Medicare Advantage Plans Gain

The 261 companies active in Medicare Advantage plans enrolled nearly 11.5 million Medicare beneficiaries as of March 2010, up 5.4% from March 2009, according to a new report.

The Medicare program, which encompasses Medicare health maintenance organization, preferred provider organizations, private fee-for-service plans and Medicare special needs plans, enjoyed a net gain of 620,834 new members from March 2009 to March 2010, says the report, published by Mark Farrah Associates, Kennebunk, Me.

The 5.4% growth rate was down from 12.6% growth for the same time one year ago, the report notes.