Medicare Advantage Plans, Explained

What's Included in a Medicare Advantage Plan

What to Check Before You Enroll

Not every plan covers the same doctors, hospitals, or medications — and premiums, copays, and extra benefits vary by plan and by county. Before enrolling, it's worth confirming that your current doctors are in-network, your prescriptions are covered at a price you can live with, and the plan's out-of-pocket maximum fits your budget.

Dental, Vision, and Hearing Benefits

Many Medicare Advantage plans may also include additional benefits that Original Medicare doesn't cover, such as dental, vision, or hearing coverage. Depending on the specific plan, other supplemental benefits may be available as well. These benefits, along with coverage amounts, provider requirements, and limitations, vary by plan and location — so it's worth looking at the whole plan, not just the extras, when deciding what fits. That means weighing those benefits alongside your doctors, your prescriptions, your costs, and the plan's coverage rules.

Medicare Advantage vs. Medicare Supplement

Medicare Advantage isn't the only way to get more complete coverage. Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans work alongside Original Medicare instead of replacing it, and tend to appeal to people who want more flexibility in which doctors they see. Which one fits depends on your health, your provider preferences, and your budget — something we can go through together.

How IRMAA Can Affect Your Premium

If your income is on the higher end, it's also worth understanding Medicare IRMAA — an income-related surcharge added to your premiums regardless of which type of plan you have. It's not something you opt into or out of; Social Security applies it automatically based on your income.

For a full breakdown of how Medicare Advantage fits into the bigger picture of Medicare Parts A through D, see the Medicare Guide.

Getting Started with Medicare → · Advantage vs. Supplement, Compared → · Try the Decision Guide →