Medicare Advantage (C) – BetterCare Insurance Services

What is Medicare Advantage?

While Medicare Parts A (Hospital) and B (Medical) help pay for many necessary medical needs, like preventive services and surgical procedures, these benefits don’t cover everything.

Medicare Part B only pays for 80%, leaving you to figure out how to pay the rest. There are two options to pay for the remaining 20%: either pay out-of-pocket or purchase a private Medicare plan to cover the rest.

Private plans come in two varieties: Medicare Advantage Plan (sometimes referred to as Medicare Part C) or a Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan (also called Medigap). These two plans differ greatly, so it’s important to understand how each works so you can evaluate your options.

Some folks think Medicare Advantage is complicated, but it’s fairly easy to grasp, once you understand the lingo. Together we’ll explore your options, find a plan your doctors accept, and get your pressing medical needs covered. Call us at 844-395-4370 (TTY 711).

One-stop Shopping

Because Original Medicare does not cover everything, there is no limit to the cost. In addition to your Part B premium, you will also be responsible for a deductible, coinsurance, and copayments. Medicare Advantage plans limit your out-of-pocket costs.

Think of Medicare Advantage as a one-stop shop for all health insurance needs. Along with the Medicare Parts A and B, Advantage plans also often cover prescription drug coverage (Part D), and dental, vision, hearing, and other wellness products many times as well.

Medicare Advantage works much like an HMO or a PPO and has a preferred network of doctors and providers. Medicare Advantage plans have grown in popularity over the years because of their affordability, and coverage continues to expand.

Medicare Supplement, on the other hand, is only meant to pay for the 20% of hospital and medical services that Original Medicare does not cover. If you want prescription drug, vision, dental, and hearing coverage, you will need to purchase them separately, at an additional cost.

A closer look at Medicare Advantage

Comparing plans isn’t always an apples-to-apples exercise. Whether you opt for a Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplement plan means assigning a level of importance to the different features of each choice. For example, you may view the quality of care as far more important than convenience or cost savings. Ultimately, you should weigh each feature in the light of your own situation.

Use our chart to help you compare the different features.

	Medicare Advantage	Medicare Supplement
Enrollment	2 open enrollments and many special enrollment periods each year; must sign up on your own but your plan automatically renews from year to year	May enroll when first eligible for Medicare, with exceptions; must sign up on your own
Coverage	A&B, plus most plans provide extra benefits, including dental, vision, hearing, and prescription drug coverage	Helps cover what Parts A&B do not pay; few, if any, extra benefits
Plan Provider	Private	Private
Choice of Doctors and Hospitals	Use plans in network, referrals sometimes required to see specialists	Use any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare; no referrals required
Prescription Drug Coverage	Usually Included	Not included
Cost	Monthly premiums as low $0	Monthly premium
Out-of-country care	Many plans offer urgent and emergency care outside of the U.S.	May provide limited healthcare coverage outside the country
Out-of-Pocket Costs	Yearly expenses are capped	Only certain plans cap yearly expenses
Pre-existing conditions	No restrictions	No restriction during open enrollment

Medicare
Advantage

Medicare
Supplement

Enrollment

2 open enrollments and many special enrollment periods each year; must sign up on your own but your plan automatically renews from year to year

May enroll when first eligible for Medicare, with exceptions; must sign up on your own

Coverage

A&B, plus most plans provide extra benefits, including dental, vision, hearing, and prescription drug coverage

Helps cover what Parts A&B do not pay; few, if any, extra benefits

Plan Provider

Private

Choice of Doctors and Hospitals

Use plans in network, referrals sometimes required to see specialists

Use any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare; no referrals required

Prescription Drug Coverage

Usually Included

Not included

Cost

Monthly premiums as low $0

Monthly premium

Out-of-country care

Many plans offer urgent and emergency care outside of the U.S.

May provide limited healthcare coverage outside the country

Out-of-Pocket Costs

Yearly expenses are capped

Only certain plans cap yearly expenses

Pre-existing conditions

No restrictions

No restriction during open enrollment

* We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1–800– MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.

By calling BetterCare at (844) 395-4370 TTY 711, you will be directed to a Licensed Agent who can answer your questions and provide information about Medicare Advantage, Part D or Medicare Supplement Insurance plans. Neither BetterCare Insurance Services nor its agents are connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.

BetterCare Insurance Services LLC is a licensed insurance agency doing business as BCI Insurance Services in California.

BetterCare is a for-profit insurance agency.

Your call will be directed to a licensed insurance agent who can provide more information about your Medicare insurance plan options.

Medicare supplement plans are not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. Government or the Federal Medicare program.

BetterCare is not connected with or endorsed by the United States Government, or the federal Medicare program. BetterCare does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has neither reviewed nor endorsed this information.

Medicare Advantage (Part C)

What is Medicare Advantage?

One-stop Shopping

A closer look at Medicare Advantage

Our team of Medicare specialists is ready to answer all your questions.

Call us today at
844-395-4370

Learn About Medicare

About Us

Contact

Medicare Advantage (Part C)

What is Medicare Advantage?

One-stop Shopping

A closer look at Medicare Advantage

Our team of Medicare specialists is ready to answer all your questions.

Call us today at844-395-4370

Learn About Medicare

About Us

Contact

Call us today at
844-395-4370