Cost-Associated Unmet Dental, Vision, And Hearing Needs Among Low-Income Medicare Advantage Beneficiaries

Health Affairs October 1, 2024
Avni Gupta, Kenton J. Johnston, Diana Silver, David J. Meyers, Sherry A. Glied, José A. Pagán

Abstract

Medicare Advantage (MA) supplemental benefits offered at no or low premiums are a key value proposition for low-income beneficiaries. Despite nearly $20 billion in rebate payments to MA plans for funding supplemental benefits, their quality or enrollee access is not monitored. Using 2018–19 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey data linked to MA plan data, we found that regardless of plan benefit generosity, low-income beneficiaries were more likely to report dental, vision, and hearing unmet needs because of cost. Enrollment in plans...

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