Medicare Part C is the official government term for a Medicare Advantage plan. It's an all-in-one plan option offered by private insurance companies that bundles your Part A (Hospital), Part B (Medical), and usually Part D (Prescription Drug) benefits into one single plan. Think of it as a different way to receive your Medicare benefits.

When you enroll in a Part C plan, the private insurance company takes over the administration of your Medicare benefits from the federal government. You'll use the insurance card from your Part C plan for all your healthcare services instead of your red, white, and blue Medicare card. The plan must provide all the same rights and protections as Original Medicare, and most offer extra benefits as well.

Yes. The most common types you'll find in Stuart or Palm City are HMO and PPO plans. HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) plans generally require you to use doctors and hospitals within their network. PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) plans offer more flexibility to see out-of-network providers, though usually at a higher cost. Understanding this difference is key to choosing the right plan for you.

Yes, this is a very important point. To be eligible for any Part C (Medicare Advantage) plan, you must be enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B. You must continue to pay your monthly Part B premium to the government to keep your coverage active. Any premium for your Part C plan (many of which are $0) is paid separately to the insurance company.