What is the Threat to Medicare Advantage Health Plans and Their Subscribers?
If Congress cuts funding for Medicare Advantage health plans, enrollees will end up paying higher costs. This increase in out-of-pocket costs would hurt seniors and disabled persons—especially those on low or fixed incomes, or those with multiple or high-impact health care needs. According to a recent survey by America’s Health Insurance Plans:
- 90 percent of Medicare Advantage enrollees are happy with their benefits.
- Three-fifths of seniors who joined a Medicare Advantage plan did so because of the increased health benefits and/or lower costs.
- Two out of three doctors believe that Medicare Part D prescription drug programs—like those offered by many Medicare Advantage plans—have helped seniors get the medications they need.
- Nearly half of Medicare Advantage health plan enrollees would pay higher out-of-pocket costs if the program went away.
- More than one in three seniors would skip some of their current health care treatments if the option to choose a Medicare Advantage health plan were taken away.
- 62 percent of low-income seniors would forgo treatment if the option to choose a Medicare Advantage health plan were taken away.
- 74 percent of physicians believe that seniors and disabled persons will be harmed if Congress cuts Medicare Advantage funding.
