Medicare Advantage Plans (Part C)
Medicare Advantage plans offer an alternative to Original Medicare and typically include prescription drug coverage. If you enroll in an Advantage plan, you cannot also purchase Medigap insurance.
The average monthly premium for Advantage plans is projected to decrease slightly in 2026 to $14.00, down from $16.40 in 2025. Advantage plans may have lower premiums but could come with higher deductibles or copayments, and they often restrict your choice of providers.
Some insurers have reduced the number of plans available in 2026, so check your Annual Notice of Change carefully.
Unlike Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage plans have a maximum out-of-pocket limit for in-network services of $9,250 and $13,900 for out-of-network care, both slightly lower than in 2025. Note that these limits generally cover only Parts A and B and do not include Part D drug costs.
