Medicare Advantage popular with dual eligibles, according to new brief
By HME News Staff
Updated 10:46 AM CST, Tue December 14, 2021
WASHINGTON – A greater proportion of dual-eligible beneficiaries choose enrollment in Medicare Advantage over fee-for-service Medicare only, according to a new data brief commissioned by Better Medicare Alliance. Dual-eligible beneficiaries comprise 23% of the total Medicare Advantage population compared to 17% in FFS Medicare, and 44% of all dual-eligible beneficiaries choose Medicare Advantage compared to 35% of non-dually eligible Medicare beneficiaries. “This latest research is a powerful testament to Medicare Advantage’s capacity to meet the needs of an increasingly low-income, at-risk and diverse population,” said Mary Beth Donahue, president and CEO of the Better Medicare Alliance. “While dual-eligible beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage often present even more complex needs than their FFS Medicare counterparts, Medicare Advantage is nonetheless delivering better results in pairing beneficiaries with a usual source of care and providing them with needed preventive services. That is why dual-eligible beneficiaries today are more likely to enroll in Medicare Advantage than FFS Medicare.” Dual-eligible beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage are also more likely to report having a usual source of care and are more likely to receive key preventative services, including mammograms, flu shots and blood cholesterol screenings, according to the brief. Additionally, dual-eligible beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage report more chronic conditions than dual-eligible beneficiaries in FFS Medicare.
Comments