Medicare Part C, also known as Medicare Advantage, is provided by private insurers as an alternative to Original Medicare (Parts A & B). Advantage plans often offer additional benefits beyond hospital and medical insurance, including but not limited to vision, dental, and prescription drug benefits.
| Medicare Advantage Plans (Part C)Part C | Original Medicare (Part A and B)Part A & B | Prescription Drug Plans (Part D)Part D | Supplemental Medicare (Medigap)DSNP | |
 Hospital coverage (hospital expenses, hospice care, skilled nursing) |  | |  | |
 Doctor and outpatient coverage (doctor visits, outpatient care, preventative services) | | | | |
 Prescription drug coverage (prescription drugs from multiple tiers) |  | | | |
 Dental or vision coverage (dental exams, eye exams) | | | | |
 Annual out-of-pocket maximum (never pay more than a pre-determined annual amount) | | | | |
*Available on some Medicare Advantage plans
As of March 2023, there are more than 65 million Medicare beneficiaries in the United States. Over 100,000 of those received help from Healthcareplans.com and Clearlink Insurance Agency.
As a private insurance agency, we are not beholden to a single provider. We work with some of the leading insurance carriers in the nation, including Cigna, Aetna, and Regence, to connect you with the plan that best fits your needs and budget.
With our Medicare plan finder tool, you can get unbiased results for Medicare plans available in your area and choose based on what fits your need, not just what a single carrier offers.
If you need help over the phone, our U.S.-based, U.S.-licensed agents are available to offer unbiased advice to help you find the plan you need from one of our leading insurance partners.
What are the four parts of Medicare?
Medicare coverage is generally divided into four parts. The first two Parts, A & B, comprise what is also referred to as Original Medicare, provided by the federal government to eligible recipients over the age of 65. Parts C & D act in place of, or in addition to, Original Medicare, and coverage comes from private insurance carriers rather than publicly available governmental benefits.
What is original Medicare?
Original Medicare is another way to refer to Medicare Parts A & B. These benefits are provided to beneficiaries over the age of 65 by the federal government.
Who is eligible for Medicare?
Medicare is generally available for anyone in the United States over the age of 65. Some conditions may allow people to receive benefits before the age of 65:
How do I enroll in Medicare?
To enroll in Medicare, you must be in one of the qualified Medicare Enrollment Periods. The first of these is your Initial Enrollment Period, which begins three months before the month of your 65th birthday, continues through your birthday month, and lasts for three months after. If you are choosing federal government coverage, enroll in Original Medicare online or by phone at 1-800-772-1213 during this period to prevent later premium penalties.
To enroll in private coverage such as Part C or prescription drug coverage, you can use our Medicare plan comparison tool to find the plan(s) that work best for you and enroll online or over the phone during a qualifying enrollment period:
When should I enroll in Medicare?
Enroll in Medicare coverage during a qualified Medicare Enrollment Period:
How do I choose a Medicare plan?
To choose a Medicare plan, consider your current health and prescription drug needs. If you have a primary care physician or specialist you regularly see and prefer, you can search available Medicare Advantage plans by doctor to find one that allows you to keep seeing your preferred healthcare providers. If you elect private coverage, you should also consider your budget to make sure the plan’s premiums are a good fit.
Learn about the two Medicare enrollment periods that run from January through March.
When is the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period? Get answers to this and other AEP-related questions.
Get fast facts about Medicare Enrollment, including when you qualify and when to enroll.
