you usually get prescription drug coverage (Part D) through the plan. In most Medicare Advantage Plans, if your plan offers Medicare prescription drug coverage and you want drug coverage, you must get it from your plan. In these cases, if you join a stand-alone Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (Part D), you will be disenrolled from your Medicare Advantage Plan.
you may be able to get extra benefits offered by the plan, such as coverage for vision, hearing, dental, and/or health and wellness programs.
you still pay the Part B Premium . You also pay the Medicare Advantage Plan's premium that includes coverage for Part A and Part B benefits, prescription drug coverage (Part D if offered), and any other extra benefits (if offered).
you usually will have to pay some other costs (such as Copayments or Coinsurance ) for the services you get. Out-of-pocket costs in these plans are generally lower than in the Original Medicare Plan, but vary by the services you use.
you don't need to buy a Medigap Policy (Medicare Supplement Insurance).
in some cases, your costs could be higher than the Original Medicare Plan, like if you see a doctor that doesn't belong to the plan.
every year in the fall, the plan will send you information about any changes in benefits, costs, or service areas.
(Primary Source: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services - Medicare and You Handbook. This content may have been enhanced by Q1Group LLC to include further examples, explanations, and links.)
Medicare Supplements fill the gaps in your Original Medicare