part c medicare covers

Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage) generally covers everything Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) covers, and then often adds extra benefits like drug coverage, dental, vision, and hearing, all bundled into one private plan.

What Part C Is

• Medicare Part C is also called Medicare Advantage and is offered by private insurers approved by Medicare.

• By joining a Part C plan, you still have Medicare, but you get your benefits through the private plan instead of through Original Medicare.

Core Medical Coverage

Most Medicare Advantage plans must, at a minimum:

• Cover all Part A hospital benefits (inpatient hospital, skilled nursing facility, hospice, some home health).

• Cover all Part B medical benefits (doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive services, durable medical equipment, some drugs given in a clinic).

Extra Benefits Many Plans Add

Many Part C plans go beyond Original Medicare by including:

• Prescription drug coverage (similar to Part D) in the same plan.

• Extra benefits such as routine dental, vision, and hearing services that Original Medicare does not usually cover.

Costs and Rules To Know

• Plans must follow Medicare’s rules but can set different premiums, copays, provider networks, and prior-authorization rules.

• You typically must use doctors and facilities in the plan’s network (HMO/PPO style), except for emergencies and urgent care.

How To Check What YOUR Plan Covers

• Coverage details vary by specific Medicare Advantage plan and county, so two Part C plans can cover different extra services.

• To see exactly what your plan covers, you can:
  • Review the “Evidence of Coverage” booklet from your plan.

* Use the coverage lookup on the official Medicare website to search by service or item.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.