Medicare Part C.
In plain English
Medicare Part C is better known as Medicare Advantage. It is an all-in-one alternative to Original Medicare, sold by private insurance companies that contract with the government. A Part C plan covers everything Part A and Part B cover, and most plans also fold in drug coverage and extras like dental, vision, or hearing. In exchange, you usually have to use the plan's network of doctors and follow its rules, and your costs work like a regular insurance plan with copays and an out-of-pocket maximum.
01Why it matters
Choosing Advantage instead of Original Medicare changes which doctors you can see and how your bills are calculated, and switching back later can be hard because you may not qualify for a Medigap policy. The choice shapes your care and your costs for years.
02The math, step by step
Imagine two people on Medicare. One keeps Original Medicare plus a separate drug plan and can see any doctor who accepts Medicare. The other picks a Part C Advantage plan with a $0 premium that includes dental, but she must stay in the plan's network and get a referral to see a specialist. The premiums, copays, and out-of-pocket maximums are set by each plan and vary by area, so compare the plans offered where you live.
03What this is NOT
Part C is not a separate add-on to Original Medicare; it is an alternative that replaces it. You either use Original Medicare (Parts A and B, often with Medigap and a Part D drug plan) or a Part C Advantage plan, not both at once.
04Receipts
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Plain-English answers from our glossary. Receipts included. Never advice.
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