Beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans typically spend nearly 40 percent less than beneficiaries in Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) programs, according to new research released today by
The research found that the average annual health care costs for a 72-year-old MA beneficiary of average health are
Those savings and protections are especially important since half of Medicare beneficiaries live on fixed annual incomes below
A typical beneficiary enrolled in MA with Part D prescription drug coverage spends:
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An average beneficiary who chooses an MA-PD plan pays between
Medicare Advantage plans offer all the same benefits as Medicare FFS, while including additional protections and benefits, not covered by Medicare FFS, that help beneficiaries stay healthy, improve care outcomes, and avoid unforeseen medical costs.
In addition to covering 6 percent more of the cost of hospital stays and physician office services than FFS, MA plans also include Part D prescription drug coverage, caps on annual out-of-pocket costs, and care management programs. Most plans also include dental, vision, and hearing coverage. MA beneficiaries with chronic conditions receive more preventative care and experience fewer emergency department visits and lower rates of avoidable hospitalizations compared to FFS beneficiaries.
Read more about the research at www.unitedhealthgroup.com. About
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