What Is A Medicare Replacement? 
Original Medicare has been in existence since 1965 when Lyndon Johnson signed the bill making it law . Original Medicare had Part A -LRB- hospital -RRB- and Part B -LRB- doctor and outpatient -RRB- . Almost immediately a few carriers saw an opportunity to market supplemental coverage to pick up the gaps left by Medicare . Medicare Part C -LRB- later called Medicare Advantage -RRB- began in 1997 . These private insurance plans gave seniors an option for a managed care private plan vs original Medicare . 