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Medicare Advantage, also known as Medicare Part C, is an all-in-one alternative to original Medicare.
Private insurance companies offer Medicare Advantage plans that Medicare approves. They bundle together Part A hospital coverage and Part B doctor and outpatient services and usually Part D prescription coverage into one comprehensive plan.

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In 2022, nearly half (48 percent) of Medicare beneficiaries chose to get their coverage through a Medicare Advantage plan, rather than original Medicare, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.
If you decide to get coverage through a Medicare Advantage plan, you’ll still have to enroll in Medicare parts A and B. Then you can choose a Medicare Advantage plan and sign up with a private insurer.
You may have several options, depending on your location. The average Medicare beneficiary has 43 Medicare Advantage plans to choose from in 2023, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.
What do Medicare Advantage plans cover?
The federal government requires Medicare Advantage plans to cover everything that Medicare parts A and B cover, but they may have different deductibles and copayments. Most Medicare Advantage plans cover prescription drugs, too. Many plans help pay for services that original Medicare does not cover, such as routine dental, hearing and vision care.
Some Medicare Advantage plans provide additional coverage to people with chronic conditions. Provisions include meal delivery, shower grips and wheelchair ramps for your home, plus transportation to and from doctors’ offices.
Unlike original Medicare, which covers any providers who accept Medicare, most Medicare Advantage plans have a provider network and may charge more, or they may not cover doctors or facilities outside the plan’s network.
The two most common types of Medicare Advantage plans are health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and preferred provider organizations (PPOs).
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