Medicare Advantage (MA) is the U.S. government-run program that provides health insurance plans to Medicare beneficiaries through private companies. In a new report, researchers found that Rural Medicare Advantage and other prepaid plan enrollment in March 2014 was nearly 1.95 million, an increase ...
Background Medicare Advantage (MA) penetration rates have shown an increase in rural areas in the past decade, increasing the bargaining power of MA plans relative to rural hospitals. We study the effect that this increase has had in the revenue of rural hospitals through reductions in the ...
Beneficiaries in cities and suburban areas usually have more plan options, while those in rural areas may have fewer. In 2024, the average beneficiary had access to 43 Medicare Advantage plans, though the number varies by region. To get the ball rolling on your research, here’s a comparison...
Pursuing sizable growth opportunities in underpenetrated populations (such as high- and low-income rural areas) with renewed focus and creativity to build products and networks—potentially augmented by virtual care—that will appeal to members traditionally less inclined to enroll in MA and historicall...
Before the pandemic, Medicare beneficiaries in rural areas could receive telehealth services, but others could use telehealth only if they had certain medical conditions. Many beneficiaries gained access to telehealth services through Medicare for the first time during the pandemic, and those outside of...
Individuals in Medicare Advantage were also more likely to live alone, less likely to have around-the-clock support at home, and more likely to live in rural and disadvantaged areas. Medicare Advantage beneficiaries had shorter home health lengths of stay, defined as the numbe...
According to research from KFF, Medicare Advantage networks can vary widely. Some narrower networks cover less than 30% of a county’s physicians. People who live in rural areas may have a harder time finding providers.5 While MA plans can’t charge you more than 20% for in-network service...
Medicare Advantage plans have had difficulty gaining traction in rural areas. In these areas, enrollment and primary care provider density can force premiums higher than in urban areas. Medicare Advantage plans will also receive 10 percent credit for the percentage of beneficiaries that ...
Virtual servicesare an option that's particularly useful in rural areas and for people with limited mobility or little access to transportation, but they require online access. Virtual and in-person services, where both a beneficiary and a counselor can look at the same computer screen, are espe...
Medicare Advantage plan in their areas and on average most beneficiaries had access to 43 plans. Even in rural areas, which historically have had limited plan possibilities, access to Medicare Advantage coverage was strong with triple the number of plans offered in rural areas in 202...