WASHINGTON, D.C. 鈥� (February 27, 2024) 鈥� More than 33 million Americans鈥攐ver 50% of eligible Medicare seniors鈥攃hoose Medicare Advantage (MA) because the program delivers better services, better access to care, and better value. Today, seniors and policy leaders on Capitol Hill sent a clear message to Congress and the Administration: our Medicare Advantage coverage is a vital financial and health lifeline that should be protected.
Seniors from AHIP鈥檚 Coalition for Medicare Choices as well as leaders from , the , and the spoke with Congressional members and staff to reinforce the importance of the MA program for America鈥檚 seniors and the advancement of value-based reforms across the health system.
鈥淎merica鈥檚 Physician Groups care for approximately 1 in 3 Medicare Advantage enrollees, and our members believe that the program is a key enabler of their ability to deliver value-based health care,鈥� said Jennifer Podulka, Vice President, Federal Policy for America鈥檚 Physician Groups. 鈥淎t its best, the MA program encourages physicians and health plans to align on shared incentives to produce high quality, cost-effective care for older adults and other MA enrollees. We will continue to work with Congress to strengthen Medicare Advantage and achieve the best possible results from the program.鈥�
MA provides greater financial protection for seniors by reducing Medicare鈥檚 cost-sharing and offering additional benefits that Fee-for-Service (FFS) Medicare doesn鈥檛 cover, including a cap on out-of-pocket costs. In fact, a 2023 found that in 2020, MA enrollees spent an average of $3,114 on premiums and out-of-pocket costs, compared with $5,548 for those in original Medicare. In other words, MA delivered average savings of more than $2,400.
鈥淲hen I started my retirement, I was initially enrolled in fee-for-service Medicare but was unable to afford the insulin I needed to manage my diabetes,鈥� CMC member Bill Wong. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 when I switched to Medicare Advantage. Through this program, I can access the medications I need, and it鈥檚 easy to manage my checkups and appointments. I recently had an unexpected hospital stay, and the program provided me with an in-home nurse to help with my recovery. With Medicare Advantage, it鈥檚 like having my own personal care team constantly making sure I鈥檓 staying healthy鈥攏o other health plan has this level of high-quality care at an affordable price鈥擨 encourage policymakers to protect the program.鈥�
People enrolled in MA like the program because it provides them with the care and coverage they need at prices they can afford. In fact, a found that:
- 90% of senior voters with MA are satisfied with the affordability of their coverage;
- 94% senior voters with MA are satisfied with access to medical care; and
- 9 in 10 senior voters with MA said they鈥檙e satisfied with their prescription drug coverage and the preventive services they receive.
鈥淲ith my Medicare Advantage plan, I never have to think twice about how I am going to afford medical bills,鈥� said CMC member Sandy Smith. 鈥淲hen I had my knee replacement surgery, I was worried I couldn鈥檛 afford the procedure, but my plan covered everything I needed, including transportation services and physical therapy. Medicare Advantage鈥檚 emphasis on affordability has been a lifesaver when it comes to taking care of myself. I am counting on lawmakers to protect the program for the 33 million Americans who depend on it.鈥�
In addition, a by the Employee Benefit Research Institute found that a 65-year-old retiree who chooses to enroll in MA needs on average 40% less in savings to cover health care costs over their remaining lifetime than a person who chooses FFS Medicare.
鈥淢ore than 4 in 5 Hispanic seniors have multiple chronic conditions, making affordable and comprehensive health care coverage a necessity. A growing majority of Hispanic seniors see Medicare Advantage as a vital lifeline that makes a critical difference in their health and financial well-being. They encourage policymakers to strengthen and expand the program鈥檚 coverage in order to extend its reach, and improve its impact," said Dr. Yanira Cruz, President and CEO, National Hispanic Council on Aging.
MA also provides an important pathway for cost-savings to taxpayers. A recent study found that applying select MA practices to FFS Medicare has the potential to significantly improve Medicare鈥檚 efficiency, potentially extending the Medicare Hospital Insurance (HI) Trust Fund鈥檚 viability by as much as 17 years.
鈥淢edicare Advantage plans consistently engage seniors with a unique focus on the care they need in context of communities in which they live,鈥� said Michelle Soper, Vice President of Federal Policy & Advocacy for Commonwealth Care Alliance. 鈥淔rom our vantage point, bringing everyone together in the local health care community to deliver highly personalized care is the core of what we do, and it鈥檚 how Medicare Advantage transforms care delivery into 24-7 support that is equitable, patient-centered, and sustained over the long-term.鈥�