New Study Finds Medicare Advantage Led on Quality During the Pandemic’s Toughest Year

A newly published peer-reviewed study in The American Journal of Managed Care provides an in-depth look at how Medicare Advantage and traditional Medicare performed on critical measures of care before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Researchers examined more than 3 million Medicare beneficiaries, assessing 12 measures that capture preventive care and chronic disease management. The results? Medicare Advantage consistently achieved higher performance than traditional Medicare in both the year before the pandemic and the first full year reflecting its impact.

What the study found:

• Medicare Advantage maintained higher rates of essential screenings — including for cancer, diabetes, and bone health — even as in-person preventive visits declined nationwide.
• Beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage were more likely to receive timely treatments following health events, such as recommended medications after a COPD flare or β-blocker therapy after a heart attack.
• Medication adherence improved across the board during the pandemic, but Medicare Advantage’s gains were larger — an important factor in preventing complications and avoiding hospital stays.

While Medicare Advantage experienced a slightly sharper decline than traditional Medicare in screenings that require in-person visits, its rates still remained higher overall. The study also noted that traditional Medicare saw a smaller decline than Medicare Advantage on some in-person screenings during the pandemic, narrowing the performance gap on those measures — a reflection of how the pandemic affected both programs in delivering preventive care. The researchers concluded that Medicare Advantage “continued to provide greater value… even during the public health emergency.”

Why this matters:
The pandemic created unprecedented disruptions in care — from delayed screenings to heightened risks for those with chronic illnesses. Medicare Advantage’s integrated care model, emphasis on prevention, and ability to quickly adapt (including through telehealth) helped beneficiaries stay connected to needed services and medications.

These findings build on a growing body of evidence showing that Medicare Advantage’s coordinated, value-based approach supports better health outcomes for seniors, reduces avoidable hospitalizations, and helps manage costs. They also highlight the importance of preserving policies that allow Medicare Advantage to continue delivering these results for more than 34 million Americans.