Medicare Advantage Plans

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Medicare Advantage Plans, sometimes called Medicare Part C, are health plan options

that are part of the Medicare program. If you join one of these plans, you generally get

all your Medicare-covered health care through the Medicare Advantage Plan. 

This coverage can include prescription drug coverage. Medicare Advantage Plans include:

• Medicare Health Maintenance Organization (HMOs)
• Preferred Provider Organizations (PPO)
• Private Fee-for-Service Plans
• Medicare Special Needs Plans

When you join a Medicare Advantage Plan, you use the health insurance card that you

get from the plan for your health care. In most of these plans, there generally are extra

benefits and lower co-payments than in the Original Medicare Plan¹ . Most Medicare

Advantage Plans are managed care plans, usually a health maintenance organization

(HMO) or a preferred provider organization (PPO) and you may have to see doctors that

belong to the plan or go to certain hospitals to get services.

To join a Medicare Advantage Plan, you must have Medicare Part A and Part B. You will

have to pay your monthly Medicare Part B premium to Medicare. In addition, you may

have to pay a monthly premium to your Medicare Advantage Plan for the extra benefits

that they offer. In 2025, the standard Part B premium amount is $185.00 (or higher

depending on your income). However, some people who get Social Security benefits

pay less than this amount.

When can I enroll?

Keep in mind that Medicare limits when you can join, switch, or drop a Medicare

Advantage Plan. You can join a plan when you first become eligible for Medicare. This is

anytime beginning three months before the month you turn 65 and ends three months

after the month you turned 65.

For example, if you turn 65 on May 5, your eligibility period starts on February 1 and

ends on August 31.

If you are disabled and have Social Security Disability Insurance, you can join an

advantage plan three months before to three months after month 25 of your

disability.

You can switch or drop your Medicare Advantage during an enrollment period

between October 15 and December 7 of each year.

This information obtained from www.medicare.gov

¹ Understanding Medicare Advantage Plans