Final answer:
Medicare Advantage, which allows private health insurers to provide Medicare benefits, is known as Part C of Medicare. It combines services from Part A, which covers hospital charges, and Part B, which includes medical care outside of hospital stays. Part D, added later, covers prescription drugs.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Medicare Advantage program is officially known as Part C of Medicare. It's the part that allows private health insurance companies to provide Medicare benefits, which covers services offered by both Part A and Part B, and sometimes includes additional services like prescription drug coverage (Part D), all in one plan. Part A of Medicare helps cover hospital stays and is funded through payroll deductions, whereas Part B is an optional program covering costs outside of hospital stays, such as physician services, medical tests, and outpatient visits and requires payment of monthly fees, deductibles, and copayments. The Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2003 added Part D to help with prescription drugs costs for the elderly and disabled.