Better Medicare Alliance Unveils 2022 State of Medicare Advantage Report

Washington, D.C.  – Better Medicare Alliance, the nation’s leading research and advocacy organization supporting Medicare Advantage, unveiled its 2022 State of Medicare Advantage report.

Released annually, the report compiles the latest research and data to deliver a comprehensive picture of the Medicare Advantage experience today – from beneficiary demographics and enrollment trends to supplemental benefit offerings and consumer savings, to health outcomes and bipartisan support in Washington.

“With a 94% beneficiary satisfaction rate, annual consumer savings of nearly $2,000 per year, better health outcomes, and lower per-beneficiary government spending, Medicare Advantage has proven its value to seniors and the health care system alike,” said Mary Beth Donahue, President and CEO of the Better Medicare Alliance.  “More than just facts and figures on a page, this report is a testament to what policymakers and advocates can do when they put beneficiaries first – and what can still be achieved by protecting and strengthening this well-working health care success story.”

“At Included Health, our physicians and care teams see firsthand the value of Medicare Advantage to the millions of individuals we serve,” said Todd Thames, MD, Vice President of Medical Affairs for Included Health. “This report affirms what we already know: Medicare Advantage is working to deliver better outcomes and added benefits at a lower cost for an increasingly diverse beneficiary population. In these pages, readers will see why Included Health looks to Medicare Advantage plans as trusted partners to deliver the personalized, high-touch, high-tech care our members need and deserve.”

“Better Medicare Alliance’s report is further proof of how innovations in Medicare Advantage are working to deliver high satisfaction, better benefits, better outcomes, and lower consumer costs to an increasingly diverse beneficiary population, including the community of people with disabilities,” said Dennis Borel, Executive Director of the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities. “Policymakers should take note of this report’s findings on how Medicare Advantage leverages benefit flexibilities to tailor innovative coverage solutions to meet beneficiaries’ unique needs. The Coalition of Texans with Disabilities looks forward to using this helpful resource in our own advocacy work alongside partners like Better Medicare Alliance.”  

“Medicare Advantage provides affordable choices for seniors and the disabled to protect them from rising health costs. Better Medicare Alliance’s report highlights those best practices for the rest of the health care system to incorporate when addressing social determinants of health, engaging diverse populations, and addressing root causes of preventable diseases that drive health care costs,” said Joel White, President of the Council for Affordable Health Coverage (CAHC).

“Better Medicare Alliance’s new report finds that Medicare Advantage is the coverage choice of more than 28 million beneficiaries. That’s good news, because offering a Medicare managed-care option is important to the many beneficiaries who can’t afford the costs associated with Original Medicare and those looking for some additional benefits that Original Medicare doesn’t cover,” said Linda Sherry, Director of National Priorities for Consumer Action. “At this point, 99.7% of Medicare beneficiaries have access to a Medicare Advantage plan, average monthly premiums have fallen to a 15-year low, and Medicare Advantage beneficiaries report spending nearly $2,000 less in total health expenditures each year.”   

Key Findings from the Report Include:

• Enrollment
  • 28.4 million beneficiaries choose Medicare Advantage, or 45% of the Medicare population
  • Enrollment in Medicare Advantage has doubled over the last decade
  • 33.7% of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries identify as a racial or ethnic minority, compared to 16% in FFS Medicare
  • Since 2013, enrollment in Medicare Advantage has grown 111% among minority beneficiaries and 125% among dually eligible beneficiaries
• Access
  • 99.7% of Medicare beneficiaries have access to a Medicare Advantage plan
  • 89% of Medicare Advantage plans offered include prescription drug coverage
  • 99.9% of Medicare Advantage plans offer supplemental benefits
• Affordability and Value
  • Medicare Advantage beneficiaries report spending nearly $2,000 less on out-of-pocket costs and premiums annually
  • The average monthly premium for Medicare Advantage plans in 2022 is $19, a 15-year low
  • Medicare Advantage provides $32.5 billion annually in additional value to beneficiaries and the federal government
  • Medicare Advantage covers all Medicare-covered services like hospital and physician services for 24% less than FFS Medicare
• Outcomes
  • Medicare Advantage beneficiaries experienced a 19% lower rate of COVID-19-related hospitalizations during the first 9 months of the pandemic
  • Medicare Advantage beneficiaries see a 43% lower rate of avoidable hospitalizations for any condition
  • Medicare Advantage beneficiaries had a 21% higher rate of seeing a physician within 14 days of a hospital discharge
  • 94% of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries report being satisfied with their coverage

Read the full report HERE and see an overview of the report on our website HERE.

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