A recent study found that double bonuses for Medicare Advantage (MA) plans are not an efficient mechanism to improve the program, and are not equitable in allocation of those dollars, disproportionally benefiting White beneficiaries relative to Black … [Read more...] about New Research Raises Questions About Medicare Advantage Payments
Medicare Advantage
MEDICARE & YOU 2022 – An Important First Step Towards Reversing Bias in Favor of Medicare Advantage
Starting in the Fall of 2017, the Center for Medicare Advocacy (the Center) and other advocacy organizations highlighted that, in a marked change from previous practice, the Trump Administration’s Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) … [Read more...] about MEDICARE & YOU 2022 – An Important First Step Towards Reversing Bias in Favor of Medicare Advantage
Medicare is at a Crossroads – Time to Dispel Myths Hindering an Historic Expansion of Benefits
Congress is in the midst of putting together an historic legislative package that would expand and strengthen our country’s safety net in a number of ways, including broad changes to health coverage. This could include adding dental, hearing and … [Read more...] about Medicare is at a Crossroads – Time to Dispel Myths Hindering an Historic Expansion of Benefits
Report Examines High Spending on Medicare Advantage Plans
This week, the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) released a report entitled “Higher and Faster Growing Spending Per Medicare Advantage Enrollee Adds to Medicare's Solvency and Affordability Challenges” (August 2021).As noted in the … [Read more...] about Report Examines High Spending on Medicare Advantage Plans
Medicare Advantage Costs and Coverage Concerns
On August 11, 2021, Axios published an article by reporter Bob Herman entitled “Medicare has become more of a private marketplace — and it's costly”. The article is available here. Herman’s article opens as follows:Medicare's open … [Read more...] about Medicare Advantage Costs and Coverage Concerns
Kaiser Family Foundation Issues Report Comparing Cost-Related Problems for Medicare Advantage Enrollees and Beneficiaries in Traditional Medicare
The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) recently compared costs faced by Medicare Advantage (MA) plan enrollees to those in traditional Medicare in a report entitled “Cost-Related Problems Are Less Common Among Beneficiaries in Traditional Medicare Than … [Read more...] about Kaiser Family Foundation Issues Report Comparing Cost-Related Problems for Medicare Advantage Enrollees and Beneficiaries in Traditional Medicare
Reminder: Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period Ends March 31st
People who began 2021 enrolled in a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan have an additional opportunity to switch MA plans or disenroll from an MA plan and enroll in traditional Medicare with a Part D plan during the first 3 months of the calendar year, … [Read more...] about Reminder: Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period Ends March 31st
Policy-Makers Should Review Overpayments to Medicare Advantage when Considering Medicare Fiscal Solvency
In the past, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) annual release of proposed Medicare Advantage (MA) payment rates triggered a yearly ritual on Capitol Hill – the insurance industry rounded up support from lawmakers, getting … [Read more...] about Policy-Makers Should Review Overpayments to Medicare Advantage when Considering Medicare Fiscal Solvency
Medicare and the Dilemma of “Choice”
On March 1, 2021, the New York Times published a column by Paul Krugman titled “Too Much Choice is Hurting America”. Mr. Krugman discusses how “Economics 101 and conservative ideology say that more choice is always a good thing.” He … [Read more...] about Medicare and the Dilemma of “Choice”
Final 2022 Rule for Medicare Parts C and D Released By Trump Administration
I. OverviewOn February 18, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule entitled “Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Contract Year 2021 and 2022 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage Program, … [Read more...] about Final 2022 Rule for Medicare Parts C and D Released By Trump Administration