Managed Healthcare Executive August 28, 2024
Perceptions of affordability don’t show an advantage to Medicare Advantage, say former and current Commonwealth Fund leaders.
Medicare Advantage has grown in popularity for many reasons: low or zero premiums, the appeal of the one-stop shop for benefits compared with juggling Part D and Medigap choices, the supplemental benefits, such as dental and vision coverage. According to KFF, 54% of Medicare beneficiaries were enrolled in Medicare Advantage this year and the Congressional Budget Office projects that proportion will increase to 64% in 2034.
But in opinion article published today in JAMA, David Blumenthal, M.D., M.P.P., and Gretchen Jacobson cast some doubt on whether Medicare Advantage coverage makes healthcare more affordable than traditional Medicare for Medicare beneficiaries. Multiple surveys show that...