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May 03, 2012 at 09:34 AM
America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) is arguing that much of the money the federal government spends on supporting the Medicare Advantage program ends up helping Medicare Advantage plan enrollees of modest means.
In 2010, about 26% of the U.S. Medicare program participants who had annual incomes under $10,000 signed up for Medicare Advantage plans, and 31% of the participants with incomes from $10,001 to $20,000 signed up for the private plans, analysts at AHIP, Washington, report in a review based on data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Medicare Advantage plan coverage was the most popular option after Medicaid for Medicare enrollees with incomes of $10,000 or less, and it was the most popular option for enrollees in the $10,001-$20,000 and $20,001-$30,000 income categories, the analysts say.
For Medicare program participants with incomes over $30,000, employer-based retiree health coverage is the most popular coverage option. Medicare Advantage coverage is the second most popular option for those higher-income retirees.
AHIP is publishing the report as health insurers are defending federal Medicare Advantage program support against attackers who argue that enrollees in the traditional Medicare program are subsidizing the Medicare Advantage plans.
Congress created Medicare Advantage and an earlier version of the program, Medicare plus Choice, to give private health insurers an opportunity to provide alternatives to traditional Medicare coverage for Medicare program participants.
