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Availability of supplemental benefits in Medicare Advantage plans in rural and urban areas
Availability of supplemental benefits in Medicare Advantage plans in rural and urban areas
- Collection:
- Health Policy and Services Research
- Series Title(s):
- Rural policy brief
- Author(s):
- Semprini, Jason, author
Ullrich, Fred, author
Mueller, Keith J., author - Contributor(s):
- RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis, issuing body.
Rural Health Research & Policy Centers, issuing body.
Rural Policy Research Institute (U.S.), issuing body. - Publication:
- Iowa City, IA : Rural Policy Research Institute, February 2021
- Language(s):
- English
- Format:
- Text
- Subject(s):
- Insurance Benefits -- statistics & numerical data
Medicare Part C -- statistics & numerical data
Rural Population
Urban Population
United States - Genre(s):
- Technical Report
- Abstract:
- Enrollment in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans has consistently increased since the program's redesignation by the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003. MA plans have long included supplemental benefits not available in original Medicare, such as dental and vision coverage. Additional supplemental benefits are becoming available through MA plans, such as those serving beneficiaries with chronic conditions, per Title III of Division E of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018. This brief identifies differences in MA plans that include supplemental benefits available to rural (nonmetropolitan) and urban (metropolitan) enrollees. By better understanding the variation in MA plan offerings across the country, policymakers can take appropriate action to improve the value of plans available in rural regions. Key Findings. (1) 3,120 MA plans are being offered in 2020--a 15.0 percent increase from 2019. (2) Noncore counties (neither micropolitan nor metropolitan) average 2.7 fewer organizations providing MA plans than do metropolitan counties. (3) Beneficiaries in noncore and micropolitan counties have significantly fewer MA plans to choose from, with most of the difference attributable to lower availability of health maintenance organization (HMO) and local preferred provider organization (PPO) plans. (4) Among the 12 most common MA supplemental benefits, 11 are available in fewer nonmetropolitan counties compared to metropolitan counties. (5) The difference in supplemental benefits is most prominent for hearing exams, eye exams, preventive dental care, fitness programs, remote access technologies, health education, and over-the-counter items. (6) A smaller proportion of MA plans in nonmetropolitan counties than in metropolitan counties offer a zero-premium option. (7) The average out-of-pocket maximum for all in-network Part A and Part B services for MA plans in noncore counties is $281 lower than in metropolitan counties.
- Copyright:
- The National Library of Medicine believes this item to be in the public domain. (More information)
- Extent:
- 1 online resource (1 PDF file (6 pages)).
- NLM Unique ID:
- 9918351084206676 (See catalog record)
- Permanent Link:
- http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/9918351084206676