(Go Here to shop for these plans)Medicare Advantage Plans, referred to as Part C of Medicare, are offered by private insurance companies as explained on the Medicare.gov website (here) as:
"A type of Medicare health plan offered by a private company that contracts with Medicare. Medicare Advantage Plans provide all of your Part A and Part B benefits. Medicare Advantage Plans include:
Health Maintenance Organizations
Preferred Provider Organizations
Private Fee-for-Service Plans
Special Needs Plans
Medicare Medical Savings Account Plans"
These plans have low or no premium and many cover prescription drugs. Many of them also include benefits not covered by original Medicare. You must have and keep Medicare Parts A & B in order to get a Medicare Advantage Plan. With these plans you will have co-pays at the Doctor's office and hospital, etc.
To enroll in or disenroll from one of these plans you must wait until the AEP (Annual Election Period) which begins Oct 7 and ends Dec 15. Some special time periods also allow changes, call to see if you may qualify for one of these. 501-762-4022