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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, AHIP found 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 provides savings for taxpayers, 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.