A Medicare Advantage plan is an all-in-one alternative to Original Medicare, offered by private insurance companies approved by Medicare. These plans bundle your Part A (Hospital), Part B (Medical), and usually your Part D (Prescription Drug) coverage into a single, convenient plan. Many also include extra benefits that Original Medicare doesn't cover, like dental, vision, and hearing aids.

This is a great question. The government pays the private insurance company a fixed monthly amount to provide your Medicare benefits. The company then manages your care and costs. In exchange for the low premium, you agree to use their network of doctors and hospitals and pay for services as you use them (in the form of co-pays or co-insurance) up to a yearly maximum out-of-pocket limit.

Yes, in most cases. Advantage plans use local provider networks, like an HMO or a PPO, to help manage costs. Before enrolling, it's essential to check if your specific doctors and preferred hospitals here in Stuart or Palm City are in the plan's network. Using out-of-network providers can be much more expensive or may not be covered at all, depending on your plan type.

Yes, you do. To be eligible for any Medicare Advantage plan, you must first be enrolled in Original Medicare (Parts A and B) and continue to pay your monthly Part B premium. The Part B premium is paid to the government, while any Advantage plan premium (if you have one) is paid to the private insurance company.