Medicare Part C Coverage: An Expert Guide (2023)
What is Medicare Part C? Medicare Part C, also called Medicare Advantage, combines Original Medicare Parts A and B, and often includes supplemental coverage as well. Medicare Part C plans are offered by private insurers, and coverage varies depending on the plan. Shop around to find the best plan for your needs and budget.
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Leslie Kasperowicz
Farmers CSR for 4 Years
Leslie Kasperowicz holds a BA in Social Sciences from the University of Winnipeg. She spent several years as a Farmers Insurance CSR, gaining a solid understanding of insurance products including home, life, auto, and commercial and working directly with insurance customers to understand their needs. She has since used that knowledge in her more than ten years as a writer, largely in the insuranc...
Farmers CSR for 4 Years
UPDATED: Jun 1, 2022
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UPDATED: Jun 1, 2022
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider.
Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different insurance companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
- Medicare Part C is also known as Medicare Advantage, and private health insurance companies provide it to cover Medicare Part A and Part B services under one plan
- Medicare Part C is required to cover everything that is covered under Medicare Part A and Part B but may also include additional benefits
- Many people who are enrolled in Medicare Part C do not have to pay a premium other than the Medicare Part B premium
Medicare Part C is one of the four main parts of Medicare (Medicare Part A, Part B, Part C, and Part D) and sold by private health insurance companies. These plans may also provide additional benefits that Original Medicare does not.
If you’re considering purchasing a Medicare Part C plan, or you are wondering, “What is Medicare Part C?” read the article below to have your questions answered.
Enter your ZIP code into our free quote comparison tool above to find health insurance or a supplemental Medicare plan from companies in your area.
What is Medicare Part C?
What is Medicare Part C and D? Medicare Part C is also known as Medicare Advantage. These plans are purchased from private health insurance companies approved by Medicare.
Medicare Part D is prescription drug coverage, which is generally included in Medicare Part C plans. Medicare Part C also includes Medicare Part A (inpatient care) and Medicare Part B (outpatient care). Medicare Advantage plans may also provide additional coverage, such as vision or dental.
The Medicare program sets rules and guidelines that private health insurance companies must follow when they offer Medicare Advantage plans.
However, the companies have the freedom to set your out-of-pocket costs and rules for how to get services, such as needing a referral.
To meet the Medicare Part C eligibility requirements, you must live in the service area for a specific plan, have Medicare Part A and Part B, and be a lawful resident or citizen of the United States.
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What does Medicare Part C cover?
Medicare Part C must cover everything that Medicare Part A and Part B covers, including:
- Inpatient hospital care
- Skilled nursing facility (SNF) care
- Emergency care
- Doctor’s visits
- Preventative care
- Durable medical equipment (DME)
About 90% of Medicare Advantage plans also include Medicare Part D, which covers most prescription drugs. In addition, some plans will offer higher coverage than Original Medicare and provide additional benefits, such as vision, hearing, dental, or health and wellness programs.
Recently, private health insurance companies have been approved to offer more benefits, such as adult daycare, in-home support services, and safety modifications like wheelchair ramps.
How much does Medicare Part C cost?
About 65% of Medicare Advantage policyholders pay no premium for their plan other than the Medicare Part B premium (starting at $170.10 per month in 2022). About 15% of policyholders pay at least $50 per month in addition to the Medicare Part B premium.
Of the policyholders who have to pay a premium on top of the Medicare Part B premium, the average cost is $60 per month. (If you include the policyholders who do not have to pay a premium, this drops the average cost down to $21 per month.)
Some companies will also help pay for Medicare Part B, so you may even pay less than the standard premium. The health insurance company is also responsible for setting the deductible cost, coinsurance, and copayments.
What are Medicare Part C networks?
Medicare Advantage plans are organized into networks containing various types of facilities and health care providers to ensure that you have access to the care you need.
Around 62% of Medicare Advantage enrollees belong to health maintenance organizations (HMOs). An HMO will only cover costs for in-network providers unless you need medically necessary emergency care from an out-of-network provider.
Around 36% of Medicare Advantage enrollees belong to preferred provider organizations (PPOs). PPOs will cover costs for in-network and out-of-network providers, but your out-of-pocket costs will be more expensive for out-of-network care.
A small percentage of Medicare Advantage plans are private fee-for-service (PFFS) plans, Medicare medical savings account (MSA) plans, or special needs plans (SNPs).
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Where can I get a Medicare Part C plan?
You can begin searching for Medicare Part C plans by using Medicare’s plan finder. The search should make it easy to understand the details of each plan and compare plans with Medicare Part C plans comparison tables.
You should be able to find plenty of information on plans online. You can visit each company’s website to see if it’s possible to enroll in the plan online. If it’s not possible, you can fill out and send in an enrollment form for the plan of your choice.
If you need further help, you can also call Medicare at (800) 633-4227 (TTY: (877) 486-2048).
When you’re ready to enroll in a plan, you will need to provide your Medicare number and the date that your Medicare Part A and Part B coverage began. You should be able to find this information on your Medicare card.
Keep in mind that plan providers cannot call you to enroll you in a plan unless you ask them to. They also can’t ask you for financial information over the phone. So be careful about which personal information you provide.
If you need help finding affordable health insurance or a supplemental Medicare plan, enter your ZIP code into our free quote comparison tool below.
Are you looking for free insurance quotes?
Your one-stop online insurance guide. Get free quotes now!
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Leslie Kasperowicz
Farmers CSR for 4 Years
Leslie Kasperowicz holds a BA in Social Sciences from the University of Winnipeg. She spent several years as a Farmers Insurance CSR, gaining a solid understanding of insurance products including home, life, auto, and commercial and working directly with insurance customers to understand their needs. She has since used that knowledge in her more than ten years as a writer, largely in the insuranc...
Farmers CSR for 4 Years
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by insurance experts.