Title: Medicare Advantage - Why it matters<br/>
Author: Steve Schenkel<br/>
<a href='mailto:sschenkel@som.umaryland.edu'>[Click to email author]</a><hr/>
Link: <a href='https://umem.org/educational_pearls/4407/'>https://umem.org/educational_pearls/4407/</a><hr/><p>Approximately half of all Medicare beneficiaries are now enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans. Why does this matter?</p>
<ul>
<li>Traditional insurers (for example, United & Blue Cross) run Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. The federal government pays the insurers. This is different from Traditional Medicare which the Federal Government both funds and runs.</li>
<li>MA plans may include prescription drug, vision, and dental care. They also often include out-of-pocket caps.</li>
<li>MA plans may limit flexibility in provider choice with in-network and out-of-network provisions.</li>
<li>So far, MA costs the federal government more than traditional Medicare.</li>
</ul>
<p>Intrigued? Learn more at <a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMhpr2302315">https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMhpr2302315</a> or <a href="https://www.kff.org/medicare/issue-brief/medicare-advantage-2024-spotlight-first-look/">https://www.kff.org/medicare/issue-brief/medicare-advantage-2024-spotlight-first-look/</a>.</p>