How fast is Medicare Advantage growing?

Asked by: Andreanne Gislason  |  Last update: January 21, 2024
Score: 4.9/5 (47 votes)

The program has seen steady growth in the past three years, adding 1.9 million in 2020, 2.2 million in 2021, and 2.3 million in 2022. Meanwhile, traditional Medicare lost 1.3 million beneficiaries in both 2022 and 2023. Medicare Advantage enrollment varied across nonprofit and for-profit plans.

Are Medicare Advantage plans growing?

The market is growing rapidly and differently.

Medicare Advantage continues to grow and continues to do so at the expense of Original Medicare. Despite Medicare Advantage adding 2.7 million new lives overall, Medicare broadly only grew by 1.3 million, implying a significant attrition in Original Medicare.

Are Medicare Advantage plans becoming more popular?

Medicare Advantage enrollment has increased steadily since 2006, with nearly half (48%) of all eligible Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans in 2022.

Who is the largest Medicare Advantage company?

UnitedHealthcare is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans and offers plans in nearly nine out of every 10 U.S. counties. UnitedHealthcare also partners with AARP, insuring the Medicare products that carry the AARP name.

Why has Medicare Advantage grown so much?

The growing popularity of the program reflects MA plans' commitment to – and ability to deliver – better services, better access to care, and better value. Research continues to show that MA delivers lower costs, more choices, and better outcomes for Americans.

Why Medicare Advantage Is The Worst Choice For Seniors

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What percentage of people use Medicare Advantage?

Between 2019 and 2023, Medicare Advantage enrollment has grown by 2.1 percent. As of January 2023, 48 percent of all Medicare beneficiaries are enrolled in Medicare Advantage, translating to 30.7 million people. Medicare Advantage enrollment growth continued at a rapid pace, adding 2.7 million beneficiaries in 2023.

Is Medicare Advantage better or worse?

For many seniors, Medicare Advantage plans can work well. A 2021 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that Advantage enrollees often receive more preventive care than those in traditional Medicare. But if you have chronic conditions or significant health needs, you may want to think twice.

Who dominates Medicare Advantage market?

MA Leading Plan Performance

There are 294 insurers covering the MA marketplace in the United States, however nearly 80 percent of MA enrollees selected one of only 10 insurers. As of March 2023, UnitedHealth continues to dominate in this highly competitive segment.

How many Medicare Advantage members does United have?

More than 8.2 million people are currently enrolled in UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans, and more than a third of all MA enrollment growth over the past five years, including 2022, has been through UnitedHealthcare, the company said.

Is Medicare Advantage at risk?

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) estimated that in 2020 the risk scores for beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage were about 9.5 percent higher than what they would have been for a similar beneficiary in traditional Medicare, resulting in about $12 billion in excess payments to plans.

Are Medicare Advantage patients healthier?

Historically, Medicare Advantage beneficiaries have been healthier than those in the traditional program, but this seems to be changing: beneficiaries now have similar characteristics and experiences regardless of coverage.

How many people switch Medicare Advantage plans?

Among the 11.3 million Medicare Advantage enrollees in 2019, 10 percent (1.2 million) voluntarily switched plans during the open enrollment period for 2020.

Will Medicare Advantage premiums increase in 2023?

The average Medicare Advantage premium is projected to fall almost 8% in 2023 to $18 a month, CMS announced Thursday. The decline follows another 10% reduction in average MA premiums from 2021-2022.

What will Medicare Advantage payments be in 2023?

CMS announced that the average monthly plan premium among all Medicare Advantage enrollees in 2023, including those who pay no premium for their Medicare Advantage plan, is expected to be $18 a month.

Is Medicare Advantage cheaper?

A Medicare Advantage plan is usually the cheaper overall option for those with low or moderate medical needs, after considering the cost of the plan and expenses for medical care. Medicare Advantage enrollees typically pay very little each month but will pay a larger portion of medical costs.

Can I change from Medicare Advantage to Medigap?

You may have chosen Medicare Advantage and later decided that you'd rather have the protections of a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) insurance plan that go along with Original Medicare. The good news is that you can switch from Medicare Advantage to Medigap, as long as you meet certain requirements.

What is the difference between traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans?

Medicare Advantage: Coverage. Original Medicare covers inpatient hospital and skilled nursing services – Part A - and doctor visits, outpatient services and some preventative care – Part B. Medicare Advantage plans cover all the above (Part A and Part B), and most plans also cover prescription drugs (Part D).

What percentage of seniors use Medicare Advantage plans?

Touting Medicare Advantage plans, these campaigns promise low premiums and all kinds of extra benefits. And they work. The proportion of eligible Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans, funded with federal dollars but offered through private insurance companies, has hit 48 percent.

Who is the best candidate for a Medicare Advantage plan?

The Medicare Advantage plan may offer a $0 premium, but the out-of-pocket surprises may not be worth those initial savings if you get sick. “The best candidate for Medicare Advantage is someone who's healthy,” says Mary Ashkar, senior attorney for the Center for Medicare Advocacy.

What are the best states to sell Medicare Advantage in?

All 50 states are ripe for Medicare supplement sales and Medicare Advantage sales but the best states to sell in are Florida, Arizona, Illinois, Texas, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, California, North Carolina, New York, Michigan and Virginia!

Does Medicare Advantage pay instead of Medicare?

With a Medicare Advantage Plan, you may have coverage for things Original Medicare doesn't cover, like fitness programs (gym memberships or discounts) and some vision, hearing, and dental services (like routine check ups or cleanings).

When did Medicare Advantage start?

The M+C program in Part C of Medicare was renamed the Medicare Advantage (MA) Program under the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA), which was enacted in December 2003.

What does it mean when you have a Medicare Advantage Plan?

A Medicare Advantage (MA) plan is a type of health plan offered by a private company that contracts with Medicare to provide you with all your Medicare Parts A and B benefits. MA plans include health maintenance organizations, preferred provider organizations, private fee-for-service plans, and Special Needs Plans.

Will Medicare Advantage plans be eliminated?

While there are no current plans for the Medicare Advantage program to be phased out, in some situations, your Part C coverage may end through no fault of your own.