Your Complete Guide to California Medicare for 2027

Medicare Advantage, also known as Part C, is a type of Medicare health plan offered by a private company that contracts with Medicare. The plans include Part A, Part B and usually Part D. Medicare Advantage provides additional benefits that Original Medicare doesn’t cover, such as vision, hearing and dental insurance.

Types of Plans

• Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs)

• Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs)

• Special Needs Plans (SNPs)

• Medicare Medical Savings Accounts (MSAs)

• Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)

Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) is extra insurance you can buy from a private insurance company to help pay your share of costs in Original Medicare. All Medigap policies are standardized. They offer the same basic benefits no matter where you live or which insurance company you buy the policy from. There are 10 different types of Medigap plans offered in most states. Price is the only difference between the plans.

Medicare Part D helps cover the cost of prescription drugs. Part D is optional and provided only through private insurance companies approved by the federal government. All plans must cover a wide range of prescription drugs that people with Medicare take, including most drugs in certain protected classes such as drugs to treat cancer or HIV/AIDS. There are two ways to get Medicare drug coverage: Medicare drug plans and Medicare Advantage plans (Part C) or other Medicare health plans with drug coverage.