Medicare Advantage - Medicare Part C

A Medicare Advantage (MA) plan is an alternative to Original fee-for-service Medicare. Medicare contracts with MA plans as part of the Medicare program and pays the plans to manage beneficiaries' health care. There are currently 5 types of MA plans. Information on these plans, questions to consider when choosing a plan, and special rights if your plan terminates coverage are discussed below.

In this section:

1. Medicare Advantage: an overview – Receiving your Medicare coverage through a private Medicare Advantage (MA) plan is another way to help cover the gaps in Medicare. Learn what MA plans are, how they work and who's eligible to join. Also learn how to enroll in and disenroll from these plans:
   » Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs)
   » Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs)
   » Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
   » Special Needs Plans (SNPs)
   » Medical Savings Accounts (MSAs)
2. Choosing a Medicare Advantage plan - Questions to consider when choosing an MA plan. Also review specific factors to consider when choosing between a Medicare Advantage plan and a Medigap policy.
3. When Medicare Advantage plans terminate coverage - Know your rights and coverage options if your Medicare Advantage plan terminates its coverage.
4. Moving from a Medicare Advantage plan to a Medigap policy - Learn about certain situations when you can purchase a Medigap policy without a health screening.
5. Resources - Helpful resources and information related to Medicare Advantage.

Related links:

1. How to file a complaint or an appeal with your MA plan.
2. News articles on Medicare Advantage.

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Page updated July 10, 2008