Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage) Plans: How They Work

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Isolated Letter C
What is a Medicare Part C plan?

A Medicare Part C (also called Medicare Advantage) plan is a private insurance policy that replaces Medicare Part A and Part B. In other words, if you enroll in a private Medicare Part C plan, you no longer receive coverage through Medicare Part A or Medicare Part B.

Medicare Part C plans are regulated by the federal government, which requires every plan to provide at least the same coverage as the government-run Medicare Parts A and B. Medicare Part C plans eliminate some Medicare co-payments and deductibles, just as a Medigap insurance policy does. And like Medigap policies, Medicare Part C plans provide coverage for some gaps in Medicare Part A and Part B coverage. For that reason, if you enroll in a Medicare Part C plan, you don't also need to buy a Medigap policy.

Keep in mind that each Medicare Part C plan is slightly different, depending on what that plan's private insurance company chooses to offer beyond basic Medicare.

Why look at Medicare Part C plans? The slightly broader coverage than Medicare Part A and Part B is one reason, but the main benefit is cost. Total out-of-pocket expenses with a Medicare Part C plan are usually lower than expenses with the combination of traditional Medicare Parts A and B plus a Medigap insurance policy. (But there are also real disadvantages with Part C plans; see What are the disadvantages of Medicare Part C plans?)

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4 months ago

just keep me in your prayers that GOd will provide with the way things are goinfg now it's just getting worst and know one wnts to help or even give you any information to help you out. someone email me with worthly information that will help me help my father. thanks


4 months ago

i need some help financially and some knowledge on taking care of my father who i 98 years old and has alzhemeirs and is now wearing depends he doesn't know how to use the bath room /toliet anymore i really need someone to help me with this situation and i will not put him in a home but i still do ned some time to myself and still take care of him too.


Anonymous said 6 months ago

Yes, again another helpful article. I learned the difference between A, B, C plans for Medicare. Thank you


about 1 year ago

this website helped me very much. thanks


about 1 year ago

Please send me amount of medicare c.


over 1 year ago

Helpful but I wish you had discussed who PAYS FOR medicare advantage plans. And also discuss whether they are worth the amount of taxpayer money that goes to private insurance companies rather than medicare itself or medicare providers.


Anonymous said over 1 year ago

MEDICARE SHOULD COVER ACTOPUNCHERS, REALLY HELP PEOPLE ,AND SAVE MONEY


Anonymous said about 4 years ago

It will take me several reads to get through all this info, but it's very helpful in sorting out fact from the fiction pushed at us by health insurance companies.


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