Medicare Advantage benefits you might not know about

Most Medicare Advantage plans offer different $0 preventive care benefits. Some plans may also include wellness programs to encourage members to improve their physical and mental health. Wellness programs might include discounted or free gym memberships, as well as help with nutrition or diet planning.

Original Medicare does not generally cover annual eye exams, but most Medicare Advantage plans do. It's essential to select a Medicare Advantage plan that takes vision care into consideration, particularly if you wear glasses or contacts. Most Medicare Advantage plans offer annual eye exams at a fixed rate and give an allowance for glasses or contacts.

Some Medicare Advantage plans may include dental coverage or allow you to pay more a month for dental benefits. Dental plans will generally cover routine dental care like oral exams, cleanings, X-rays and diagnostic services. Some plans may also cover root canal treatment, extractions and prosthodontics with a copayment or coinsurance. Each plan varies, so it's important to choose one with the dental coverage you might need.

Many Medicare Advantage plans cover prescription drugs as an added benefit. This eliminates the need for Medicare beneficiaries to enroll in a separate Part D plan to receive prescription coverage. Although each Medicare Advantage plan offers different prescription drug coverage, enrolling in a Medicare Advantage Plan may end up costing you less on prescription drugs.

Most Medicare Advantage plans offer over-the-counter (OTC) benefits, often in the form of monthly allowances. These allowances can be used to purchase specific items, like cold medicine, bandages and vitamins. OTC benefits can help cover the cost of necessary health care items not covered as a medical or pharmaceutical expense.