Which part of Medicare is known as Managed Care?

Medicare Part C, also known as Medicare Advantage, is the portion of Medicare that is referred to as Managed Care. This program allows private health insurance companies to offer Medicare benefits, bundling various parts of Medicare into one plan. Beneficiaries can receive all their Medicare benefits through these private plans, which may include additional services not covered by traditional Medicare, such as dental and vision care.

The Managed Care aspect implies that these private plans often use networks of providers and may require members to obtain care from within these networks, typically with coordinated care approaches designed to manage costs and improve health outcomes. This structure contrasts with the other parts of Medicare. For example, Part A focuses on hospital insurance, Part B covers outpatient services, and Part D is dedicated to prescription drug coverage. Each of these does not carry the managed care label that characterizes Part C. Thus, the designation of Part C as Managed Care highlights its unique approach within the Medicare system.