Medicare Part C, more commonly known as Medicare Advantage, are private health plans that have contracts with Medicare. When you join one, you get your Medicare-covered healthcare services through the private plan.
Medicare Part C plans must cover all the same things as Medicare Part A and B. They also may cover services that Original Medicare does not pay for. Examples are eye exams, a pair of eyeglasses each year or a hearing exam. They may charge different amounts than you would pay through Original Medicare.
Medicare Advantage plans may also cover prescription drugs. If they do, you cannot buy a separate Medicare prescription drug plan.
With Medicare Part C plans, you generally must use certain providers. These are doctors, hospitals, drug stores and other healthcare providers that the plans have contracts with. These are called in-network providers. If you use providers outside your plan’s network, it may cost you more money. It also may mean you get no Medicare coverage at all for that service.
You must have Medicare Parts A and B to join a Medicare Advantage plan. You pay your usual Part B premium plus any additional premium that the plan may charge.