Fundamentos de Medicare

Medicare Part C Is Called Medicare Advantage

Explore how Medicare Part C plans work. These are referred to as Medicare Advantage or sometimes as MAPD plans and are offered by private insurance companies approved by Medicare.

Obtenga un resumen de Medicare Advantage

Reproduzca este video breve para ver un resumen. You'll learn essential information about Medicare Advantage plans, including how they differ from Original Medicare (Part A and Part B).

Key Points About Medicare Advantage Plans

Here are a few important highlights about how Medicare Advantage works.

What is Medicare Advantage or Medicare Part C?

Las coberturas Medicare Advantage combinan Medicare Original (Partes A y B) en una sola cobertura e incluyen beneficios adicionales. Estas coberturas, a veces llamadas "Parte C" o "Coberturas MA", están disponibles a través de compañías de seguros privadas acreditadas por Medicare. Las primas son tarifas fijas, independientemente de la edad.

All Medicare Advantage Plans include:

  • Cobertura Medicare Parte A (seguro de hospitales)
  • Cobertura Medicare Parte B (seguro médico)
  • Límites en los gastos de bolsillo que usted paga
  • Emergency and urgent care*
  • Hospice care (covered by Original Medicare)*

*Plans can charge different copays, coinsurance, and deductibles for these services

Most Medicare Advantage Plans also include:

  • Cobertura Medicare para medicamentos con receta (Parte D)
  • Redes de profesionales de la salud que ayudan a administrar los costos
  • Extra coverage, such as vision, hearing, dental, and health and wellness programs

Depending on what’s offered in your area, you may have these options:

  • HMO – Health Maintenance Organization: In most HMOs, you can only go to doctors, specialists, or hospitals on the plan’s list except in an emergency. También es posible que se le pida que solicite un referido a su médico de cabecera antes de visitar a un especialista.
  • HMO-POS – HMO Point of Service Plan: This is an HMO Plan that allows you to get some services out-of-network for a higher cost.
  • PPO – Preferred Provider Organization: In most PPOs, you pay less if you use doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers that belong to the Medicare Advantage plan’s network. You can use doctors, hospitals, and providers outside of the network, but you may pay higher copays and coinsurance.
  • PFFS – Private Fee for Service: PFFS plans are like Original Medicare in that you can generally go to any doctor, other health care provider, or hospital if they agree to treat you. La cobertura Medicare Advantage determina cuánto pagará a los médicos, otros profesionales de la salud y hospitales, y cuánto debe pagar usted cuando reciba atención médica.
  • SNP – Special Needs Plan: SNPs provide focused and specialized health care for specific groups of people, such as those who have both Medicare and Medicaid, who live in a nursing home, or have certain chronic medical conditions.
  • MSA – Medical Savings Account: This is a plan that combines a high deductible health plan with a bank account. Medicare deposita dinero en la cuenta (generalmente menos que el deducible). Usted puede usar el dinero para pagar sus servicios de atención médica durante el año.

Aspectos importantes a tener en cuenta

Tendrá que seguir pagando su prima de la Parte B

Si solicita una cobertura Medicare Advantage, tendrá que seguir pagando la prima de Medicare Parte B, así como cualquier prima que cobre la cobertura que elija. Es posible que se aplique una prima mensual que puede variar según la cobertura seleccionada.

No puede tener una cobertura de Seguro Suplementario Medicare y una cobertura Medicare Advantage a la vez.

Las coberturas Medicare Advantage son seguros de gastos médicos aprobados por Medicare que se ofrecen a través de compañías privadas. Las coberturas Medicare Advantage son diferentes de los Seguros Suplementarios Medicare. Si solicita una cobertura Medicare Advantage, no puede contratar un Seguro Suplementario Medicare.

Herramientas y recursos

Helpful Tools and Resources

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Unsure about Medicare options? Our guide can help. Learn about different plans, get clear answers and make an informed decision.