New Report: Medicare Advantage Boosts Preventive Care, Lowers Hospitalizations for Seniors Across Populations
WASHINGTON —Medicare Advantage beneficiaries across varied populations receive higher rates of preventive health screenings and primary care services and lower rates of avoidable inpatient services compared to similar beneficiaries in traditional fee-for-service Medicare, according to an analysis released today by Berkeley Research Group (BRG). The analysis adds to a growing body of research showing Medicare Advantage delivers better care and better health outcomes for seniors.
“This research confirms what we hear from our beneficiary network every day: Medicare Advantage is keeping seniors healthier with better, more comprehensive care,” said Mary Beth Donahue, President and CEO of Better Medicare Alliance. “Investing in prevention and primary care isn’t just good for seniors — it’s also good for Medicare’s future, improving outcomes and ensuring smarter use of taxpayer dollars. Medicare Advantage is working, and it is critical that we protect this program for seniors.”
The analysis, conducted by BRG and commissioned by Better Medicare Alliance, used 100% Medicare Advantage encounter and Fee-for-Service claims data to compare outcomes between Medicare Advantage and Fee-for-Service beneficiaries with similar clinical profiles. It found that Medicare Advantage beneficiaries, particularly those from Black, Hispanic, and Asian American/Pacific Islander communities, had higher rates of key preventive screenings, more frequent primary care visits, and lower rates of costly hospital readmissions.
Understanding how Medicare Advantage serves beneficiaries from different racial and ethnic backgrounds is critical to evaluating its effectiveness and informing future policy decisions. This new research offers important insights into how Medicare Advantage is advancing preventive care, reducing avoidable hospitalizations, and improving seniors’ health outcomes.
Key findings include:
- Higher Preventive Screenings: Cardiovascular, breast cancer, and colonoscopy screenings are 4-12% higher for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries across minority groups compared to Fee-for-Service.
- More Primary Care Visits: Medicare Advantage beneficiaries receive Annual Wellness Visits at rates up to 21% higher than those in Fee-For-Service Medicare.
- Stronger Hospital Recovery: Beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage have a primary care follow-up visit within 7 days of a hospital discharge at rates up to 41% higher than Fee-For-Service beneficiaries.
- Lower Hospital Readmissions: Readmission rates within 30 days of a discharge are 38-43% lower for Medicare Advantage enrollees.
- Fewer Avoidable Hospitalizations: Hispanic and Black Medicare Advantage beneficiaries experience 6-12% lower rates of potentially avoidable hospitalizations.
“For Hispanic seniors, access to timely preventive care can be the difference between managing a condition early or facing a serious health crisis,” said Dr. Elena Rios, President of the National Hispanic Health Foundation. “This report shows that Medicare Advantage is not only improving access to primary care providers but also closing gaps in care that have persisted for far too long. These are real gains for our communities — and a clear reason to ensure the program remains strong and protected.”
“The National Medical Association is in full support of the Medicare Advantage program, which has proven to be beneficial and advantageous for Black and brown communities,” said Dr. Virginia Caine, President of the National Medical Association. “Given the ongoing disparities in healthcare access and outcomes, Medicare plays a fundamental role in the lives of Black Americans. Initiatives such as Medicare Advantage are more than programs—they are lifelines that support the well-being of older adults, people with disabilities, low-income families, and children across the country.”
“This is a groundbreaking report detailing Medicare Advantage utilization by communities of color, including Asian American and Pacific Islander beneficiaries,” said Juliet K. Choi, President and CEO of the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum. “Accurate ethnicity data continues to be limited across health programs, and it is critical for healthcare providers, plans, and community organizations to have access to robust, disaggregated data to understand and meet the needs of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries and all communities.”
“We see firsthand every day how Medicare Advantage’s focus on preventive care, coordinated services, and timely follow-up is transforming health outcomes for seniors, especially in neighborhoods where life expectancy is often 20-30 years shorter,” said Dr. Christopher Chen, CEO of ChenMed. “When appropriately funded, Medicare Advantage enables ChenMed to continue serving patients who grapple with multiple chronic conditions and who face limited access to healthy food, transportation, and proper housing. These efforts reduce preventable hospital admissions, thereby decreasing the soaring costs associated with emergency department visits and hospital stays.”
Medicare Advantage now covers more than 34 million Americans — over half of the total Medicare population — and continues to lead the way in helping seniors across all backgrounds access better care while preserving Medicare’s long-term sustainability.
Read the fact sheet HERE and full report HERE.
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Better Medicare Alliance is a community of more than one million grassroots beneficiaries and 200+ ally organizations working to improve health care through a strong Medicare Advantage. Learn more at www.bettermedicarealliance.org.