The Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plan Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) 

Medicare Plan C, otherwise known as Medicare Advantage, is privately owned insurance plan that includes Original Medicare benefits and much more. However, the insurance provider must be approved by Medicare. It’s important to understand that different insurance carriers offer different plan options. Medicare Plan C should not be confused with supplemental insurance, as the two policies are quite different. Depending on the area your live Plan C plan coverage may offer various benefits like vision, hearing, dental, and even prescription drugs. Excluding some exceptions, providers cannot deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions. While most Medicare Plan C policies have some differences, they must all follow Medicare guidelines.

Medicare Plan C Payments and Enrollments

Medicare Plan C may help beneficiaries lower their out-of-pocket costs by offering lower premiums than Medicare Plan A and Plan B premiums. However, policies are typically limited to specific service areas and have networks. Due to the added benefits, beneficiaries may have to pay a Plan C premium each month.

Qualifying applicants can enroll in Medicare Plan C during their Initial Enrollment Periods, the Annual Enrollment Period, and Special Enrollment Periods. Beneficiaries can enroll in Medicare Plan C by paper, phone, or online. Since Medigap covers many Advantage plans' same services, beneficiaries cannot purchase supplemental insurance when they already have Medicare Plan C.

If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, you can't have a Medigap policy, because Medicare Advantage Plans cover many of the same benefits. Beneficiaries are still apart of the Medicare program when they enroll in Medicare Plan C. However, if the provider ends its Medicare program, the beneficiary will need a new policy to enroll in Medicare Plan A and Plan B.