What Medicare Advantage covers that Original Medicare does not

Original Medicare is Part A hospital cover and Part B medical cover. It does not include routine dental, vision, or hearing, and it has no annual out-of-pocket cap. Medicare Advantage (Part C) is a private plan that must cover at least what Original Medicare covers and may add extras. Those extras are why people switch: dental cleanings, glasses, hearing aids, gym memberships, and over-the-counter cards. The trade-off is a network. Out-of-network care can cost more or not count at all, and prior authorization is common for tests and specialist visits. Check the plan’s maximum out-of-pocket and the drug list, not just the monthly premium. A $0-premium plan can still leave you with high copays if your drugs sit on a higher tier or if your doctors are out of network. You can compare plans every year during the annual enrollment window. If your doctors, drugs, or travel habits changed, last year’s Advantage plan may no longer be the cheaper option versus Original Medicare plus a Part D drug plan.