Medicare Advantage plans, also called Medicare Part C, are a way for people to get their Medicare benefits through private insurance companies.

A Medicare Advantage plan includes the services from Original Medicare, which has Part A (for hospital care) and Part B (for doctor visits), all in one plan. These plans often offer extra benefits that Original Medicare doesn’t cover, like prescription drug help (Part D), dental and vision care, hearing services, and wellness programs. Plus, a Medicare Advantage plan might cost you less and let you choose different doctors and care options.

When you sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan, you still have your Medicare coverage. But now, your healthcare services are managed by a private insurance company, which often works with a broker or agent to help you, like we do!

Here are the main types of Medicare Advantage plans:

1. Health Maintenance Organization (HMO): With an HMO plan, you must see doctors and go to hospitals that are in the plan's network. You can only go outside the network if there's an emergency.
2. Medicare Medical Savings Account (MSA): An MSA plan works like a Health Savings Account (HSA). Unlike other plans, it usually doesn’t have a set list of doctors or hospitals you must use.
3. Preferred Provider Organization (PPO): A PPO plan gives you the choice to see doctors and hospitals that are not in the network. However, it often costs more to go outside the network.
4. Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS): A PFFS plan explains how much the plan will pay for care and how much you will need to pay. It tells you what you owe doctors and hospitals for their services.
5. Special Needs Plan (SNP): An SNP plan is designed for people who have special health problems, qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid, or live in places like nursing homes.