Medicare Advantage
Explore private plans that deliver Medicare benefits through defined networks, costs, and rules.
What the plan provides
Medicare Advantage is an approved private-plan alternative for receiving Part A and Part B benefits. You keep Medicare, need both Parts A and B to join, and must live in the plan’s service area. Most Advantage plans include Part D. Other Medicare health plans, including Cost Plans and PACE, exist but have different eligibility and operating rules; do not treat every Medicare health plan as the same product.
Official source: Medicare: Medicare Advantage guide ↗ · Medicare: Health plan types ↗ · Medicare: Joining a plan ↗
Network and care permissions
HMO, HMO-POS, PPO, PFFS and Special Needs Plans handle provider choice differently. HMOs generally use a network for routine care, a PPO often permits covered out-of-network care at higher cost, and a PFFS provider may need to accept payment terms. A plan may require referrals or prior approval. Check the actual contract, provider and service, not just the plan label.
Official source: Medicare: Compare plan types ↗ · Medicare: Provider network fact sheet ↗
Medical and drug costs are separate
Continue to pay the Part B premium, which is $202.90 monthly for most people in 2026 unless a different amount applies. A plan may also charge a premium and set its own deductibles, copays and annual limit for covered Part A/B spending. Drug premiums, formulary rules and covered-drug out-of-pocket expenses follow separate Part D terms. The exact Evidence of Coverage supplies the numbers.
Official source: Medicare: 2026 costs ↗ · Medicare: Medicare Advantage guide ↗ · Medicare: Evidence of Coverage ↗
What can change next year
Providers can enter or leave a network during the year; plans also update costs and benefits annually. Check the Annual Notice of Change in the fall and compare the next year’s Evidence of Coverage and formulary. Medicare Open Enrollment runs October 15–December 7 for changes effective January 1. Being happy with the existing plan does not remove the need to check its changes.
Official source: Medicare: Provider network fact sheet ↗ · Medicare: Annual Notice of Change ↗ · Medicare: Open Enrollment ↗
Use the exact plan before applying
Enter residence ZIP code, providers, hospitals, drugs and pharmacies into Medicare’s comparison tool. Confirm each provider with the plan and the office; check the plan ID, year and service area. If you have Medigap, it cannot pay Advantage cost sharing. Medicare Advantage enrollment must match a valid election window and existing A/B effective dates.
Official source: Medicare: Compare plans ↗ · Medicare: Joining a plan ↗ · Medicare: Original versus Advantage ↗