We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent a small number of insurance agencies and the plans they carry. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day / 7 days a week, or your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.
We are an independent information and referral resource. We are not connected with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of the United States government, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or the federal Medicare program. Calling a number on this page connects you with a licensed insurance agent or a third-party marketing partner.
What Medicare Advantage covers
By law, a Medicare Advantage plan has to cover everything Original Medicare covers, with one exception: hospice care stays with Original Medicare. On top of that, most plans bundle:
- Prescription drug coverage (Part D), so you do not need a separate drug plan.
- Routine dental, vision and hearing, which Original Medicare leaves out.
- Wellness and fitness benefits, and in many plans an allowance for over-the-counter items.
- Extra support services in some plans, such as rides to medical appointments or meals after a hospital stay.
What a plan actually covers, and what it costs you, varies plan by plan and county by county. That is why the comparison step matters more than the brochure.
How people usually decide
Most people weigh two things: how predictable they want their costs to be, and how much freedom they want in choosing doctors. Medicare Advantage plans cap your yearly out-of-pocket spending on covered care and usually include drug coverage. In exchange, you generally use the plan's network of doctors, hospitals and pharmacies, and an HMO will usually ask for a referral before you see a specialist.
Original Medicare plus a Medigap policy and a stand-alone drug plan works the other way around: broad nationwide provider access and no referrals, but a separate premium and, on its own, no annual cap on what you pay.
Request a plan review
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