AHIP: Private Medicare Plans Help Low-Income Seniors

Medicare Advantage and Medicare supplement plans can help low-income seniors.

Researchers at America’s Health Insurance Plans, Washington, presented data supporting that conclusion today during a press conference.

About 49% of all 2004 Medicare Advantaged managed care and private fee-for-service plan enrollees had annual incomes of less than $20,000, and about 68% of minority Medicare Advantage plan enrollees had annual incomes below $20,000, researchers said.

In rural areas, about 43% of 2004 Medicare supplement, or “Medigap,” insurance policyholders and half of rural Medigap policyholders had annual incomes under $20,000, researchers said.

Some consumer advocates and Democratic lawmakers have argued that private Medicare plans cost too much and use resources that could be better spent on beefing up basic, government-provided Medicare benefits.