Medicare Advantage plans, compared the honest way

What is a Medicare Advantage plan?

A Medicare Advantage Plan is a type of Medicare health plan offered by a private company that contracts with Medicare to provide all of your Part A and Part B benefits. These plans include HMOs, PPOs, Private Fee-for-Service Plans, Special Needs Plans, and Medicare Medical Savings Account Plans. If you're enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan, your Medicare services are covered through the plan rather than Original Medicare - and most plans include prescription drug coverage.

How do Medicare Advantage plans work?

Medicare Advantage Plans - sometimes called "Part C" or "MA Plans" - are offered by private companies approved by Medicare. When you join one, you still have Medicare. You'll get your Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance) coverage from the Medicare Advantage Plan instead of Original Medicare, usually bundled with extra benefits. The market is crowded: in 2026 the average beneficiary can choose from about 32 Advantage plans with drug coverage, which is exactly why an independent advisor who narrows the field matters.

They cover all your Medicare services

Medicare health plans provide Part A and Part B benefits to people who enroll. This category includes Medicare Advantage Plans, Medicare Cost Plans, Demonstration/Pilot Programs, and Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). Many plans add benefits Original Medicare doesn't - like routine dental, vision, hearing, and fitness memberships.

They must follow Medicare's rules

Medicare pays a fixed amount each month to the companies offering these plans, and those companies must follow rules set by Medicare. However, each plan can charge different out-of-pocket costs and set different rules for how you get services - such as whether you need a referral to see a specialist, or whether you must use in-network providers for non-emergency care. These rules can change each year, which is why an annual review matters.

Costs & drug coverage

What you pay out of pocket depends on the plan's premiums, deductibles, copays, and network. You usually get prescription drug coverage built right into the plan. Note: you can't have drug coverage through both a Medicare Advantage Plan and a separate Part D plan - joining a standalone Part D plan while on an MA plan with drug coverage will disenroll you and return you to Original Medicare.