Medicare Advantage Outperforms Fee-For-Service Medicare on Cost Protections for Low-Income and Diverse Populations

This analysis, conducted for Better Medicare Alliance by ATI Advisory, finds that Medicare Advantage beneficiaries report $1,965 less in total annual health spending (out-of-pocket costs and premiums) than those in fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare.

The study is based on 2019 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) data, the most recent year available. Its findings indicate an increase of $325 in consumer savings compared to last year’s report. ATI Advisory’s 2021 analysis using 2018 MCBS data found $1,640 lower health spending in Medicare Advantage while an earlier study showed a savings of $1,598.

 

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