What is Medicare Part C also known as?

Medicare Part C is also known as Medicare + Choice. This term reflects the program’s intention to offer beneficiaries a variety of options beyond traditional Medicare (Parts A and B). Introduced in the mid-1990s, Medicare + Choice allows enrollees to receive their Medicare benefits through private health plan options, which can include Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs), Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs), and other plan types.

The aim of Medicare + Choice is to provide beneficiaries with more flexibility and potentially broader coverage, as well as to contain costs by leveraging the competitive nature of private health insurance. This program was later renamed Medicare Advantage, but the original term "Medicare + Choice" illustrates the program's foundational concept of giving beneficiaries a choice among various private plans that still provide the essential benefits of Medicare.