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Medicare Advantage enrollment continues to grow, thanks to an influx of Americans from diverse backgrounds and rural areas of the country.
The news: Compared to original Medicare, ÐÜèÊÓƵfound Medicare Advantage serves more women, Hispanic Americans, Black Americans, older Americans, and Americans with lower incomes.
The report is the latest in a series of research that has found Medicare Advantage , drives better health care outcomes, and has better preventive treatment for seniors and people with disabilities.
The findings, explained: The report looked at population data from the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in 2021, the most recent year of data available.
The report found that:
- Medicare Advantage had a higher overall share of diverse populations (29%) compared to original Medicare (19%).
- Around 59% of Hispanic or Latino individuals and 57% of Black individuals eligible for Medicare chose Medicare Advantage plans. Fifty-seven percent of enrollees with Medicare Advantage were female.
- Medicare Advantage plans had a higher percentage of enrollees aged 75 years and older: 39% compared to 36% for original Medicare.
- More than half – 60% – of individuals dually eligible for Medicaid and Medicare benefits were enrolled in Medicare Advantage.
The standout stat: Four million Medicare Advantage enrollees live in rural areas.
The bottom line: The fact that Medicare Advantage serves so many populations so well is a testament to its value to the many different seniors and people with disabilities who rely on it, as well as to taxpayers. There's a reason why Americans from all corners of the country and all backgrounds are choosing Medicare Advantage — it provides better services, better access to care, and better value.