Medicare Advantage 2022 enrollment on the rise
Fierce Healthcare reviews that in 2022 Medicare Benefit enrollment is constant to develop on the expense of conventional fee-for-service Medicare. They write that:
Medicare Benefit plans signed up one other 2.three million beneficiaries for the 2022 protection 12 months, with this system now making up 45% of all Medicare enrollment, a brand new examine discovered.
…whole 2022 enrollment in Medicare grew by 1 million beneficiaries, a spike of 1.6% over 2021. MA plans added 2.three million beneficiaries total, with a part of that development coming on the expense of 1.three million individuals transitioning from conventional Medicare to MA.
As there was an inflow of beneficiaries to Medicare Benefit, there additionally has been a rise in plan alternative. In line with the Kaiser Household Basis, the common Medicare beneficiary now has a alternative between 39 well being plans. Additional, in lots of city areas, the variety of plan selections are even increased (see map beneath). In 2020, there have been twenty insurers that getting into the Medicare Benefit marketplace for the primary time, whereas solely 7 insurers exited the market,
In a commentary in Well being Affairs Forefront, J. Michael McWilliams claims that Medicare Benefit is engaging due to its “exploitation of a manipulable risk-adjustment system”. Nonetheless, Medicare Benefit plans do supply beneficiaries actual advantages. Widespread extra advantages embody entry to imaginative and prescient/eyeglasses protection, health apps, telehealth entry to docs, listening to aids and dental protection. Some plans (37% of particular person plans, however 87% of MA Particular Wants Plans) supply sufferers transportation to well being care visits. These advantages to sufferers shouldn’t be undervalued.
