Medicare Advantage is the rapidly growing private plan alternative to traditional Medicare that provides coverage to approximately half of Medicare beneficiaries.

Controversy has arisen over a Biden Administration proposal for changes to payments to insurers for the coming year, including how the health risk of enrollees is captured, as well as a plan for recouping payments not supported by audits. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services estimated the payments to plans per enrollee would increase by 1% in 2024, and supporters argue the approach would help to reduce inappropriate overpayments to insurers. Critics, including the insurance industry and Republicans in Congress, contend that this represents a cut to Medicare and will lead to higher costs for beneficiaries.

On Tuesday, March 21, three experts joined series moderator Larry Levitt in a 45-minute discussion on Medicare Advantage, addressing such questions as: What has driven the growth in Medicare Advantage enrollment? What are the implications of enrollment being concentrated in a few insurance firms? Is the federal government overpaying plans? What would the new rules and proposed changes do, and how would they affect beneficiaries?

Moderator

  • Larry Levitt, Executive Vice President for Health Policy, KFF

Panelists

KFF’s virtual conversation series, The Health Wonk Shop, features conversations with experts, diving into timely health policy issues for a deeper discussion beyond the news headlines.

 

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