicare Advantage plans can do so on a limited basis. They can offer different plans in different parts of the country. A plan that might be offered in one area of a state, might not be offered in another part of the state. Some companies might also offer plans in areas, with additional benefits, for those individuals with certain medical conditions. They could also offer plans for individuals who might qualify for additional assistance from Medicaid.

Medicare Advantage plans can be enrolled in when you first start Original Medicare Part B. You also can enroll during the Annual Election Period in the fall, October 15th to December 7th. The plan would go into effect on January 1st. As long as you are enrolled in both Original Medicare Part A and B, you would be eligible for Medicare Advantage. 

When considering a Medicare Advantage plan, it’s important to take into account a number of different factors such as the type of network (HMO, PPO etc.) and coverage area, copays, deductibles, max out-of-pocket limit, additional benefits and any limitations. It’s always good to compare several different plan options to be sure you are finding the one that works best for you and your needs. As Independent Insurance Agents, we can show you a number of different companies and plan options for your review. 

I spent 90 minutes this morning with JoAnna Baumeister with A+ Benefits Group Her phone number is 941-256-3895. She explained everything and and really listened to my needs. She is on State Road 70 across from Manatee Technical School. I had been very overwhelmed with the number of different plans and options but JoAnna explained everything. She also offered plans from different insurance companies. I’m very happy with my decision.

- Nextdoor

Share by: