Another name for part C of the Medicare package is Medicare Advantage. Medicare Advantage is only one of the four parts to be operated by private insurance providers. The other parts of Medicare, parts A, B and D, completely managed by the federal government. Part C allows Medicare recipients to join private insurance programs like HMOs and PPOs. The difference between part C and simple traditional insurance is that the government pays for what the private insurer does not cover.
Before you enroll in Medicare Advantage, you need to look into what kinds of part C programs are available to you and the eligibility restrictions. The options available to you in part C are HMOs, which have their own doctors, hospitals and pharmacies, PPOs which use network of providers you can see or Medicare Private Fee-for-Service which allows you go to any doctor who accepts the plan’s terms and fees. Two other options are Medicare Special Needs for those with chronic conditions or a Medicare Medical Savings Account for those who are healthy who want a high-deductible insurance plan and an HSA for Medicare to deposits money into for medical costs.
If you live in an area that Part C covers, and are signed up for Medicare parts A and B, then you may be eligible for part C. There are time restrictions for enrolling in part C, however. Your ‘initial coverage” refers to the first seven months after you become eligible for Medicare. You can enroll in Medicare Advantage three months before your eligibility begins up until four months after you became qualified. If you decide to wait to enroll in part B, you can enroll in part C during the three months before you add another part.
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