Medicare Advantage Plans
2026 guide to Part C plans with dental, vision, and more
What Part C delivers
One plan, bundled benefits, often no extra premium
Often no additional premium
Many MA plans charge nothing beyond your standard Part B premium. You still pay your Part B premium and get bundled benefits without stacking multiple policy costs.
Dental, vision, hearing, fitness
Benefits Original Medicare doesn't cover. Many plans include at least dental, vision, and hearing, plus OTC allowances and fitness memberships.
Annual in-network OOP maximum
Every MA plan caps your annual in-network out-of-pocket spending for in-network services (out-of-network costs on a PPO can exceed the cap). It's protection Original Medicare alone doesn't offer.
How to choose
The checks that actually matter before you enroll
Verify your doctors are in-network
A plan with great benefits is useless if your primary care doctor, specialists, or hospital are out of network. We check every plan against your actual providers.
Review the drug formulary
Each plan has its own list of covered medications and tiers. The same prescription can sit on a low tier with one plan and a much higher tier with another — the total cost difference adds up fast. Bring your medication list.
Calculate total annual cost
A no-premium plan with high copays can cost more over a year than a plan with a small premium and lower cost-sharing. We model your expected annual spending.
HMO plans: lower cost with a network requirement
HMO plans require you to use in-network providers and typically need a referral from your primary care physician to see a specialist. Many HMOs typically have lower cost-sharing than PPOs. A good fit if your doctors are already in the plan's network and you don't need out-of-network flexibility. Many plans without an additional premium are HMOs.
- Typically lower premiums and copays than PPOs
- Primary care physician coordinates care
- Referrals typically required for specialists
Special Needs Plans (SNPs)
SNPs are Medicare Advantage plans built for specific populations: people with certain chronic conditions (C-SNPs), dual-eligibles on both Medicare and Medicaid (D-SNPs), and institutionalized beneficiaries (I-SNPs). Benefits, provider networks, and formularies are tailored to the group, which often means better coverage for the conditions the plan targets. If you qualify, an SNP is worth comparing alongside standard HMO and PPO options.
- Tailored benefits for chronic conditions, dual-eligibility, or institutional care
- Coordination-of-care services typically included
- Eligibility verified before enrollment
PPO plans: more flexibility
PPO plans let you see out-of-network providers at a higher cost without needing a referral. Generally, PPOs may have higher cost-sharing than HMOs, but the flexibility matters if you have specialists you want to keep seeing, travel frequently, or value the freedom to self-refer.
- Out-of-network access (at higher cost)
- No referrals needed for specialists
- More flexibility for travelers and complex care
Side by side
Medicare Advantage vs. Original Medicare
| Medicare Advantage | Original Medicare | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly premium | Often no additional premium beyond Part B | Part B premium only |
| Provider network | HMO or PPO network required | Any Medicare provider nationwide |
| Prescription drugs | Usually included | Separate Part D plan needed |
| Dental, vision, hearing | Included in many plans | Not covered |
| Annual OOP maximum | Annual cap, in-network (varies by plan, within federal limit) | No cap (unless you add Medigap) |
| Travel coverage | Limited outside service area | Nationwide with any Medicare provider |
Enrollment windows
When you can switch
7 months around 65
Initial Enrollment Period
A 7-month window: the 3 months before your 65th birthday month, your birthday month, and the 3 months after. Your first chance to pick a Medicare Advantage plan.
Oct 15 – Dec 7
Annual Enrollment Period
Join, switch, or drop Medicare Advantage or Part D — including moving from Original Medicare to MA (or vice versa) and first-time Part D enrollment. Changes take effect January 1.
Jan 1 – Mar 31
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment
Already in an MA plan? You can switch to a different MA plan or drop back to Original Medicare. Changes take effect the first of the following month.
Brandon is a wealth of information. He's personable, easy to talk to, and made the crazy world of Medicare make sense. He's my recommendation for friends and family getting ready to become eligible.
Matt L.
New Medicare enrollee · South Carolina
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Standalone prescription drug coverage for those staying on Original Medicare.
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I can't say enough nice things about Will Murdock and the hours he's spent helping me find the best plan. He sat on hold listening to elevator music for hours getting all the kinks worked out with my Medicare and Medicaid.
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Medicare client · South Carolina
Brandon is a wealth of information. He's personable, easy to talk to, and made the crazy world of Medicare make sense. He's my recommendation for friends and family getting ready to become eligible.
Matt L.
New Medicare enrollee · South Carolina
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Family caregiver · South Carolina
Medicare carriers
Our Brokerage Partners
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Mutual of Omaha
Humana
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Aetna
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Why work with us
Local Medicare Advantage expertise, zero cost
Know your doctors are in-network
We verify your primary care, specialists, and preferred hospitals are in-network before we recommend any plan. No surprises after enrollment.
Every carrier compared
We compare Humana, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, BlueCross BlueShield, and other carriers against your specific doctors and medications.
Annual plan reviews
MA plans change benefits and networks every year. We proactively review each fall during AEP so you're never caught off-guard by benefit or network changes at renewal.
Got Questions?
Frequently Asked Questions
Have a question not listed here? Get in touch.
Major carriers include Humana, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, and BCBS SC. Exact availability varies by county and ZIP code, and many SC counties have plans with no additional premium beyond Part B.
It depends. Medicare Advantage typically offers dental, vision, hearing, and an annual in-network out-of-pocket cap, often at no additional premium beyond your Part B. Original Medicare gives broader nationwide provider access with no referrals or prior authorization. The right answer depends on your specific doctors, medications, and how you use healthcare — which is exactly what we help you figure out.
Many plans charge no additional premium beyond your standard Part B premium, though you still pay Part B. Copays apply for services. Each plan sets its own annual in-network out-of-pocket maximum within the federal cap, so total annual cost varies — we model your expected spending against the plans available in your county.
Yes. During AEP (October 15 – December 7), you can switch plans, drop Advantage to return to Original Medicare, or change Part D. Changes take effect January 1. You can also make one additional change between January 1 and March 31 during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period.
Yes. You can disenroll from Medicare Advantage during AEP (Oct 15 – Dec 7) or during the MA Open Enrollment Period (Jan 1 – Mar 31). Within your first 12 months on Medicare Advantage, you also typically have guaranteed-issue rights to a Medigap policy — an important protection that goes away after that window. After 12 months, Medigap may require medical underwriting.
Important notice: We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.
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